The last in a terrific trilogy

Rating: 9/10 (27 February 2013)

The Hurt Locker, Brothers, and Jarhead. In that order.
Chronologically, you'd move Jarhead to the starting position. But the final scene in Jarhead cannot be topped. So I choose it as the end of this ad hoc desert war trilogy.
I avoided this film when it was first released. From the trailer, it seemed like it would be a predictable gung-ho ad for the Marines. And it was shunned by any major awards. My, how everyone was wrong. This film was a victim of miscalculated ads and PR. Those looking for The Sands of Iwo Jima were disappointed, and those who would enjoy a character study with more questions than answers were scared away.
The actors in the film are outstanding. Chris Cooper doing another Marine, after American Beauty. Jamie Foxx before the Ray Charles Oscar, and Jake Gyllenhaal before Brokeback, for example.
This is not an action/war movie. It is beautiful, thoughtful, and message-free. It doesn't explain Why. You supply that answer, if you can.