
San Francisco Chronicle
The invigorating thing about Jarhead is it makes us encounter the truth in its undigested form.
Full reviewJake 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.
LessThe invigorating thing about Jarhead is it makes us encounter the truth in its undigested form.
Full reviewDirector 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 reviewStunning to look at and to listen to, with elegantly chosen pop songs unspooling on the soundtrack under each fresh new horror.
Full reviewJarhead takes a perverse pleasure in confounding your expectations of what a war movie should be.
Full reviewThe 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 reviewIt'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 reviewGyllenhaal can, in fact, act, so the blame must fall elsewhere for his dim performance, all topless tears and soulful voiceovers.
Full reviewJarhead is available to stream in New Zealand now on Google Play and Apple TV and Neon.
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