11/02/2005
A View To A Kill, Without the Kill
REVIEW: Jarhead
[SPOILER WARNING] I had a chance to see a pre-screening of Jarhead last night, and I don't think I'll ever look at a Santa hat the same way again. More on that later.
My first thought after seeing the movie was that Jake Gyllenhaal has chosen two movies this season, Brokeback Mountain and Jarhead, that have taken conventional movie genres, the Western and the war movie, and turned them on their heads.
In its conception, Jarhead is miles from that other Desert Shield movie, Three Kings. People who go to Jarhead thinking they are going to see a movie about war with lots of bombs, actions scenes, and killing, may be disappointed, because Jarhead is for the most part a movie about loneliness. It's a movie about expectations and isolation, and the psychological torture that can accompany those things.
Peter Sarsgaard recently told Dark Horizons: "I think what's interesting about the movie is that these guys get all pumped up to kill and then they go and they just sit there and you don't ever think like that's a casualty of war, too. You think a casualty of war is watching your friend get shot. It certainly is. Or shooting someone else. And it certainly is. But I think what's interesting about this movie is it's like, 'Alright, let's assume you didn't see any combat, it still will change your life forever and in some ways that you might not be to happy about.' It opened my eyes to that."
In Jarhead, much of the psychological torture comes because of not seeing combat.
Sam Mendes has shot a gorgeous film. The burning oil field scenes are as beautiful and apocalyptic as any I've seen. I was particularly stunned by one scene in which a horse covered in black oil wanders out of the smoky darkness and finds Swofford (Gyllenhaal) making his way across the desert. To me it really exemplified much of the suffering that goes on with relation to a war, suffering that goes on alone, suffering we never hear about.
Back to the Santa hat. For those of you Jake fans, there are scenes where the soldiers are partying in which Swofford's privates are covered only by a Santa hat — extended scenes of Gyllenhaal's bare backside, and a hot shower scene in which he goes full frontal. Granted, the scene is very shadowy, but you can definitely see that Mr. G is not lacking in that department. Nude and half-nude testosterone-charged Marines are simply one element of this film's gorgeous palette.
Sarsgaard and Jamie Foxx stand out in the film, although their stories are never fully fleshed out. I give props to a great supporting cast as well. The main criticism I can make of the film is that it doesn't properly reach a climax. Its meditative, amorphous progression never fully leads to anything — but perhaps that's part of the point. It's definitely the source of the frustration for the Marines in this corner of the war, ever eager to "kill something" and never given the opportunity.
Jarhead opens November 4.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:05 AM EST by Andy in Film & TV | Permalink
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I've seen the trailers from the film and I wasn't all that impressed, at least not yet, but then again I spent eight years of my life in Marine Corps and in that environment so I (and any other vet) look at it from a totally different perspective. Maybe the film in its entirety will be better. (I do agree the oilfield shots were done really well).
Believe me, when you are in "The Corps" and in that environment, there is nothing either hot or romantic about it.
Burlington, Vermont
Posted by: Seth | Nov 2, 2005 10:34:41 AM
I met my husband because while I was dating another guy, he showed me pics from a Holiday party he had attended and my current husband was in a pic wearing a Santa's hat (on his head of course). I immediately asked who he was, searched him out on gay.com, chatted him up for several days and he wore the hat on our first official date...we've been together now for the past 6 years and it's all thanks to that Santa's hat! It's a magical hat to be sure! And Jake is simply sizzling in his!
Posted by: Wayne | Nov 2, 2005 11:26:44 AM
Omigod. Thanks Andy!!!
Posted by: Tony R | Nov 2, 2005 11:44:22 AM
A full frontal shower scene with Jake? Do I need more reasons to go n watch it?
Posted by: Kiks | Nov 2, 2005 2:14:10 PM
I think the point of the book and the movie's ending is that you find yourself _wanting_ action, but not just out of boredom. You end up wanting this guy to kill someone. He _wants_ to kill someone. He wants to fullfil his purpose. Yet, we should be thinking the opposite. Therein lies a complexity of war and of our warriors, who in the end are just young men--average age 19--buffeted by the psychological manipulations of their training and at the whim of their "superiors."
Posted by: zoeymae | Nov 2, 2005 5:56:22 PM
At the screening here in L.A. I was as bored as the characters on the screen were waiting for something to happen. Two hours of waiting as they are bored made me bored. Sorry, even Jake partly nude for a few seconds didn't do it for me.
Posted by: JOHN~LosAngeles | Nov 2, 2005 6:05:14 PM
I also saw a screening -- not a great movie. It didn't really have anything to say. The notion of being pumped to see combat -- and then not seeing it -- would have been interesting, but it wasn't fully developed. The characters weren't interesting, and apart from the gorgeous look, the film didn't offer much.
Posted by: ADAM | Nov 2, 2005 10:08:49 PM
I highly praise jake for taking a chance and doing Brokeback Mountain.
BUT!!!!!! I am sorry. Though this movie has nothing to do with the current FUCK UP!!!!! (No WMDS and no connection between Iraq and 9/11)
A war movie at this time.....when 2,000 americans have died for no good reason what so ever!!!! (Wrong FFFFFFing war..it was the saudis who attacked us with 15 of the 19 hijackers being saudi and not 1 IRAQI) at least (the pentagon admits to this many)35,000 american boys and girls are now without arms, legs, eyes, or simply mentaly destablizied. between 30,000 to 100,00 iraqi CIVILLIANS many wo9men and CHILDREN are dead for this F UP!!!
Any war movie at this time is just WRONG!!!!
Wrong to show
wrong to watch
wrong to glorify
wrong to suppiort in any way what so ever
I am torn between praising Jake for Brokeback Mountain and wanting to boycott anything associated with him because of jarhead.
PS
WRONG FUCKING WAR bush
Posted by: Jimmy | Nov 2, 2005 10:26:12 PM
Damn, Jimmy. You're STUPID.
Posted by: Noodle | Nov 3, 2005 3:21:59 AM
What's "wrong" with having a war movie at this time. Despite Jimmy going on and on (and on), he doesn't appear to make a coherent point.
Posted by: cafegogo | Nov 3, 2005 8:59:16 AM
Behold, the anti-war movement: wild-eyed, rambling and incoherent.
Posted by: VeddyVeddyBadAng | Nov 3, 2005 10:22:47 AM
Man Jimmy you are so right. This is the wrong FUCKING war. I hate bush and i think all the men and women that have died are because of him. But i do not agree with you about how you say it is not the time to have a war movie. I think it is good for America to see what bush has done. And i think everybody needs to know.
Posted by: futuremarinesoontobe | Nov 3, 2005 10:02:57 PM
thanks for the review. Interested to see it for myself. Loved American Beauty and love Jake even more.
I'm enjoying your blog, keep it up!
Posted by: Jellygnite | Nov 3, 2005 10:54:40 PM
Jimmy, this film does not glorify war, its a pretty strong anti-war film. I was at a screening last night in Manhattan with the director, and he is not shy to say this is definitely an anti-war film.
See the movie first, this is about Desert Shield/Storm. Then you can freak out :)
I enjoyed it being an anti-war film by showing the realities of war, not blatantly displaying its message but leaving the viewer to come to that end.
It reminds me of a similar take, The Day After Tomorrow (another Jake film), which was a critique on the Bush Administration's handling of environmental issue (global warming), without ever saying it.
Posted by: Jay | Nov 4, 2005 10:53:50 AM
I'm sorry, but I saw the movie today and that does NOT count as a "full-frontal." But the few seconds of Jake pumping away on his girlfriend toward the beginning were worth the price of admission. Though the movie is B-O-R-I-N-G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: cal | Nov 4, 2005 7:21:47 PM
I liked it. I thought Andy's review and description were accurate and on point.
This not Apocalypse Now, both for the characters in the movie and for us the audience. It's something different, more thoughtful and interior.
Posted by: HoyaBoy | Nov 5, 2005 8:26:17 AM
can someone please tell me the name of the song that was playing during the scene where jake gyllenhaal has the dream about his girlfriend and he walks into the bathroom?????????
Posted by: gwen | Nov 8, 2005 1:51:49 AM
Gwen, I believe the song you are referring to was "Something In The Way" by Nirvana
Posted by: JAY | Nov 8, 2005 12:00:08 PM
Gwen, I believe the song you are referring to was "Something In The Way" by Nirvana
Posted by: JAY | Nov 8, 2005 12:03:17 PM
yeah, question. why are there all these gay adds on this website? this is a website about jake gyllenhaal right? well earth to all you gay guys and dissapointed girls. HE ISN'T GAY! he said so many times. so just believe it.
Posted by: a girl | Jan 14, 2007 7:57:05 PM
Yeah, answer. In case you haven't noticed, the header graphic plainly states: "TOWLEROAD: A BLOG WITH HOMOSEXUAL TENDENCIES." This is a website with Jake Gyllenhaal on it, but it is not a Jake Gyllenhaal website. And Earth to Stupid Girl: NO ONE GIVES A CRAP IF HE SAYS HE'S NOT GAY. Good for him. Regardless of whether he is or not, however, it doesn't mean we can't ogle his goodies. And that's what we're going to do. So just believe it.
Posted by: a guy | Feb 28, 2007 4:27:19 AM
Jake is a beautiful man. Full stop. Beyond gender or sexual orientation. Thank god for Jake Gyllenhaal!!!!
Posted by: Craig | Jul 3, 2007 6:59:37 PM