a unique "war" movie

Rating: 8/10 (25 October 2005)

(*SPOILERS WITHIN*) I caught an advanced screening of JARHEAD at the University of Washington last night. The film is a unique take on military life, told through the eyes of the main character, Anthony Swofford.
I hadn't read the novel before I had seen the film, so I came in to it not knowing what to expect. What I got was a movie that had a fresh and different take on war compared to films like Apocalypse Now, Platoon, or Full Metal Jacket.
The film follows Swofford through boot camp and in to Desert Storm. You may think "oh, that's exactly like FMJ." That's partially correct, but the difference with Jarhead is that it doesn't focus on the war itself (understatement), but rather the camaraderie and bonding that these Marines have together going through these experiences of pain, joy, and fear.
"Is the film pro or anti war?" That probably is the big question in everyone's minds going in to this film. For me, the answer to that question is: I don't know. There isn't a direct example that tilts the film in either direction. For example, there's a scene where, with the troops getting ready to go to battle, prepare themselves by watching scenes from Apocalypse Now. The tuber joy and excitement the men showcase in this scene is clearly ironic, cheering on the violence and death in the same fashion frat boys cheer for their football team. However, on the flip side, when the men arrive in the desert, they wait for their call to action. They wait, wait, wait, and wait some more. During these scenes, I actually fond myself thinking "so when's the action going to happen?" When the action does happen, however, it happens not in the way you might expect.
Top of the line performances all around, especially Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard. Jamie Foxx delivers a good (but limited) performance of the Staff Sergeant who "loves his job." Sam Mendes, the Oscar-winning director of American Beauty and Road to Perdition, helms the film. The movie is not as metaphoric as his earlier work, but it still brandishes the same kind of visual style and humor that is relevant in his previous two. Is Jarhead his best? No, but that doesn't distinguish it from being a very good film and probably one of the best movies I've seen all year.