Jarhead (2005)

Entertainment Weekly ^ | Nov 1st, 2005

[laney]

Part coming-of-age story, part military-training horror show, part bawdy male-bonding romp, and part poetic meditation on the murderous impulses of men at war, director Sam Mendes' Jarhead (opening Nov. 4) doesn't offer much in the way of conventional, audience-pleasing payoffs.

It's about being worn down by fear in a combat zone where the war could start at any minute, but doesn't in fact commence for months after deployment. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a grunt who's molded into an expert sniper, then left with no chance to strut his stuff because the Gulf War is over in a flash. Peter Sarsgaard is his loyal, hard-nosed sniper-scout partner, but it's not a warm-fuzzy, buddy-buddy kind of relationship — no cute clips to push on that score — while Jamie Foxx (pictured with Gyllenhaal), the Oscar-winning star of Ray, takes a peppery supporting turn as a tough-love sergeant.

As journalists take in the film for the first time, Mendes is suddenly realizing that misperception could be an issue. ''I can feel people talking about the movie they expected to see,'' he says. ''They expected a much more specific political commentary about what's going on in Iraq right now. I think they were shocked that it was so comedic, and that it was so specifically about Desert Storm.'' The director, in turn, has been taken aback to see prerelease articles writing off Jarhead's impact sight unseen. ''I've read pieces about why this movie's already in danger of becoming irrelevant,'' he reports, looking incredulous. ''That the problem is, real-life events are going to overtake it. Huh? It's about Operation Desert Storm! How can events overtake it?''

[JRP0322]

Right on, that's it in a nutshell.

[GSWarrior]

I can deal with artists who presents their political views in the context of their music. Steve Earle, for example. No matter what you think of him he is a good songwriter.

Artists like the Dixie Chicks, for example, who mindlessly spout off against America while singing about mostly drivel don't get any respect from me. It's like they are saying, "Oh, by the way, we hate Bush, too. And now here's something from our new CD."

[processing please hold]

I haven't seen that one. But I can vouch for DOOM. I can't wait for it to come out on dvd so I can drool over Karl 'Reaper' Urban, in the privacy of my own home. Hot diggity, what a fine specimen of the male sex he is. I'm off to get a glass of cold water. :-)

[processing please hold]

Got it.

[Borges]

"Oh, by the way, we hate Bush, too. And now here's something from our new CD."

Ha! I've wondered about this too. If you're an artist you're in one of the few fields where expressing your beliefs about just about anything is part of the job description. Why not just do that? It's not like you're an accountant who has to separate from one's work to express anything.

[A.P.M.]

Me, too (on both points). My next post won't be a stray from topic, but real quick--I recommend that you also read Fight Club if you haven't already.

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

"...Or are all movies supposed to fall in line with your thinking of what should be in the theaters?..."


and the problem with that is...?

[Fawn]

How do you see without any eyes?

[Mr. Blonde]

In general, I like those who aren't in the public a lot. But I have to make expections for some. Spacey being one, and Johnny Depp being the main one in that department. Then there is Sean Penn who no matter how many times people try to tell me he is a great talent I just can't see him on screen without thinking things that I can't post here.

I felt there was redemption about his obsession with the girl in the end when he rejected her when he found out she wasn't the dirty girl he expected. Perhaps not, but he had the chance to actually make her into his fantasy and turned down that oppurtunity. There is an ick factor to that part of the film though.

[JRP0322]

I read Generation Kill and loved it...

[laney]

Say what??????????????????????

[Mr. Blonde]

I agree with that. If someone writes a liberal song because that is what is on their mind so be it. But things like the Rolling Stones writing "Sweet Neocon" come across as just trying to remain relevant. In the end, honesty is going to be way more successful.

[GSWarrior]

There's a clip where Jamie Foxx (I think that's his name) says "I thank God for everyday in the Corps.". I can see where that is going.....there has to some subtle anti-religious sentiment.

[RobbyS]

Neither my wife nor I liked it(AB), and she is not political at all. We could not imagine why they would give it an academy award.

[Quilla]

0) vs. :0)

No eyes. ;-)

[billbears]

That you don't see one a lot. But that's standard for non-conservative Republicans

[rattrap]

I didn't even know it was a book. I'm actually glad of that, nothing ruins a good movie like reading the book first.

[Teacher317]

No such thing as a "former" Marine.

[1stFreedom]

Still reading it. I think you should re read it. It's a total hit job on Bush Sr. and Cheyney ... Everything is their fault, etc..

[Siena Dreaming]

There is an ick factor to that part of the film though.

Definitely. Lots of ick. And material for the greatest movie of the year? Ugh.