Not Fantastic, but Very Good

Rating: 8/10 (14 February 2006)

Sam Mendes has had a directional career as lustrous as it is selective. He picked one hell of a project to debut with; 1999's critically acclaimed and five-time Oscar-winning "American Beauty" was widely regarded as a modern masterpiece and Mendes' direction was highly praised. His follow-up feature, an adaptation of Richard Rayner and Max Collins' graphic novel "Road to Perdition", was a very different film, a gangster-oriented exploration of spiritual damnation against the backdrop of the Great Depression, but was nonetheless an impressive, artistic accomplishment. Mendes' third and latest film is another novel adaptation, this time of former Marine Anthony Swofford's autobiographical memoir "Jarhead", which details the experiences and psychological effects of operation "Desert Storm" on one young soldier during his stay in the Saudi Arabian desert in the early 90's. The film is a further establishment of Mendes' diverse filmography, tied in with his previous works by his supreme visual prowess and inclination to films with profound premise.
Jake Gyllenhaal is Marine Anthony Swofford, a disillusioned young man who has turned to the army both to serve his country and to give himself purpose. After a short, awakening stay in Boot Camp, where he confesses after one day that his decision to sign up may "not have been a good idea", he is shipped out to Iraq under the watch of Staff Sergeant Sykes (Jamie Foxx) where he is faced with the harsh mercilessness, the reckless frustration and the psychological horror of war. His reality is reflected by the observed behavior of his fellow "Jarheads", (Peter Sarsgaard, Jacob Vargas, Lucas Black, Evan Jones), which range from atrocious insensitivity and aggression to supportive encouragement and complacency, and it is in the heat and hell of the desert that Swofford's identity is forged.
Before beginning to consider things like direction, acting and script the most important thing to note about "Jarhead" is that, unlike most pictures with controversial content, the film and the characters' values are one and the same: the life of a Jarhead is one of boredom, of aggression, of violence and sometimes of humor, but it knows nothing of politics. This is an examination of war, not 'the Iraq war', as a personal experience and this distinction must be made, preferably before viewing the film.
It is, however, quite an amazing examination of war. The directional presence of Mendes consistently guarantees an artistic and thought provoking visual approach, regardless of the subject matter. This film is brimming with just that; the cinematography is magnificent, particularly the scenes of the burning oil fields, and in this regard "Jarhead" outdoes even such divine war-movies as Oliver Stone's "Platoon". All other aspects of the film do not quite live up to the promise of the film's overall look, although they work well enough.
Jake Gyllenhaal, it appears, is really attempting to break loose from his pigeonholed career. Coupled with his sublime performance in this year's "Brokeback Mountain", Gyllenhaal's solid lead in "Jarhead" will definitely put him in good stead for outgrowing the shadow of "Donnie Darko". Peter Sarsgaard and Jamie Foxx, in their supporting roles, also give stellar performances, and if Foxx had not already won an Oscar, he would be a serious contender for one this year.
As a continuation of Mendes' career, "Jarhead" is a logical and commendable step, and only just falls short of the quality of his previous films from a directional point of view. As a stand alone film, it will be visually stimulating, good for a few laughs and an interesting insight into the life of a soldier, but ultimately not the masterpiece that it could well have been.