Mendes Goes to War.

Rating: 7/10 (6 January 2016)

Jarhead (2005): Dir: Sam Mendes / Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Chris Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Lucas Black: Energizing war film about those individuals that walk through trauma without choice or care. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a young marine who goes through basic training while observing the attitudes of those around him. One of its flaws is that its structure isn't always focused and the conclusion isn't as remarkable as it could have been yet director Sam Mendes delivers realism as if this is his observation of leaving home to face war and the reality of uncertainty. Mendes previously made a great film called American Beauty. He followed it up with an effective gangster thriller called Road to Perdition. Here he is with his third success and the genre is war films. Gyllenhaal delivers a great performance as someone who discovers the highs and lows of being a soldier and slowly numbing himself to it. To its disadvantage the supporting roles are basically the usual round up of misfits. Jamie Foxx does pass the test as the commander who is fair but stern. Others who appear are Peter Sarsgaard, Lucas Black and Chris Cooper, all fine actors but they get lost in the clichÃ©s that come with the territory. Although not the best of its kind, the film does deliver on its grueling theme. It regards the devastating affects of violence met with numbing determination. Score: 7 / 10