Critic Reviews
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Ben Walters, 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.
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Ken Tucker, New York Magazine
Jarhead is utterly predictable (boys endure tough training; boys encounter another culture and are baffled), studded with first-rate performances.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
This is a very strong film with really good performances.
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Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
What's so good about the movie is Gyllenhaal's refusal to show off; he doesn't seem jealous of the camera's attention when it goes to others and is content, for long stretches, to serve simply as a prism though which other young men can be observed.
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Mike Clark, 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.
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Peter Howell, Toronto Star
Jarhead makes its points less obviously than most war films, and with more brains than blood.
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Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Slick military faux-criticism
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Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
For some it's an anti-war message, for others it's just a non-biased portrait of a man who never went to war despite being in the military during war time.
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Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Intelligent and bleak; for mature audiences only.
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Garth Franklin, Dark Horizons
Sporadically entertaining, and ultimately pointless -- although that seems to be its agenda right from the start.
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Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
As a depressive riff on Generation X's first war...it's exceptionally well-crafted.
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Prairie Miller, WBAI Web Radio
As usual, when the US makes war against the rest of the world, it's the artist who steps up to the plate to expose the lies and senseless tragedy, not the faint of heart or soul politicians and media.
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Joe Lozito, Big Picture Big Sound
What little statement the film makes revolves around the absurdity of these men, trained to shoot with ultimate precision, and never given the chance to fire off a round.
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Anton Bitel, Eye for Film
As time passes, waiting for orders becomes like waiting for Godot, an absurdist tragicomedy of frustration, madness and masculinity gone awry.
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Kam Williams, Upstage Magazine
A series of disjointed, shocking, and often unintentionally-humorous vignettes designed to celebrate boy-boy camaraderie while fomenting anti-Arab sentiments in the name of God, mom, and Apple Pie.
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Mike DeWolfe, Apollo Guide
The principal extra on that disc is a pair of full-length audio commentaries.
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Ross Anthony, Hollywood Report Card
The first 20 minutes of have masterpiece written all over them, unfortunately, that fire peters out quite constantly until the film comes to a near flat lining ending.
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Prairie Miller, WBAI Web Radio
As usual, when the US makes war against the rest of the world, it's the artist who steps up to the plate to expose the lies and senseless tragedy, not the faint of heart or soul politicians and media.
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Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses
full review in Greek
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Leslie Felperin, Sight and Sound
Jarhead is simultaneously audaciously original and so mired in the clichés it knowingly acknowledges, sends up and honours that it has little new to say.
Read all 20 critic reviews
Featured Audience Ratings
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Entirely predictable first-person account of a marine's experiences around Desert Storm. Ambivalent and unengaging.
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Upon first viewing, 'Jarhead' is no more than a portrait of the psychological challenges of a boring war. Yet, after the credits role, this film settles into your stomach and mind and doesn't leave. Sam Mendes creates a beautifully terrifying atmosphere with amazing… More
Upon first viewing, 'Jarhead' is no more than a portrait of the psychological challenges of a boring war. Yet, after the credits role, this film settles into your stomach and mind and doesn't leave. Sam Mendes creates a beautifully terrifying atmosphere with amazing cinematography and a strong cast of actors, with Gyllenhaal, Foxx, and Sarsgaard showing true talent. This film is not a trigger-happy gun show, but instead a poignant portrayal of soldiers battling themselves instead of the enemy. It's refreshing to see a great filmmaker give a unique turn on the modern 'war' genre.
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i almost gor drafted last year so this is like a horror movie
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One of the best films about people in war. This film is not about the fight, it is about the persons who go through physical and psychological hell, while all they has to do is sit and wait when the shit hits the fan. Director Sam Mendes again shows his wonderful visual eye here. Some… More
One of the best films about people in war. This film is not about the fight, it is about the persons who go through physical and psychological hell, while all they has to do is sit and wait when the shit hits the fan. Director Sam Mendes again shows his wonderful visual eye here. Some shots are among the most beautiful in history of cinema. Behold that burning oil sequence and the shot of horse covered in oil. Acting is top notch like in every film by Mendes. Biggest credit goes easily to Jamie Foxx who plays his role extremely well. This is another great film in filmography of Mendes.
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Jarhead is more than a movie. It is an entertaining truthful first person look at the reality of the war and that the biggest enemy they were fighting was boredom.
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I ussually avoid Anti War Movies. They iritate me mostly but this was something different.
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Jarhead was a geniusly made film and is tied with The Hurt Locker and Black Hawk Down as the greatest Iraq war film ever. Jake Gylenhal is a great actor, and here is proof of his genius. The plot is great, it shows the life of a man from boot camp to the war and ultimately going… More
Jarhead was a geniusly made film and is tied with The Hurt Locker and Black Hawk Down as the greatest Iraq war film ever. Jake Gylenhal is a great actor, and here is proof of his genius. The plot is great, it shows the life of a man from boot camp to the war and ultimately going home, and the horrors along the way. The music in the movie was a work of genius, Ill give credit to the composer. Jarhead is a genius movie, no doubt about it.
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A new kind of war film for a new kind of war, Sam Mendes' adaptation of Anthony Swofford's account of his experiences in Iraq can however stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the best of them. Gyllenhaal's progression from raw recruit through to the sheer tedium of… More
A new kind of war film for a new kind of war, Sam Mendes' adaptation of Anthony Swofford's account of his experiences in Iraq can however stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the best of them. Gyllenhaal's progression from raw recruit through to the sheer tedium of waiting for his war to happen is in turns funny, fascinating and shocking and Mendes provides some truly striking imagery. The well observed and intelligent script gives the viewer a real sense of "being there", and the uniqueness of the Iraq war in that it was so ubiquitous in the media means that these "behind the scenes" observations give real insight into the conflict, essentially filling in the blanks for those of us who experienced the war blow by blow on TV. Some of the characters were a little sketchy, but the triumvirate of Gyllenhaal, Foxx and Sarsgaard are brilliantly rendered and acted. The clever use of contemporary music also compliments the action (or lack of it) perfectly, and it is full of knowing references to war movies and their role in popular culture, counterpointing the drudgery of it's reality for these soldiers. ("That was Vietnam, asshole! We don't even have our own ***ing music!") A great study of fighting men coming to terms with their own impotence in a conflict that was taken out of their hands by technology.
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Jarhead is surprisingly addictive viewing with us following Swoff (Jake Gyllenhaal) into the Gulf War or more accurately, before the Gulf War as the soldiers try to cope with their boredom and prepare for battle.
Jughead is a war film trying not to be about war, instead we see the… More
Jarhead is surprisingly addictive viewing with us following Swoff (Jake Gyllenhaal) into the Gulf War or more accurately, before the Gulf War as the soldiers try to cope with their boredom and prepare for battle.
Jughead is a war film trying not to be about war, instead we see the soldiers dealing with the psychological effects of having nothing to do and their desperation to 'get some'. Gyllenhaal is fantastic as the self loathing Swoffard while Jamie Foxx puts in a strong performance as the Staff Sergeant.
While I doubt this is a 100% accurate to real life events, I think it was a decent attempt at portraying war without the shine.
"Look, I am twenty years old and I was dumb enough to sign a contract. I can hear their fucking bombs already. I can hear their bombs and I'm fucking scared, yeah. "
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This is a poor man's <i>Full Metal Jacket</i>. Though the idea of concentrating on the time before war, the waiting, the impatience, and the resulting human degradation is an interesting perspective, the film becomes a militaristic <i>Animal House</i>,… More
This is a poor man's <i>Full Metal Jacket</i>. Though the idea of concentrating on the time before war, the waiting, the impatience, and the resulting human degradation is an interesting perspective, the film becomes a militaristic <i>Animal House</i>, and the point gets lost in the crazy faux-joviality. Also, we don't know enough about Swoff before he entered the Marines to understand the degree of his character's change. Finally, the characters' central, stated goal is to kill someone - to get that one confirmed kill. But whereas <i>FMJ's</i> Joker is being satirical, these men are seriously obsessed with the prospect, and this goal makes it almost impossible to sympathize. Yes, I understand that distaste for these characters is part of the film's point, but they're not even "interesting-bad." They're just one-dimensionally blood-thirsty.
All this notwithstanding, Peter Sarsgaard turns in another astounding, convincing performance. The best friend from <i>Garden State</i> is always interesting to watch.
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Based on Ex USMC Scout Sniper, Anthony Swofford's memoir Jarhead; this is an incredible look at how soldiering can change one man. The film follows Swofford from Boot Camp to active duty during the Gulf War. The film takes a close look at Anthony Swofford who has a family history… More
Based on Ex USMC Scout Sniper, Anthony Swofford's memoir Jarhead; this is an incredible look at how soldiering can change one man. The film follows Swofford from Boot Camp to active duty during the Gulf War. The film takes a close look at Anthony Swofford who has a family history that every male member has served in the war. Swofford attends extensive Marine training to become a scout sniper. The film shows the camaraderie of the soldiers going off to war. Also the film shows the inhuman side of the soldiers (Swofford pulls an M16A2 assault riffle on a fellow soldier, another soldier desecrates a dead Iraqi's body) Jarhead is set during the first Gulf War. Instead of fighting the enemy, they mostly fight boredom amongst themselves. A terrificly told film with a new take on the war genre, though lacking in actual warfare carnage; Jarhead plays on the aspect of what it means to be a soldier and it's a film that tends to show a different side of soldiers. However the reason why this film fails to have a perfect score is that it shows mostly Hollywood cliches of stereotypical marine, dimwitted and can't do anything smart, and has little education. Thats my only real beef with the film, and thats why I can't give this film a perfect score. However it is a well acted film with strong actors in the roles. This is unlike any other war film, because it focuses on a war that lasted for four days, and the thing that soldiers are fighting the most of is boredom, not the enemy. A different type of film, but enjoyable nonetheless. Sam Mendes (director of American Beauty) brings this impressive story to film. Jarhead is watchable, but it's not flawless by any means.
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Extremely weak, and I found myself fallign asleep to how boring i was. I wasn't even 2 hours and I seemed like 4. It could have been condensed even more than it was!
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Finally a movie without a political story. A story that is about the soldier. This one is about Desert Storm / Desert Shield. The scenes of the Gulf War are true to life, especially the Oil Well Fires, Want to know why or veterans are sick With GWS, take a look at a little eye opening… More
Finally a movie without a political story. A story that is about the soldier. This one is about Desert Storm / Desert Shield. The scenes of the Gulf War are true to life, especially the Oil Well Fires, Want to know why or veterans are sick With GWS, take a look at a little eye opening facts of this movie. Also the personal hell one fights while on the firing line wondering what?s happening at home with our love ones. 4 Stars
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While I don't believe Sam Mendes intended for this to be a war movie, it was immediately labeled as one. This is a movie about soldiers and the complete and utter distaste that comes along with war. It criticizes the very nature of human beings and why they feel the need to… More
While I don't believe Sam Mendes intended for this to be a war movie, it was immediately labeled as one. This is a movie about soldiers and the complete and utter distaste that comes along with war. It criticizes the very nature of human beings and why they feel the need to fight. The acting was great, Jake Gyllenhaal really put in a great performance that was both convincing and sympathetic. Sam Mendes' style works perfectly and the bleak look of the film is amazing.
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Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard
"Jarhead" (the self-imposed moniker of the Marines) follows Swoff, a third-generation enlistee, from a sobering stint in boot camp to active duty, sporting a sniper's rifle and a hundred-pound rucksack on his back through… More
Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard
"Jarhead" (the self-imposed moniker of the Marines) follows Swoff, a third-generation enlistee, from a sobering stint in boot camp to active duty, sporting a sniper's rifle and a hundred-pound rucksack on his back through Middle East deserts with no cover from intolerable heat or from Iraqi soldiers, always potentially just over the next horizon. Swoff and his fellow Marines sustain themselves with sardonic humanity and wicked comedy on blazing desert fields in a country they don't understand against an enemy they can't see for a cause they don't fully fathom.
I think this is the first war movie I have seen that really wasn't about war. It was more about the soldiers and their lives. How they live while there and how they cope with being so far away from loved ones. I must say that I am not a huge fan of war movies, but I do always end up watching them for some reason or another, and I am always a bit surprised when I actually like one. I did cringe a little when I saw that the running time of this movie was five minutes short of being 2hrs long. I was for sure I wouldn't be able to sit through the whole movie. Well I guess I was wrong. It intrigued me. Loved the characters, and thought Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard were great. The more war movie's I watch and like encourage me to watch more. LOL.. Not really.. But people should see this one.
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i loved this movie i thought it was brilliatn with laugh out loud moments.
its so true to some squaddies lives that this story is believiable and enjoyable with an amazing cast and acting the storyline is brilliant and some reallly explosive scens that are enjobable and exciting… More
i loved this movie i thought it was brilliatn with laugh out loud moments.
its so true to some squaddies lives that this story is believiable and enjoyable with an amazing cast and acting the storyline is brilliant and some reallly explosive scens that are enjobable and exciting stuff!
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I would say this was 50% accurate and 50% gloss. Entertaining but I didn't care much for Gyllenhaal and Foxx's performances.
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As Roger Ebert said, "this film is neither pro war nor anti war. It's the "Waiting for Godot" of war." That's a great way to sum it up. There are shades of previous war and military films in this movie, especially before the marines get sent to the… More
As Roger Ebert said, "this film is neither pro war nor anti war. It's the "Waiting for Godot" of war." That's a great way to sum it up. There are shades of previous war and military films in this movie, especially before the marines get sent to the desert, but after that, this becomes a military movie in a league of its own. The performances are very strong, especially from Foxx and Gyllenhaal. The camera work is quite stunning, probably because Roger Deakins is responsible, and the direction from Sam Mendes is likewise strong. Many say this film is quite accurate, and, based on my on personal knowledge, I'd have to agree. True, there are some liberties taken here and there, but that's the case with just about any film. Probably the best thing I have to say about this movie is how all of it is interesting, even the tedious and mundane activites the soldiers engage in for a majority of the film. That is a sign of a great film.
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The first gulf war has had the reputation of having been a rather clean and effortless war since the last shot was fired. This film is putting an end to that. Starting out with the training of the marine snipers, including all yelling drill sergeants and initiation rituals that… More
The first gulf war has had the reputation of having been a rather clean and effortless war since the last shot was fired. This film is putting an end to that. Starting out with the training of the marine snipers, including all yelling drill sergeants and initiation rituals that includes, the middle part concentrates on the bored waiting of soldiers for the shit to hit the fan in Iraq. The last third, when the shit finally hits the fan, is probably the truest and most honest effort to show what went down in 1991, some parts almost feel documentary. Especially the scenes among the burning oil fields are particularly bizarre and leave an impression with the audience. All that is well acted and excellently filmed. Dirty, honest and without any hollow heroism crap, this film shows the every day life of a soldier in operation "desert storm" probably as close as no other has.
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Not that great, Sarsgaard and Gyllenhaal both sucked, which is unfortunate since I think both are pretty good actors. The "nothing-ness" theme gets old after a while, there is nothing that entertaining nor memorable about this movie other than the Persian Gulf War was a lot… More
Not that great, Sarsgaard and Gyllenhaal both sucked, which is unfortunate since I think both are pretty good actors. The "nothing-ness" theme gets old after a while, there is nothing that entertaining nor memorable about this movie other than the Persian Gulf War was a lot of nothing, which we already knew.
Read all 20 featured audience ratings
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