San Francisco Chronicle
The invigorating thing about Jarhead is it makes us encounter the truth in its undigested form.
Full review
Jarhead
Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx star in this 2005 Gulf War drama from director Sam Mendes (1917), relaying the experiences written on the page by real-life US Marine Anthony Swofford.
After putting up with an arduous boot camp, Swofford (Gyllenhaal) and his unit are sent to the Persian Gulf where they are eager to fight, but are forced to stay back from the action. Swofford struggles with the possibility of his girlfriend cheating on him, and as his mental state deteriorates, his desire to kill increases.
Less2005Rating: R123 minsUK, USARed Wagon Entertainment, Neal Street Productions
DramaTrue Story & BiographyWar
Jarhead | Reviews
61%200 reviewsRotten Tomatoes® Score
All reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
USA Today
Director Sam Mendes' third screen outing pretty well nails Swofford's tone, which was mordant without being disrespectful, and, in fact, is begrudgingly reverent of the Corps.
Full review
The Guardian
Stunning to look at and to listen to, with elegantly chosen pop songs unspooling on the soundtrack under each fresh new horror.
Full review
BBC
Jarhead takes a perverse pleasure in confounding your expectations of what a war movie should be.
Full review
Time Out
The film's strong suit is vagueness, presenting combat as a semi-surreal state of ignorant expectation and dislocated experience: these warriors loll in the desert awaiting action or trying to make sense of its consequences.
Full review
Sydney Morning Herald
It's another fine Gyllenhaal performance, but not really enough, because his suffering doesn't amount to a hill of Kuwaiti sand in the end.
Full review
Daily Telegraph
Gyllenhaal can, in fact, act, so the blame must fall elsewhere for his dim performance, all topless tears and soulful voiceovers.
Full reviewJarhead | Release Details
Jarhead is available to stream in New Zealand now on Google Play and Apple TV and Neon.