an analysis

Rating: 9/10 (3 April 2004)

Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece of the dregs of warfare "Full Metal Jacket" is often thought of as two films. This is easy to understand when one considers the films rather unconventional structure. You see most commercials films (as apposed to say "art house" fare) are divided into three acts. In the first act the dramatic conflict is introduced, in act two the challenge of the conflict is met by the protagonist, and finally in act three the conflict is resolved. Not so in FMJ, for you see this film is two act that don't quit "jell" in such a nice and neat way. Act one depicts life in marine boot camp. This being the act that the film is most widely know for. The second act is where things stray from the norm. You see act two only contains two characters from act one. One being the narrator/ protagonist the other a rather small secondary character. The acts don't flow together in the previously mentioned three act manor. In act one we see "Pile" mis-treated while "Joker" tries to help him conform to the marine ways. "Pile" goes on to commit a murder suicide by killing his drill instructor and subsequently himself. Then on to act two we see Joker is now "in-country" as a correspondent. The only real tie to the first act is when he runs across a buddy from boot camp. Each act is treated like its only miniature movie. Act one being the most popular and two like a weird sequel. FMJ not only lacks a third act but also cohesive dramatic conflict. In act one the conflict might be seen as boot camp life and the protagonist could be "Pile". But "Pile" is obviously not in act two. One might find traditional conflict in act two but they would be mistaken for there is none. So what is the point of all of this you might ask.. Well you see what most screenwriters and Hollywood filmmakers forget is that there is no cohesive dramatic conflict in life. In life as in FMJ S&^% happens and all we can do is react and observe. And that's exactly what Kubrick wants. He wants to show us something and upon seeing this he wants a reaction. So what is he showing us? In act one he is clearly showing us the dehumanizing nature of creating a "good marine". And no this is not just a fictional depiction. Its a lot closer to reality than you might realize. You see the actor portraying the drill segment Lee Ermey served in the Marine Corps for 30 months as a ....you guessed it drill instructor. Much of his now famous dialogue were his own words. All you have to do is talk to a marine about FMJ and they will tell you that's how it was. The question is how do you a an audience member react to this display. In act two we are given a more "traditional" war film. Though unlike most Vietnam films FMJ second act takes place in decaying urban sectors as apposed to the thick jungles of "Platoon" or "Apocalypse Now". It doesn't try to get you into anyone's head. Show you how this experience is changing the character. Kubrick is more interested in the audience. In the "Vietnam the movie" sequence soldiers are asked what they think about he war. There is none of your John Wayne hallmark patriotic propaganda.
"Do you think we waits gooks for freedom? This is a slaughter." -Animal Mother "I wanted to see Vietnam, the jewel of south East Asia. I wanted to meet interesting and stimulating people of a ancient culture and kill them" -Joker FMJ is based on Gustav Hasford's novel "The Short Timers". The book was a first for the for the marine and military war correspondent who served in the Vietnam war. Early versions of the novel were developed while Hasford was still serving in the war. Many of the novels central characters were named after pals he served with. Kubrick and Hasford had extensive phone conversations (Kubrick's often preferred manor of collaboration) over the script to what would eventually become Full Metal Jacket. A title Kubrick chose due to "The Short Timers" lack of mass popularity. Kubricks other collaborator was Michael Herr. Who has previously worked with Francis For Copola on the previously mentioned "Apocalypse Now" .