Jarhead (2005)
Genre: War / Drama
Duration: 123 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx and Peter Sarsgaard
IMDb score:
7,0 (228.266)
Releasedate: 4 November 2005
Jarhead plot
"Welcome to the suck."
Anthony Swofford, abbreviated to Swoff (Jake Gyllenhaal), is sent to the Middle East after his training as a sniper with the Marines. The First Gulf War has just begun, and Swoff and his mates can't wait to put into practice what they've trained for years and battle the great enemy in the desert. But the reality turns out to be different. For months, the men have to wait for something to happen, while the enemy can basically be around any corner and strike at any time. Swoff and his mates hold their own on the glowing sands with sardonic camaraderie and wicked humor, all in a country they know nothing about, against an enemy they see nothing about and for a cause they understand little about.
Actors and actresses
Anthony Swofford
Staff Sgt. Sykes
Alan Troy
D.I. Fitch
Lt. Col. Kazinski
Ramon Escobar
Kruger
Fergus O'Donnell
Poitier
Julius
Reviews & comments
Shadowed
-
- 12083 messages
- 7064 votes
Fine.
War films are supposed to have an impact, but when I see this, I get more the idea that war is a party. With the exception of 1 scene, there was no threat of war anywhere and it remains more of a drama between the soldiers themselves, who are well portrayed by the way.
Visually top notch. Mendes knows how to make the hot atmosphere come across well, and although you get little war violence over you, there is still plenty of atmosphere and beautiful images of the black, red or pale desert. Mendes lifts him to a pass for this alone.
Gyllenhaal plays nicely, and the drama between the soldiers remains human enough not to lose credibility. Although the war had zero impact at the end and I thought it was all fine, while the war is supposed to be horrific.
Story also got pretty boring after some point, where I suddenly had to struggle to keep my head. It happens quite rarely that I stray from a war film, and that is a big minus. I also didn't really feel for the soldiers.
In the end, due to the good acting and beautiful visual environment, I only got a pass, but I would have liked to have had a little more impact on the drama.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Lovelyboy
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- 4222 messages
- 3173 votes
Watched Jarhead for the third time yesterday, and the film is quite similar to O'Russels' Three kings in several respects. There too, the boredom, irritation, the thought that they might have been at home for nobody is central. While Three kings is of course brightened up with a slightly improbable but no less entertaining story, Jarhead stays closer to the truth. Soldier life, even in a war zone, can be deadly dull and extremely mind-numbing, leaving you in an endless loop of eat, sleep, repeat.
The training is off to a great start. Certain scenes have a high FMJ content and Foxx is sometimes not inferior to Hartman in terms of humor. Once abroad and in that mind-numbing cycle, the film doesn't really give up. The Christmas celebration in turn has a high Three Kings content. The walk along the road with all the burnt-out wrecks is beautifully made and very sinister. The total anticlimax is of course Haysbert who comes to disturb their party and that they are not allowed to shoot. It fits the movie perfectly. The whole war without firing at an enemy. It's like Sarsgaard says halfway through the film that the war goes faster and faster and they are actually old-fashioned and behind the times.
A more than fine anti-war image, cynical, direct, crude, surreal, especially when they walk through those burning oil fields. More than excellent acting by everyone. Good music actually. The book I am currently reading is being followed very well in that sense. Still, I think that after a very strong and entertaining start towards the end, the film bleeds a bit to death. I can't say exactly what that is. Other than that, a great movie.
Translated from Dutch · View original
filmfan0511
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- 1125 messages
- 1166 votes
A fairly raw war film by Mendes, with an interesting angle. In any case, I liked this one better than Mendes's more idealistic and sometimes gooey 1917.
The interesting angle with which this first Gulf War is approached is one of military boredom and disillusionment. The nearly hour-long centerpiece is little more than the boring, day-to-day routine of the navies, who expected action but are presented with monotonous boredom. And this in such a way that it didn't get boring for me as a viewer, but remained interesting. The training in the beginning and the more action-packed last half hour is more by the book and does not bring anything new, but is simply portrayed. Mendes strikes me as a director who always puts the stylistic aspect first, which means that the content is somewhat empty, but that wasn't too bad. There are a few interesting topics though. Nevertheless, style remains overwhelmingly the strongest aspect of Jarhead; especially the scenes with the burning oil fields are a feast for the eyes. Acting performances were decent, although I've seen both Gyllenhaal and Fox do it more impressively several times.
Beautiful cinematography, an interesting angle and a realistic raw atmosphere yield 3.5*.
Translated from Dutch · View originalPre- and sequels
Jarhead: Law of Return
2019
Jarhead 3: The Siege
2016
Jarhead 2: Field of Fire
2014
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