Think "Full Metal Jacket" during the first Gulf War...

Rating: 9/10 (4 December 2005)

...with much less actual killing.
Anthony Swofford's memoirs of his time in the U.S.Marine Corps,mostly during the first Gulf War. This movie covers mostly the time between when he enlisted in 1989,through OPeration Desert Shield(August 1990 thru January 1991) and through the end of OPeration Desert Storm(March 1991).
People going into this film expecting a war action film a la "Black Hawk Down" or even "We Were Soldiers..." are probably going to come away from this film feeling shafted. While this movie is set in the Corps and the brunt of the action occurs during a War(albeit,not quite an official one),this is NOT that kind of movie. Instead,it seems like a low-energy,Roman a Clef about military life as seen through the eyes of Cpl.Anthony "Swoff" Swofford(Jake Gyllenhaal,who,if there was an official "Hunk of the Year" title,would at least a finalist for it),as he goes from determined,idealist who joins the Marines to follow in his Vietnam vet dad's footsteps to a somewhat disillusioned adult who,along with his platoon,becomes ever-more frustrated in his lack of chances to kill anybody. INstead,the Corps duty seems to be an endless tedium of staying prepared and...waiting. As they wait for their turn to fight,Swoff and his mates try to keep their wits,with very tenuous results.
I've read some of the threads on this site and I want to make something clear: I have no way of knowing how true Mr.Swofford's accounts are,and since I am not,nor ever was,a Marine,so I have to assume that his accounts are accurate. Also,I have not read the book(released in 2002,I think) that it is based on,so any claims that director Sam Mendes and co-writer William Broyles Jr. "remade" the original work to fit into a movie that was in any way different from the original work could be quite true.
What I do know(or believe) is that the elements of this film are very competently done,with particularly good turns by Gyllenhaal,Peter Skarsgard(as Swoff's platoon mate and steady hand Cpl.Troy)and Jamie Foxx(As the career Marine who is fully aware of the dangers and short-comings of his job,but couldn't be happier doing what he's doing all the same). This film is similar to "Full Metal JAcket",not just because it is set in the Marines but also because there is plenty of wry humor and blunt treatment of military life. The difference between it and FMJ is mostly marked in the difference between Vietnam and the first Gulf War.
This film seems to be a worthy watch for most,if not all,adult audiences. One will probably get a better appreciation of the movie if they go in looking for a story about the Marines themselves(as perceived through one of them)than about the work and duties they are charged with.