Jarhead

Name: Jarhead
Genre: Biography, Drama, War
Released: November 4, 2005
Duration: 125 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx, Lucas Black

2005

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 40 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 242 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 242 Ratings

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JARHEAD

Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: November 4, 2005

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx, Lucas Black

Summary: Laced with dark wit, honest inquisition and episodes that are at once surreal and poignant, tragic and absurd, Jarhead is the film adaptation of Marine Anthony Swofford's bracing memoir that took readers into his disorienting firsthand experience in the Gulf War. (Universal)

Director: Sam Mendes

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 125 min

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Awards & Rankings

26	#26 Most Discussed Movie of 2005

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - William Arnold

The sum of the movie is devastating. One takes out of it a sense that the human cost of our endless adventure in Iraq is going to be incalculable, perhaps catastrophic -- a psychological time bomb that will be exploding for decades to come. Read full review

The New Republic - Stanley Kauffmann

The daring achievement of Jarhead is that it is not a film about war, about combat: it is about being a soldier. Read full review

San Francisco Chronicle - Mick LaSalle

A harsh and thoroughly unromantic examination of the scarring effects of war. Read full review

Empire - Colin Kennedy

While not quite the war movie that many of us were hoping to see right now, Mendes’ dispassionate take on the first Gulf War has many merits, and it does bring vividly to life the peculiar dilemma of the modern soldier. Read full review

The Hollywood Reporter - Kirk Honeycutt

Jarhead refuses to engage in its own point of view toward events it depicts. So the film feels empty and tentative, uncertain of what if anything these events add up to. Read full review

The New York Times - Dana Stevens

Mr. Swofford's book has earned a place alongside the classics of military literature, but Mr. Mendes's film is more like a footnote - a minor movie about a minor war, and a film that feels, at the moment, remarkably irrelevant. Read full review

Chicago Reader - Jonathan Rosenbaum

Jarhead virtually begins with a rip-off of the basic-training sequence that opens Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket." Read full review

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User Reviews

JamesM.

Nov 6, 2005

I am surprised that this didn't recieve a better score than it did. A huge majority of the reviews that I've read say how 'terrible' the film is because it has no huge forward motion into action or anything. But, excuse me, but Isn't that the whole idea? I'm I am surprised that this didn't recieve a better score than it did. A huge majority of the reviews that I've read say how 'terrible' the film is because it has no huge forward motion into action or anything. But, excuse me, but Isn't that the whole idea? I'm sorry, but I loved the fact that this was an actionless war film. Not all war veterns see action all the time like in some other war films, so it's a relief to see some change in the genre. I recommend this movie to anyone who doesnt have a problem with a near actionless story. If you come in to this film looking for a good action film, you're going to be bored. If you go in to it looking for a character driven story, then you'll enjoy it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

DavidA.

Nov 5, 2005

The Best movie I've seen this year. I think it reflects a soldiers life and shows that you don't have to kill to make a good movie. Even though I do love action movies. I recommened everybody to gosse this movie it's awsome! You won't regret it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JeroenV.

Jan 4, 2009

The actors are great, the music is great, the atmosphere is great and the movie is great.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MikeK.

Nov 4, 2005

Interesting to see the non combat side of a war. It was important to lace each of the soldiers with thier own personal background stories to make it more realistic. After seeing a lively film such as this, I understand how someone might oppose the war, but how can one not support the Interesting to see the non combat side of a war. It was important to lace each of the soldiers with thier own personal background stories to make it more realistic. After seeing a lively film such as this, I understand how someone might oppose the war, but how can one not support the soldiers who fight it?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Semperfichick20

Dec 31, 2011

Most of the people who have had something negative say about the movie are most likely stuck up civilians who always get what they want. To actually relate to this film you have to be a jarhead yourself. I found this movie very comforting because I can relate to it. No marines wear suitsMost of the people who have had something negative say about the movie are most likely stuck up civilians who always get what they want. To actually relate to this film you have to be a jarhead yourself. I found this movie very comforting because I can relate to it. No marines wear suits like that in 112 degree weather but that didn't detract my view of the movie. I gave this movie an 8 because marines go through things like that including suicide. Good job representing the devil dogs. Oorah!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Feb 26, 2006

A reasonable film, but by no means anything spectacular. Some unnecessary and unexplained scenes were partly at fault for it being a tad weak, coupled with its huge, long-winded build up, and hugely disappointing anti-climax.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MarkS.

Nov 7, 2005

This is one of the WORST military movies, and a complete disgrace to the marine corps, and our government. Besides the fact it has no story line and a dumb ending, the film is useless. Don't waste your time, money or brain on this one---remember I told you so....not even worth seeing This is one of the WORST military movies, and a complete disgrace to the marine corps, and our government. Besides the fact it has no story line and a dumb ending, the film is useless. Don't waste your time, money or brain on this one---remember I told you so....not even worth seeing on video if they let you have it for free---SERIOUSLY!!! This is a stupid, liberal, hollywood jerk off film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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