Military Man
Jarhead
Review by Ross Anthony

The first 20 minutes of this film have masterpiece written all over them, unfortunately, that fire peters out quite constantly until the film comes to a near flat lining ending. Too bad too, because as far as military films go, this one has a brave unique edge and perspective. It’s the tale of a young marine (Gyllenhaal ) who’s enlistment didn’t exactly play out as he’d imagined it.

It’s preface hosts some profound poetic prose, “Once these hands have held a rifle, nothing will feel the same in their grasp, a woman … etc.” I’m sure I’m not remembering those lines accurately - my apologies for that, but you get the idea. This profundity is even reprised at the end of the picture. It’s a very good point, but I didn’t feel that the film stuck to it. Yes, the first 20 minutes accentuate the point, but then, just as their mission in Desert Storm seems muddy and unclear, so falls the aim of the film. There’s a moment where Jake Gyllenhaal is supposed to become a bit crazy. There’s a scene where he goes berserk and he even tells us he’s going crazy in the narration -- but I still didn’t buy it. The film just doesn’t sell it to us.

That’s all, great idea, great perspective, maybe a great book. But the film loses fire power and can’t sustain.

-- Book Contest --


  • Jarhead. Copyright © 2007.
  • Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Lucas Black, Chris Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Brian Geraghty, Jacob Vargas, Evan Jones, Laz Alonso.
  • Directed by Sam Mendes.
  • Screenplay by William Broyles Jr. Based on the book by Anthony Swofford.
  • Produced by Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher at Universal/MP Kappa/Neal Street.

Grade..........................B (2/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Monday, 23-Apr-2007 14:22:45 PDT