Review of Full Metal Jacket (1987) by Christopher S — 10 Apr 2013

Full Metal Jacket is up there with Apocalypse Now and Platoon as a great Vietnam War film, as Stanley Kubrick is very much aware of the themes and messages that the real war had and depicts this with style and relentless skill.

One character that is the 'vessel' for the film is Pvt. "Gomer Pyle" whose short life in the film is a testament to both Kubrick's psychotic storytelling and the rapid mental decay of an alienated killer that is eerie and haunting, but vividly true.

Kubirck, Herr and Hasford's script is impeccably detailed, memorable, skillful and witty while the action is thrilling and close-range. The ending is pessimistic, powerful but at the same time strange and bizzare and holds the film to consistent last note.

Full Metal Jacket is Stanley Kubrick's most audacious film as he directs the scenes and music to have instant tonal shifts that represent the real confusion and psychosis that surrounded the real war.

But aside from its messages, the first half hour solidifies the recurring humour (I mean its 10 whole minutes of all-out insults that were completely off-script) and black comedy that is the best parts of the film.