Review of Jarhead (2005) by Wayne B — 09 Jul 2011

"Lacks an emotional thrust"? That's what the consensus says and it doesn't make any sense, because this is Sam Mendes: The Depressing Director. I bet when he heard that, he was so dissapointed that he slouched and cried for 2 hours and filmmed it. You'de think with a war movie, everyone would be bawling their eyes out, but no. Maybe it's because this is the Gulf War, probably the most forgotten war in modern America. Well, to be fair, I only remember the Korean War because my grandfather had to settle for the generic war on asian. But seriously though, I'm gonna stop teasing and just answer the question "How does this film affect me, emotionally?".

Now, if Michael Bay's "Pearl Harbor" (which - to be fair - is underrated as all get-out) could make me choke up, then one can only imagine what a Sam Mendes war film did to me. Surprisingly, not too much. Still, though he didn't make me flat-out bawl my eyes out like I did in "Revolutionary Road", Mendes manages to set-up a very moving, hard-hitting atmosphere that is carried by his team of solid performers. Still, the film remains flawed. It takes its share of hits from cliches, mildly hard-to-follow points, expendable scenes and mild inconsistencies. In spite of this, the film is an audacious, offbeat concept that is supported by excellent cinematography, fairly effective humor, very good production designs, a fair soundtrack, some sharp sound, good visual effects and a progressive increase in compellingness until it comes down to a great ending. My cons/pros lists are so redundant and it's driving me crazy, but at least I have a some reasonably offbeat discussions to make.

Touching on the actors, they really are something to see. The characters' steady desensitization is subtle and believable, as is their crackling chemistry with each other. Don't even get me started on their razor sharp emotional work. As for Gyllenhaal, he is a compelling avatar for the audience. The atmosphere he gives off as he goes through these struggles puts you in the experience. Of course, credit for this immersive atmosphere must also go to director Sam Mendes, who may give us some fun times during the early parts of the film, but soon gives us his trademark emotional impact.

Sam Mendes is really taking a lot of risks with this film, as he's not just making any old drama. He's making a war drama with a sense of humor early on and if he's going to go there, then he's gonna need to wow us with action and make the transition from humor to emotionally resonance feel smooth. Maybe people are saying the film lacks emotional resonanse, because of the sense of humor, but after he gets that out of the way, he delivers yet another heavy emotional punch. Still, I was surprised to see how solid of an action director he is. With his emotional stamp left on these well-choreographed, well-shot and well-produced action sequences, Mendes creates sharp tensity while in the heat of battle, but when the sound of war is silenced (and quite literally) and we see the aftermath, it really hits home. This certainly isn't Mendes' most emotionally impacting film, but that's like saying "This "South Park" episode isn't as much of a pretentious, immature, overrated pile of disgustingly unfunny garbage as the others." My controveral views that I could not be more proud of aside, Mendes puts on another hard-hitting emotional show when he's not showing off that he can also give us some sharp humor and dazzling action.

Overall, though "Jarhead" may be a little too fun and games for a while, it remains offbeat, compelling and emotionally resonant, being carried by solid performances on and off of the screen.