(4 stars out of five)--The big question that people usually ask themselves when they’re about to view a war film is a logical one: Which side will they (the filmmakers) be on? Early on in this film, a soldier says “Fuck politics. We’re here. That’s all that matters”. There’s the answer to your question. Sam Mendes’ (American Beauty) new film Jarhead does not take an outright stance on politics, Iraq, or war in general. In most cases, that would seem to be a strange, and – especially in these times – irresponsible move. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the film is much like Full Metal Jacket: it is a scathing attack on the American military.
From the first scene of the film, we are instantly aware of the film’s stance. The main character (exquisitely played by Jake Gyllenhaal) is getting punched in the face by his drill instructor, and we hear his voice-over narration on the soundtrack: “It was about this time that I realized that joining the Marines was a mistake”. In this film, we have a rare thing in American movies: a soldier that regrets his choice to enlist. His story continues as he’s trained physically and mentally (i.e., brainwashed) into being a “killing machine” along with his fellow soldiers. There’s only one problem: they’re shipped to the desert, but the war hasn’t started yet. They proceed to go insane as their urge to kill goes unquenched in the uninhabited desert. It’s quite an original story to see on film: a war film with almost no violence. In fact, the only person that dies onscreen in the entire film is a Marine that dies during boot camp in a training exercise where live rounds are fired.
Sam Mendes continues to be a director with a superb sense of pacing, and his skill goes a long way in making this film successful. In making a film about boredom, it’s exceptionally hard to keep it fresh and entertaining. While he doesn’t always succeed, Mendes keeps things moving with a wonderful selection of songs on the soundtrack, and Thomas Newman’s surprisingly upbeat score.
Unfortunately, the film suffers from an overwhelming feeling of detachment. We never really connect with any of the characters, and whether it was intentional or not, it keeps the film from being as involving as it could be. Regardless of the shortcomings, it’s still a remarkably accomplished and timely piece.
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