A Movie That Pays Homage to the Classic War Movies and Then Some...

Rating: 9/10 (5 November 2005)

"Jarhead" follows the story of Anthony Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal), a U.S. Marine Corps private who is sent to Kuwait during the Gulf War in 1989. Prefaced by about 30 minutes of Swofford during his basic training and sniper training, "Jarhead" explores the emotional implications of war and the chaos which not only surrounds the soldiers but his soul as well.
The best aspect of "Jarhead" is the acting, which is the most important part of a movie that was made for the purpose of showing the physical and, more importantly, the mental tolls of war. Jamie Foxx plays a spectacular role as Staff Sgt. Sykes, a leader who seems to care more about his soldiers than about the war (but he'll be damned if he ever shows that). Sykes is a complex character, which seems to contrast perfectly with Swofford, who seems to be a one-dimensional figure on paper. But to truly see who Swofford is, you have to look deeper to discover a man so torn by his personal life that he seems to lose his sanity at the least harmful times, but gathers it once again when he is needed. This makes for a wonderful relationship between the two characters.
The supporting characters all seem to rely on their fellow jarhead Swofford to not only carry their excess baggage, but to also overshadow their weaknesses with his overwhelming brashness. At heart, Swofford is an amazingly generous man but is at the same time deeply disturbed.
The story is formulaic and is very similar to that of "Full Metal Jacket" and "Platoon". This, however, takes away just about nothing from the movie because the main focus is the complexity of the characters, which is done so well that the viewer will seem to think that the movie is totally original. The visuals are stunning as well. Seemingly endless miles of burning oil wells, bombs falling on desert sands that stretch for miles and miles, the visual insignificance of soldiers in the vast climate. It's all there for you to enjoy. And enjoy you will.