Full Metal Jacket (1987)
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The story
The film follows a platoon of U.S. Marines as they undergo grueling boot camp training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. The first half focuses on the intense, abusive training methods of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, specifically highlighting the struggles of recruits J. T. Davis, nicknamed "Joker," and Leonard Lawrence, known as "Pyle." The narrative then shifts to the second half, depicting the experiences of Joker and his fellow Marines as they navigate the combat and chaos of the Vietnamese cities of Da Nang and Huế during the Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
During the Vietnam War, recruits undergo eight weeks of training at Parris Island under the harsh leadership of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. Among them are the wisecracking J. T. Davis (Joker) and the struggling Leonard Lawrence (Pyle). After Pyle is found with a prohibited item, the platoon faces collective punishment. Pyle eventually shows a sudden, alarming proficiency in marksmanship before a tragic incident in the barracks leads to his death and Hartman's death. By 1968, Joker is a sergeant in Da Nang. During the Tet Offensive, he and a photographer, Rafter Man, are sent to Phu Bai and later into the city of Huế. They encounter various casualties, including the loss of their leader and several squad members. In a final confrontation, the squad faces a young female sniper. After a tense debate over her fate, Joker is forced to deliver a mercy kill. The film ends with the Marines marching toward the Perfume River, with Joker providing a final internal monologue on his survival.
- First release year
- 1987
- Runtime (minutes)
- 116
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Stanley Kubrick
- Writers
- Stanley Kubrick · screenplay; Michael Herr · screenplay; Gustav Hasford · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Matthew Modine · J. T. Davis (Joker); R. Lee Ermey · Gunnery Sergeant Hartman; Vincent D'Onofrio · Leonard Lawrence (Pyle); Adam Baldwin · Animal Mother; Dorian Harewood · Eightball; Arliss Howard · Cowboy; Kevyn Major Howard · Rafter Man; Ed O'Ross · Mr. Touchdown
- Genres
- war; drama
- Themes
- military brainwashing; masculinity; human evil; war's pointlessness
- Tone and mood
- intense; darkly comic; harrowing
- Premise and plot tags
- war; military; Vietnam War; boot camp
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Short-Timers
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the first act and the performances, particularly R. Lee Ermey's, while some found the second half more disjointed.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 89% · scale: percentage · review count: 88; Metacritic · score: 78 · scale: 100 · review count: 19
- Awards and nominations
- Boston Society of Film Critics Award · Best Supporting Actor · win; Japanese Academy · Best Foreign Language Film · win; Academy of Italian Cinema · Best Producer · win; London Critics Circle Film Awards · Director of the Year · win; Boston Society of Film Critics Awards · Best Director · win; Academy Award · Best Adapted Screenplay · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was the last of Stanley Kubrick's films to be released during his lifetime.; The title refers to the full metal jacket bullet used by military servicemen.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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