Sam Mendes is Spielberg's Protégé - Jarhead is an instant classic

Rating: 10/10 (12 November 2005)

Does anybody ever remember hearing about when the script for American Beauty came to Universal Pictures and Mr. Steven Spielberg got his hands on it? Well, he could have taken that movie, cast anybody he wanted, and probably of gathered at least as many nominations as the movie actually received. But he didn't. He decided to give it to somebody else. And who did he give it to you ask? A 35 year old English playwright director that was already famous for his work on Broadway. That person was Sam Mendes. Sam had already won Tony's, along with a number of other awards for his revival of several plays that have since then turned into classics. Some big stars that have already been in his plays were Nicole Kidman and Matthew Broderick, along with a number of others that I can't think of off the top of my head. He also worked with Rob Marshall (The director of Chicago, and the soon to be great Memoirs of a Geisha). Anyways, Spielberg saw something in Mendes's plays and decided to do something very original by giving the American Beauty scripted to him. We all know what happened with that little flick. Now, six years later, Mendes is at it again with "Jarhead." Mendes had already filmed Road to Perdition between these times. Perdition was equally good, but not as prolific as American Beauty, although, for a director to have his first two films like those was already a hell of a resume'. Spielberg had given Mendes a top of the line crew with famous cinematographer Conrad L. Hall (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, American Beauty, Road to Perdition). Conrad was by far, the most famous of his profession, but unfortunately, he died right after the filming of Road to Perdition, which earned him the Oscar two films in a row. This time around in Jarhead, Mendes (All grown up now and a professional on his own) recruited Roger Deakins for the cinematography of Jarhead. People really don't realize how big of a part the cinematographers or the screenwriters, or the editors, or the sound composers have to do with making a great film. Not just the director. Anyways, Mr. Roger Deakins is famous for this beautiful work in The Shawshank Redemption, The Hurricane, O' Brother Where Art Thou?, House of Sand and Fog, and now Jarhead.
With Mendes cast and crew together, the pieces were set for a classic. After viewing Jarhead twice, once for joy, and the second for critique I am convinced that Mendes is a master. Spielberg really knew what he was doing when he gave this young man the script to American Beauty. I really can't find any visual mistakes with Jarhead. I've also read some of the things people have wrote about this movie or in reviews. It seems our generation has grown to expect the usual blow em' up Hollywood crap that is usually seen every month. I mean, could you imagine living in the seventies, the time of sex, drugs, and rock n roll. This is when you had Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Chinatown, The Godfather and a slew of other classic, depressing, drug induced, and bizarre classics. Human beings have grown out of this because we never see it. If something, these days, is bizarre and artistic at the same, people generally get turned off. And that's a shame. That's the roots of film. And Mendes has dug into the roots of his makers to produce a classic of what film used to be. One of the moments of this film that really sticks in my mind is the scene with the horse emerging out of the darkness, with the firelight on its back covered in oil. Jake Gyllenhaal's character comes upon this and the scene is horrifically beautiful. This film has some of the most amazing glorious images I have ever seen on film. The desert seems to be on fire and it resembles true hell. Kudos to Roger Deakins and Sam Mendes for a very original look.
Now, I could go on and talk about the entire film, but my fingers are starting to hurt from carpel tunnel syndrome so I'm just going to highlight some of the other great aspects. The acting is far superb. You could tell that all of these actors were so excited to be a part of this. I usually don't like actors that were born into the business when they were young as Gyllenhaal was back in City Slickers as Billy Crystal's son, but Jakey boy does a hell of a job, along with the perfect Jamie Foxx, and Peter Sarsgaard especially. I think you will start to see a lot more of him. The soundtrack is also unbelievable. "That's Vietnam music. Can't we get are own f****** music." The sequence with the Nirvana song is great, along with everything else. Thomas Newman did a hell of a job sound and music.
The brotherhood in this is also great. I must say, this isn't much of a female film unless you appreciate the artistic aspect.
I am not going to continue. I'm just saying, please see this film, and then tell your friends, and your friend's friends. In fact, take them with you. It's better with a group. Tell your family too. This film also makes you want to enlist in the Marines. Surprisingly since most people said this was an Anti-War movie. "F**k politics" as Peter Sarsgaard says in the film.
We will see much more, hopefully, from Mr. Sam Mendes. Keep a look out for his film called "Sweeney Todd" in the next couple years. Congrats to Mendes and the whole cast and crew of "Jarhead" for all their hard work and for taking us back in the day of classic bizarre film.
Also keep an eye out for Spielberg's "Munich" coming out in December. Check out the preview here: http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=8395