Review: Jarhead Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal Scott MacDonald    Peter Sarsgaard Jamie Foxx Directed by: Sam Mendes   Jarhead is unlike any other war movie of recent memory. It does not linger on the violence in the war, or have machine gun scenes. This is a movie about how war affects you before, after, and during. When there is no violence or war going on, how do the soldier's deal? What they do while waiting? It tackles something must war movies have not. Most re-lie on over the top violence, special effects and blood. This movie has none of that. This movie is based on former Marine Anthony Swofford's 2003 best-selling book about his pre-Desert Storm experiences in Saudi Arabia and about his experiences fighting in Kuwait. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Anthony Swofford whose father also served in war. He was supposed to attend college, but found his way in the Marines. This movie follows him and his fellow Marines experience during this time. Also, along for this movie such star power actors as Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Peter Sarsgaard, Lucas Black, amongst others. Plus, our director for this film is Sam Mendes, who has such films under his belt as American Beauty, and Road to Perdition. © Universal Pictures We start out with day one, and right off the bat he is treated tough and you know this guy is in for a long ride. They are trained daily and intensely. Jamie Foxx goes so far as to say "if you pick your nose or move, you will die". They are prepared, ready, and trained in case anything does go down. But nothing in fact does go down. The movie shows them bored, lonely, and more then anything wanting to shoot their riffle. It shows what most war movies do not show. What goes on, when they are training and not fighting. Their days are spent training, losing their girlfriends by being away so long, teasing each other, watching TV and movies, and oh yeah, masturbating too. But in case anything does go down, they are still trained daily and deadly with a riffle and ready to go. These guys long for the day when they can put their skills to the test and all their brutal training. You got some top notch actors, mesmerizing scenery, a great director yet this movie never really gets off the ground or goes anywhere. I enjoy the idea of a war movie without noise and showing the affects it has on you, losing your girlfriend, the brutal training. But as boring as it was for them go through it, it was just as boring for us as the viewer. As the 90 minute mark approached (this movie runs just short of 2 hours) I found myself antsy and bored. I am not trying to discredit the accomplishments, hard work, and the sacrifice they go through, but to a viewers eye, it just not that interesting or entertaining to watch. It tells the story but does not go out of it's way to engross us in anyway or keep us interested. All through this movie, I kept waiting for something to happen, or waiting for something to drag me along, but before I knew it, the movie was over. There was just not that much drama to film and the movie was instantly forgettable. © Universal Pictures I think the problem with the movie was it was doomed from the get go. The movie is showing how bored they get and how they are waiting for the war and nothing occurs. We go through the same plight and boredom that they do. If they could have found a way to show the boredom YET still made it worthwhile and fun to watch, you could have a movie. Instead it came off boring and tedious. Maybe if you went through this before and could relate to it, you could understand and get into it. But as a viewer, there is nothing to sink your teeth into it. But that is a huge failing of the director not finding a way to get people into it and to care about everything that is going on. There is a lot of talent at work here it is too bad it is wasted in this rental worthy movie. Review by Tony Farinella

 

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