Gay cowboy?
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?''
The trailer I caught a glimpse of on TV the other day led me to believe its some sort of military bashing flick.
If thats the consensus I will be sure to miss it.
Being a former Marine, I wouldn't taken anything serious that is put out by the Hollywood idiots especially when it comes to my beloved Corps.
Semper Fi'
should be had 'anything in common'
I loved AN. One of my favorite films of all time.
Thanks for your service.
Was he eating pudding? </South Park reference>
They stand out in my mind as 2 of the worst movies of the last decade.
Gay cowboy?
If you respects our troops you won't pay to see this.
Thanks for that. I like it.
A number of Marines wrote to the WSJ when this book came out accusing the author of printing urban legends (military version) as truth and other wise slamming the Corps with untruths.
If you are wondering what kind of movie this is, just google Jake Gyllenhaal. He and his sister are out front for every leftist cause under the sun, so you can bet this is not going to show the military in any kind of good light.
Well, you don't know me, but I read it it and thought it sucked. It was run-of-the-mill, graduate seminar creative writing nonsense. It was the kind of "literature" Hollywood producers find compelling.
Along with "Doctor T and the Women."
Good, naive kid joins the Marines. Sees combat, sees the enemy dying, sees fellow Marines dying, returns home disillusioned...questions his beliefs, questions the direction America is heading, decides war is bad, decides America is headed down the wrong path.
I may be wrong, but I don't think so.
True dat.
Just more military-bashing Hollywood cliches. No theme that hasn't already been explored -- and exploited -- a dozen times.
Thanks, Ill make it a point to miss this left wing propaganda.
I wont even rent the dvd later.
I would also include "Alexander" in my list of worst movies but that did provide a little comic relief at the most serious parts.
Amen and Semper Fi
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