Jarhead (2005)
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The story
In 1989, Anthony "Swoff" Swofford joins the United States Marine Corps and undergoes rigorous training before being stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. While he struggles to fit in and find friends, he is identified by a veteran sergeant as a candidate for a competitive Scout Sniper course. After completing the grueling training, Swofford and his fellow Marines are deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield during the Gulf War. Amidst the monotony of training and the anticipation of combat, the men deal with the psychological strain of their situation and the distractions of their lives back home.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a disciplinary incident involving a fire, Swofford is demoted and assigned to latrine duty, leading to a mental breakdown where he threatens his comrade. During Operation Desert Storm, the Marines are stationed on the Kuwait-Saudi Arabia border. Swofford learns of his partner Troy's criminal past and they are branded as 'one of their own' before the unit advances through the 'Highway of Death' and witnesses burning oil wells. Near the end of the war, Swofford and Troy are assigned a sniping mission to eliminate high-ranking officers, but they are overruled by a superior officer to allow an air strike. The war ends without Swofford ever firing his rifle, leading him to realize the futility of his training in modern warfare. Upon returning home, Swofford's personal life is revealed to be in shambles, and he learns of Troy's death, ultimately imagining himself still in the desert.
- First release year
- 2005
- Runtime (minutes)
- 123
- Production countries
- United States; Germany; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sam Mendes
- Writers
- William Broyles Jr. · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jake Gyllenhaal · Swofford; Jamie Foxx; Peter Sarsgaard
- Genres
- biographical war drama
- Themes
- war; boredom; isolation; identity
- Tone and mood
- intense
- Setting
- Camp Pendleton, California; Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during the Gulf War (1990–1991).
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; war; military; sniper
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2003 memoir by Anthony Swofford
- Franchise connections
- Jarhead
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the performances and cinematography while others criticized its lack of emotional impact or perceived irrelevance.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 60% · review count: 197; Metacritic · score: 58 · scale: 100 · review count: 40
- Production trivia
- The film was based on a memoir by Anthony Swofford.; The title is derived from military slang among U.S. Marines.; The film spawned three direct-to-video sequels that are unrelated to the original.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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