If you go into Mendes’ (American Beauty) new film
not expecting to see an epic that’ll have the members of the
Academy in awe, then you’ll most certainly enjoy what’s on
offer. Based on marine Anthony Swofford’s autobiography,
it’s a dramedy about a group of young men (Gyllenhaal as
Swofford) stationed in Iraq during the Gulf War. Most of them are
raring to go, but action is something little of them will see. In fact,
the only kill they’ll get is a desert scorpion. Jarhead
is as different a war film as you could possibly imagine. Not only does
it not pick sides – some will appreciate the all-round
sympathetic nature of the film – but it largely centres on the
lead-up to the war, the training and so on, rather than the bloody
battle itself. (In this case, the Gulf War was essentially over before
it started – well, the battle aspect of it anyway – so most
of these men were never going to see much of a skirmish anyway). Affect
this war did though – it was the start of the end for some men,
the starting mark for some other’s psychological downfalls, and
the place where some realised their purpose in life…. might
never come in use. Like most of Mendes’ films, Jarhead
is not exactly an exceptionally gripping film – it’s the
kind of film that you can easily take a loo break in – but it is
a very admirable one. The performances are outstanding, the writing is
impeccable, and the cinematography – the scenes where the enemy
lights up the oil mines are superb – is resplendently A-grade. You mightn’t want to go steady with it, but you won’t look back in discontent on the night you met Jarhead. EXTRASExtras
include dual commentaries (one from Swofford), a couple of featurettes
(Mendes provides commentary for near everything but the trailer) and a
selection of deleted scenes. Conclusion:
Movie 70% Extras: 60% 
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