Jarhead

Rating: Null/10 (4 November 2005)

Jarhead I'll be the bearer of bad news and say that "Jarhead" will most likely not make it to the Oscars at least in the Best Picture category. Even though I highly enjoyed the film I was a little disappointed in some aspects. With the exception of one really good scene Peter Sarsgaard, the two time snubbed for two years running, doesn't give a performance that would make the Academy think to give him a makeup nomination I was expecting him to be the standout of the film and felt a little disenchanted. Maybe a little more screen time would of sealed the deal for him but it didn't. He could make it if the Academy is feeling extra super bad for his snub which I think they aren't.
Jamie Foxx is trying extra hard after his debacle of a win last year (I know, I know you're mouth probably dropped but I really felt he didn't deserve it.) to become a serious actor. He is very good in the film but there is nothing Oscar bait about the role. It sounds really good on paper but it just isn't impressive. I loved his character because he was amusing and made certain gestures that were utterly scene stealing but nothing is "Oscary" about it.
The true problem with this film is very poor character development. I'm not sure if it's the book's fault by Anthony Swafford or the adaptation from William Broyles, Jr. but I found it very difficult to fall in love or hate any of the characters. They were all just a mere surface visual and nothing that transcribed into a full fledged character that you could take with you home . It could nab a screenplay nod if the Academy likes the film but again I highly doubt it.
Standout from the film was the very surprising Jake Gyllenhaal who I felt did the best he could with what he had. Gyllenhaal gave a stunning portrayal of a soldier during Desert Storm just looking for a purpose. Swofford tells the story of the marines not himself which is probably the reason for the poor character development. And by marines I mean marines in general not his platoon. Gyllenhaal is having a fantastic year and still has the baity Brokeback Mountain coming in December. Look out for a surprise double nomination at the Globes. I'm expecting great things from him in the coming years.
"Jarhead" was a good experience but director Sam Mendes seems to be on a slow steady decline from his masterpiece "American Beauty." I see some technical categories coming up for "Jarhead" with a small possibility for Sarsgaard for a makeup nomination but other than that it just wasn't the Oscar story that needed to be told. It seems this year is not shaping too well as we all hoped.
Grade **1/2/****