"I love this job. I thank God for every day he gives me in the Corps. Oorah. " - Sgt. Sieks

Rating: 8/10 (6 November 2005)

There are a lot of films I'm really looking forward to this year and those that I was looking forward to. For me, 'Jarhead' was definitely one of the most anticipated movies of 2005 for me, but it ended up being not like I expected. I expected it to be a modern-day war masterpiece that rivaled 'Platoon'. 'Jarhead' let me down in those respects, because it ended up being more of an emotional drama/dark comedy then a war film. 'Jarhead' isn't a masterpiece, but it is one hell of a great movie that is wholly original, haunting and thought provoking.
There is next to none action/gore in 'Jarhead'. That's right, it's not a 'bang-bang' war film, but more like 'The Deer Hunter' in that it has to do entirely with the psyche of the soldiers/humans involved. 'Jarhead' follows the true story of Anthony Swofford, a Lance Corporal in Desert Storm who didn't really have a good war experience. Swofford (played by Jake Gyllenhaal  Donnie Darko, Wonder Boys) is kind of a shifty, morally confused, arrogant kid who joined up with the Marines and didn't get as much out of it as he expected. He mopes around and regrets his being there (which gets kind of annoying, but I could certainly see why he and everyone else was so terrified). While defending his good old country in Iraq, Swofford manages to befriend a seemingly All-American bravado Corporal, Alan Troy (Peter Sarsgaard  Kinsey, Garden State). The story follows them through training camp under the command of the Bible-thumping hard-ass staff Sergeant Siek (Academy Award Winner Jamie Foxx  Ray, Collateral) and then after follows them throughout their course in the desert, or in the "suck" as Cpl. Troy likes to call it.
'Jarhead' has been described as a 'Platoon' or 'Apocalypse Now' for Generation X, and I have to say I don't really agree with it. Although 'Jarhead' takes place during a war, it's not really a "war" film per-say but an emotional roller-coaster of a drama. The incredibly talented Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) does a great job directing this, but I have to say it is definitely his weakest effort. 'Jarhead' is a great film, but it doesn't share the sheer brilliance 'American Beauty' and 'Road to Perdition' oozed. The screenplay is full of solid, believable and entertaining dialogue, but it really seems to drag during the non-talking periods. 'Jarhead' runs only 115 minutes but feels more like 2 ½ hours  2 ¾ hours. One of the highest points of 'Jarhead' besides the directing and dialogue is the acting. I never really found Jake Gyllenhaal to be that great but after seeing his remarkable and powerful performance in 'Jarhead' I gained a whole new respect for him as a performer. Jamie Foxx is always a blast to see although he really didn't have as meaty of a part as one would expect. The real prize actor of 'Jarhead' was Peter Sarsgaard. Sarsgaard gives an undeniably marvelous performance that will win him his very first Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination if there is any justice in the world. Dennis Haysbert, Lucas Black, Jacob Vargas and Chris Cooper (in a small but powerful role) also star.
There has been controversy over this film saying it's liberal propaganda. I'm personally a Republican myself, and I didn't find too much offensive. Swofford is anti-war but that is just his character. I'm not anti-war, but I think it's terrible. 'Jarhead' doesn't necessarily say war is wrong but it does say that it is a terrible terrible thing (which anyone should think.) War is damn dirty business, but sometimes (in my opinion) it's the only solution. Even if you think war is a necessary evil, there is no way to deny the f*cked-up sh*t it does to some people. In the powerful final words of the film Swofford's character explains that everyone who has ever been a marine in war will be one for life, because something that traumatic ALWAYS stays with you. That is very true, but it has also been said many times before.
I recommend 'Jarhead' if you want to see top-notch directing, acting and dialogue (if you don't mind the f-word being spewed every 3 seconds), and don't mind the serious lack of action/explosions/gore/shooting. It's a drama not a war picture, although it does take place in a war. It drags, but the good points far then out-weigh the bad points. Grade: B+ (screened at AMC Deer Valley 30, Phoenix, Arizona, 11/04/05)
my ratings guide - A+ (absolutley flawless); A (a masterpiece, near-perfect); A- (excellent); B+ (great); B (very good); B- (good); C+ (a mixed bag); C (average); C- (disappointing); D+ (bad); D (very bad); D- (absolutley horrendous); F (not one redeeming quality in this hunk of Hollywood feces).