Posted on 11/01/2005 11:10:17 AM PST by 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?''
It wasn't the nihilism that got me, nessarily. Most of it was the sick obsession the married suburbanite had with the young girl. That was a large part of the movie.
That, and the teen slut he fixated on.
And the ex-marine next door was (literally) a nazi who murders Spacey's character.
Or Annette Benning's character (after getting caught cheating) takes a handgun and hunts down her husband while chanting "refuse to be a victim".
The only characters in the whole movie who seemed normal are the queer couple that just moved in across the street.
The whole movie was a big stinking POS.
I think you're right- except that it was 'The Seige'. Friend said, "Hey, wanna watch CSI?" I said "I don't know, never seen it." I think I went for a pit stop and a soda at that point, then came back to the TV.
Still- it was clearly Hollywood's idea of the military. Sometimes they do a good job of it. I thought 'Private Ryan' was a fair treatment and I thought 'Blackhawk Down' was exemplary. Sometimes though- you get the left's idea of what the military is- witness "The Seige".
The forum there isn't searchable. If I run across mention of it- I'll ping you back. I haven't seen anything.
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Oh, yeah. I forgot about the military Nazi guy. LOL!
One hand typing other hand holding tuna sandwich..:)
Maybe so- but it is less cumbersome than saying,
"I am a Marine but I am old, slow, don't get paychecks anymore, don't stand formation anymore, couldn't pass a PFT if you chased me with a BCD in one hand and a .45 in the other and no one listens when I give orders".
Despite any political banter you pick up on, it's still a fun and interesting read. The Wall of Shame where Jarheads post photos of unfaithful women. Playing football in MOP suits, wearing MOP suits with jungle camo because the desert camo didn't get to them in time.
I still think it was a fun and interesting read.
(And I'd bet that either one of you could still surprise yourselves,
and some dim-wit who is unlucky enough to try to push you around.)
LOL, that was funny!
Playing football in MOPP is about the kind of think we would have done. Sorry I didn't think of it. We did run PT in MOPP 4 in the heat once. I had no idea the human body could sweat so much.
I started watching 3 kings but I fell asleep
Others have commented about the book on the thread.
Clint is coming out with a movie based on Flags of Our Fathers. Should be interesting. I glanced at an article and then couldn't find it anymore where he is also making a film about the Japanese side of the battle of Iwo Jima. Don't know how he will treat each side other than I bet it will be dark.
Listen! Hear that giant sucking sound? It's this movie. 'Welcome to the suck' is right.
I saw an advanced showing tonight...free of charge thank goodness! I would have been pissed had i payed even $6 to see it.
It was a conglomeration of poorly done, re-created scenes from other war movies that culminated into a big nothingness. Character development even sucked. Very unrealistic to boot. Did they not have enough money to hire ex-military advisors? sheesh.
Take it in if you want, but don't have high expectations...
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