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Based on former Marine Anthony Swofford’s best-selling 2003 book, "Jarhead" is a movie that disappoints only in that it is not the masterpiece it could have been. Beautifully made and visually arresting, this movie about Swofford’s experiences fighting in Kuwait often reminded me of Stanley Kubrick’s disturbing and near brilliant 1987 film "Full Metal Jacket," which is about Marines fighting in Vietnam.
Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays Swofford, is hardly a superstar, but he’s not exactly an unknown. "Jarhead" is the 25-year-old’s 16th film in a career that began in 1991 playing Billy Crystal’s son in "City Slickers." He’s so far down in the credits on that film’s www.imbd.com listing a person needs to click the "more" button to find him. His stock has gone up considerably, getting good reviews in "October Sky" (1999) and "Donnie Darko" (2001).
In "Jarhead," he’s billed as the star and what he does with the role is nothing less than reinvent himself. Gyllenhaal has one of those perpetually youthful faces that belie worldliness and an innate toughness. It is an amazing performance.
The actor plays a third-generation enlistee who enters the Marines in the early 1990s just as things are heating up in the Persian Gulf. After Swofford survives a brutal hazing by his fellow Marines, he impresses his superiors enough to be named to an elite sniper squad that is on its way to what is still known at Operation Desert Shield. While there, "Swoff," as he is nicknamed, finds out war is, indeed, hell, but it can be a lot of fun, too. In this respect, "Jarhead" also reminded me of another film: Robert Altman’s "M*A*S*H." The film also features Oscar-winners Jamie Foxx as Sgt. Sykes and Chris Cooper as Lt. Col. Kazinski.
Unlike great war (or anti-war) films, "Jarhead" suffers from a lack of a focus. Despite some of the horrible things he sees, Swofford seems to enjoy the camaraderie of his fellow soldiers.
Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes has made his third feature an entertaining and often hard to forget movie that nonetheless lacks the requisite power to be really special.
Jarhead
R
In theatres Thursday
Three and a half out of four
Recommended Rental
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
PG
Available Tuesday
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is the fourth collaboration between director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp. This film is based on Roald Dahl’s darkly off-kilter children’s book of the same name and also was the basis for 1971’s "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" with Gene Wilder.
Depp plays Willy Wonka, head of the wildly popular Wonka Chocolate Empire. He announces a special contest in which five golden tickets have been hidden in chocolate bars throughout the country. The film also stars Freddy Highmore as Charlie Bucket, one of the lucky children, and longtime Burton professional and personal partner Helena Bonham Carter.
Thu.: 12:05, 2:35, 5:05, 7:35, 9:55
