Customer Reviews

Jarhead

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

"Jarhead" is a war movie not really about war. Rather, it's about that strange time before war, when young men and boys are trained to kill without hesitation or remorse, when group-think and group cohesion become the goal of every soldier, and when the boredom and tedium of waiting for the enemy to strike can be almost as unnerving and unbearable as the horrors of war itself.

The film is based on the true story of Anthony Swofford, a Marine sniper who served in the Gulf War in 1991. The story begins in 1989, as Anthony is undergoing the grueling rigors of boot camp training. When Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait, Anthony is shipped off to the Middle East as part of the operation known as Desert Shield, soon to become Desert Storm. For Anthony and his fellow Marine sharpshooters, it is the waiting that turns out to be the least endurable aspect of the assignment, as they battle the discomforts of life in the Arabian Desert - and often each other.

At no time does "Jarhead" pretend to be anything other than the story of one particular soldier in one particular war; we never get the sense that Anthony is supposed to be representative of all Marines at any given time. As such, the movie eschews politics and philosophy, avoids heavy-handed moralizing and preaching, and refuses to either glorify or denigrate the men who are its subjects. Instead, it keeps it all life-sized and realistic, showing us how ordinary men cope with the extraordinary life of being a Marine in times of peace as well as times of war. Writer William Broyles Jr. makes every moment count as each of the major characters confronts some sort of personal demon, although Broyles never overstates the issues or indulges in cheap theatrics or hyperbole. The men remain complex and real, with each character drawing both strength and weakness from those around him.

Director Sam Mendes keeps the scale intimate and the story tightly focused on the interplay between the men, reserving most of the actual fighting scenes for the final act. The film is filled with memorable moments and unforgettable images that often border on the surrealistic: the boys achieving a near-orgasmic frenzy watching the helicopter scene in "Apocalypse Now;" their stumbling upon endless rows of burned-out vehicles filled with charred corpses of fleeing civilians; oil from set-afire wells raining down from ink-black clouds, turning day into night and covering the earth with a thick coating of sludge and ooze; an oil-drenched horse mysteriously emerging out of nowhere only to disappear back into the vast wasteland of the ruined, darkened landscape. The film is worth seeing for its imagery alone.

Those seeking a traditional war film - one heavily laden with booming artillery and graphic battle scenes - may find "Jarhead" a bit of a slow go at times, but those in the mood for a film about personal relationships set in a military context will find much to celebrate in this movie.

The film 'Jarhead' is based on a book of the same name by by Anthony Swofford; both the book and the film are bound to make some people angry. A Marine sniper (STA) during Desert Storm I in the early 1990s, he recounted his experiences there with vivid emotion, weaving in his experiences of boot camp, adolescence, and civilian life after the Corps in the process. This is now a major motion picture chronicling many aspects of his story, with significant differences.

It was apparent in the book, and carries over to the film that Swofford has a chip on his shoulder - something he'll most likely readily admit. He has a 'bad attitude', and in fact revels in it. One wonders if this is a product of his war experiences, his Marine Corps training, or his upbringing. At one point his mother, who never really liked the idea of her son being in the Marines, but who wouldn't stand in her son's way, said 'I lost my baby boy when you went to war.' She described Swofford as being sweet and gentle prior to that, and angry and unhappy afterwards. One wonders how much of a change is there - if one can take the stories at face value, this is the same boy who had a fist-fight with his father over going in the Corps at the age of 17, and who had Marine Corps decals put on his shirts as a child. One of his drill instructors even gave Swofford what he considered a great compliment - 'you'll be a great killer someday.'

I make the caveat that one might not be able to take all of this at face value, because like many men in this kind of situation, Swofford is likely to exaggerate - making some pieces more dramatic and other pieces less so. Swofford recounts many tales of men in his sniper platoon who had adjustment problems after the war; one can but wonder if that is true for Swofford, too. Also, Swofford admits to being willing and able to lie if the cause is, in some internal sense, justified - his dealings with brother, in the Army in Germany who later died of cancer, is a case in point. Then we have the 'made in Hollywood' aspects of the film that mean this can be no documentary, but has to be dramatised. In fact, truth is probably stranger (not necessarily better or worse) than what is portrayed on the screen.

Regardless of the details which may or may not be completely true (and, as with many autobiographical pennings, some of the details are necessarily changed), the emotion certainly is. Perhaps the strongest point that comes across is a sense of disappointment and cynicism - that Swofford has ideals and goals is not at issue, although he does downplay these (he doth protest too much sometimes); but his experiences in the Corps and in the war were not what he dreamed. He mentions at various time the recruiting posters and campaigns - while it is true that Marine Corps never promises an easy life (quite the opposite), rarely does one learn prior to entry that one might end up being on the stirring end of the latrine clean-up detail; of human-refuse dump ablaze and blowing all over the place.

Just as in the book, the film gives one a sense of some of the problems that the 'average' grunt faces in combat situations. This war was very different from Vietnam, of course, but some of the issues are the same - interminable waiting, equipment malfunctions (if it isn't just plain missing), fear and bravado in a strange mix, questioning and ambiguity as to the value of the war, the cause, and even their own lives. The Desert Shield/Desert Storm situation is reflected in the page numbers of Swofford's book and the timing of this film - a lot deals with the Desert Shield portion, the hurry-up-and-wait aspect; surprisingly little time is spent with Desert Storm itself, as it was on and over so quickly, relatively speaking. There is a lot of psychological drama in this film in the waiting aspect; there's also a strong undertone of the absurdity of war.

Stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Anthony 'Swoff' Swofford, Jamie Foxx as Sgt. Siek and Peter Sarsgaard as Troy do an excellent job in their respective roles. Foxx turns in a really good performance, and this must be the year for Gyllenhaal. Director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) takes a tough book and turns it into a tough film, which is not going to replace a film such as 'Full Metal Jacket' or 'The D.I.' for quintessential Marine film, but will most likely in get top billing among many for the portrayals and situations, especially some of the more bizarre and incomprehensible bits.

Again, while there is undoubtedly exaggeration here, and one must take some of Swofford's tales with a grain of salt (or, perhaps sand), there is realism and truth in the feelings these situations engendered. I can understand the anger of Marines and other military who read the book and will see the film and feel a sense of betrayal, but I can also understand those who feel that Swofford is saying what others can't or won't say. This is a tough product. While I would never want the Marine Corps or military to be judged by this one thing, it is a perspective worth including in the overall mix. Snipers have a reputation for being a bit on the fringes anyway, and Swofford's story in that regard is very true to form.

This motto of is uttered three time in the duration of Sam Mendes' brilliant war drama/comedy "Jarhead."

When it comes to the war, we sometimes forget one of its major victims and how the are scared from its wrath-the soldiers. In Mendes film, he studies the impact of war on an American squadron of marines and there experiences in the Gulf War.

Anthony "Swoff" Swofford (Jake Gyllenhhal) is a recent enlistee who is "hooked" to the marine way of life. He is soon in Staff Sgt. Sykes' (Jaime Foxx) squad, and is given the position of sniper. His spotter, Troy, played by Peter Sarsgaard, becomes his close buddy while training to make the final cut in Sykes' group.

The men are soon shipped out to the desert in preparation for the forthcoming Gulf War. There in an unfamiliar place, with enemies they can't see, for a reason unknown to them.

Mendes and his actors keep us absorbed in the lives of these characters and what they go through physically and mentally. Gyllenhhal proves he's truly capable of a strong leading performance. Foxx is terrific as the hard-ass Sykes. Sarsgaard is a powerful presence as always. Chris Cooper makes two nice appearances as Lt. Col. Kazinski. The supporting soldiers are all wonderful and effective.

The film is beautifully shot, making the audiences feel hot and sticky, like the soldiers, just by watching those coarse, dry shots of the miles and miles of sand in the horizon.

The film is funny in its first half, and hard hitting in its second. The comedy is to make the film go down easy with us, until we feel comfortable and connected with the characters and their lives. And that makes the second half heart tugging because we see the transformation and what war does to the lives of these young men. We are with them. We feel their pain. We see through their eyes the true tragedy of war on the human psyche.

That motto up top is one I would never use to describe this film. What I can say is this-Welcome to Oscar season at the movies!

What a great movie!! Cinematography was first-class; Acting was four-and-a-half star worthy; you become emotionally sucked into the movie very quickly; and it's a well-told story in general.

I'm not a big Foxx fan, but he didn't stick out or irritate me in this movie. The part was played well, plain and simple. Other than that, the worst of the acting is simply unremarkable; NONE of it is bad. There's not too much "fat" on the story, and the perspective/frame that the story is told in is easy to identify with and subtly done.

Granted; I'm not going to watch this movie over and over again...just as I wouldn't watch Fight Club a few times a week, even though I love it. Jarhead does pack an emotional punch, and takes a day or so to digest. Great to watch with fellow soldiers, or family/friends who are or have been in the service. A LOT of us feel this way, and simply aren't able to articulate what we want to say as well as this movie does.

It's worth watching, and probably worth rewatching a few times at that.

FANTASTIC score. Completely pulls the film together.

Jarhead is my absolute favorite movie i've seen it almost five times, to me they don't get any better. It's a true story that follows the marine Anthony Swofford from training to war,theres not alot of action in it because it shows you how he deals with everything he's thrown into. The cast is great, Jake Gyllenhaal became one of my favorite actors because of this movie. All around this movie is great and should be loved by everyone. I suggest reading the book also because it's even better then the movie.

Jarhead is not a typical war film. It focuses on how life changes when you go to war, not on the war itself. Instead of constantly seeing battle scenes and death, we see what is a little more important, the humanity of the soldiers and their transformation as people. We see training, goofing off, suspicions of unfaithful girlfriends at home, mental anguish, and soldiers in a war who do not know why they are fighting.

The film is incredibly fluid and incredibly powerful all until the very last scene. All of the dialogue seems natural even if the words are cliché. They ring true. However, the very last scene seems forced as if the writer wanted to wrap up the film neatly. It was not done well.

Jake Gyllenhaal is great as the main character Swoffard. He brings raw emotionalism to the screen. He plays the character in a way that everyone can understand and relate to. His performance is key to the film because it makes the story seem personal.

Jamie Foxx is surprisingly good in his role as the Staff Sergeant. He is real, raw, and relatable. He shows both the aggression and strength of a military official and the frankness and dynamic personality of a regular citizen.

Although the film takes place in the desert, the scenery is gorgeous. Chopping this film up to fit a television screen will hinder it enormously. The widescreen is employed beautifully. One of the most poignant scenes in the film is where the oil wells are burnt. The sky is black, there is oil falling from the sky like rain, and and the soldiers look around at hell. The scenery is so vivid and striking; it is unsettling in an extremely effective way.

The music in this film is also utilized to great effect. Songs are never distracting to the film; they always fit the scenes to illustrate them but never to overpower them.

This film leaves the audience with an overall feeling of sadness. These men lost their former lives in a war that lasted only a few days. The audience is brought into that struggle and that loss, leaving with a feeling similar to that of those involved. This is a thought provoking film.

"Jarhead" is an autobiographical account of a Marine sniper named Anthony Swofford, based on his 2003 book of the same name, about his service in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Desert Storm in the early 1990's. It is obviously a war movie, but not in the sense that it is filled with combat and carnage - indeed, the 2 1/2 hours of the film are almost totally void of any combat whatsoever. It is a firsthand account of a group of men that were vigorously and relentlessly trained and prepared - all so they could sit and wait for months. How do you keep your mind and body on edge and, as their sergeant says, "suspiciously alert" when nothing ever happens? And if your mind and body are always thinking of battle, ready for combat, how do you handle months of stillness? The film answers these questions in an honest and unsettling way. For 2 1/2 hours, we get a small taste of the seemingly endless days of nothing that these highly trained Marines experienced. Sound like the war movies you're used to?

It was directed by Sam Mendes, whose 1999 film "American Beauty" won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Mendes; Beauty is a gorgeous, darkly funny film about a 40-something nobody (played by Kevin Spacey) who experiences something of a personal renewal, which leads to a joyous, reckless lifestyle for the last year of his life, until he is murdered at the end of the film (If you think I have given something away, note the movie's opening line: "I'm Lester Burnham. In less than a year, I'll be dead."). He was also at the helm of 2002's "Road to Perdition," the harrowing tale of a family man and his lingering mob connections, and their catastrophic results. I mention these previous works for two purposes: 1) to show that Mendes is a talented and capable filmmaker with a poignant visual style, and 2) to demonstrate that he is fit for tragedy, and apt to make films with dark reality as their center. "Jarhead" is nervously funny, and deals in a very subtle and poignant way with two dark and disturbing realities: the horror of war (a well-known, almost expected, theme for war movies) and the perhaps deeper horror of a wicked and mysterious tendency that lies in its participants.

Am I being elusive here? Perhaps there's no good way to put into words the emotions the movie provokes. It is given validity not only by the fact that it is based on a firsthand account of the war, but by its strong performances. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the narrator character, Anthony Swofford, and it is easily his best work, and shows us that we may see many more great achievements from this young actor. Excellent supporting performances also come from Jamie Foxx and Peter Sarsgaard.

I think this movie is horribly misunderstood by most. Anti-American? Come on.

I'm serving in the military right now, and I loved this movie. It wasn't about war. It was about all the other problems those soldiers overseas have, other than getting shot at. Because its real, not some Hollywood dramatization with fancy Bruckheimer explosions and lots of kills, its a bad movie? Nah.

Its just another side of war, a side a lot of people don't realize is there,or worse, refuse to admit is there. Like the families and other loved ones back home, the friendships and loyalities formed in the service, and the confusion and stress involved with a young man not entirely sure of who he is or what he wants to do with his life place in a hostile environment.

Maybe its about what your average person doesn't know or doesn't care to know about war.

Or maybe it was about the betrayals back home of a wife or girlfriend who moves on and forgets about the soldier overseas who can't possibly forget her, because she's the only thing keeping him going. Whats that like finding out she's left you in that way at that impossibly bad time?

Maybe its about what happens to a young man coming back home after war with no training other than war tactics, with nowhere to go and no idea where to start his life over again.

Or maybe I'm wrong, maybe it is about killing, special effects explosions, and Rambo-esque war heroes, traditional Hollywood style.

Probably not. I think I was right the first time. Too bad this movie isn't as appreciated as it should be.

Jarhead. HooAh.

-A1C Winger

In 1987, Time magazine ran an infamous cover that consisted of a marine in his dress blue uniform-with a blackened eye upon his face. The cover was intended to depict the shame befallen the marines after the Clayton Lonetree spy scandal and it was met with outrage-how dare Time sucker-punch the entire Marine Corps because of the crimes of just one of its members? Yet after seeing the movie "Jarhead," Anthony Swofford's autobiographical account of the marines during the first Gulf War, a black eye is the least of the marines' problems.

The fundamental theme of Jarhead's portrayal of marine life is that heroes do not exist. One cannot depict the Marine Corps accurately without noting that at least some of its members perform feats of strength, endurance and bravery, and that to build an entire institution of such men, certain virtues are required. Yet like Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, a movie acclaimed for its supposed depiction of Viet Nam-era marines, none of these men and certainly none of these virtues are to be found.

Instead, what one finds in Jarhead are empty men who drift though life, denied of what they truly want, and who choose to make up for it in emotional outbursts and sadistic and debased pleasures. Again and again, this is what Hollywood sees when it looks at the marines.

Yet as far as I can tell, there's no massive backlash by marines against this movie-in fact, I'm amazed at the positive reaction many marines have had. Are these marines so starved for heroes-so hungered for a portrait of their lives in uniform that they will find merit with those who portray the character of their commitment as utterly bereft of meaning or purpose, simply because the actors put on a marine blouse or use a jargon that rings familiar?

I served five years in the Marine Corps during the time Jarhead was set and I can certainly recount stories, both humorous and horrific. But overall, if I had to characterize my and my fellow marines' service, it would be the honorable commitment to the betterment of one's self and the defense of the American nation. The men I worked with might not have talked about it everyday. There might have been the occasional breach of conduct or character, and some may have even failed miserably in achieving the standard of excellence that is the hallmark of the corps

Yet overall, (and in the metaphysically significant sense-the only sense that matters in art) almost every marine I knew was in the corps for a purpose and that purpose was good, noble, and just.

That's why I, for one, was proud to wear the marine uniform, and that's what no Hollywood movie that I know of has ever been able to accurately capture in a film about the marines. Given the freedoms the marines have fought so valiantly over their history to preserve, it's a tragedy they haven't received better from Hollywood in return.

I was extremely offended by this movie from the moment it began until the moment it ended. In reality, I should have left. I will admit that some of the acting was intense and rather believable and this is the ONLY reason I rated it a '2'. If you have any morals, than this movie will be of no interest to you:

1. extreme profanity (over 100 uses of the 'f' word)

2. perverted slag (referring to women and men in a degrating manner- talking about a "field f---" where men sexually exploit one another)

3. sexual content (2 sex scenes- both graphic and disturbing; two assumed teenagers having 'rough' sex against a wall and the other a soldier's wife and her neighbor having sex on her couch-from behind)

4. masturbation- a common topic and an actual scene SHOWING and HEARING the actual process

5. death/suicide- shows an attempt to kill another soldier then himself

6. anti-war- shows Desert Shield/Storm as pointless and contributed to nothing but heartache/pain/depression

I was very offended and found this movie to be unrealistic in the message in potrays about our soldiers. Do not go see this movie nor buy it.