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 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 276 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 276 Ratings

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Jarhead

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: November 4, 2005 | R

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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Critic Reviews

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

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

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

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

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

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

SamS.

Nov 6, 2005

Captures all aspects in perfect unicin of the Gulf War. Understands it is not a big was and captrues that in every scene. Brilliant, touching, and powerful interactions and preformences between all actors. Shows realistic and political aspects of the Gulf War. A slap in in face to military Captures all aspects in perfect unicin of the Gulf War. Understands it is not a big was and captrues that in every scene. Brilliant, touching, and powerful interactions and preformences between all actors. Shows realistic and political aspects of the Gulf War. A slap in in face to military wives, that is true, but that is the only fault of this supurbley acted, incredibly beautifal film. Jamie Foxx and Jake Gylenhall are only two examples of wonderful actors. Peter Sarsgaard diserves a oscar.… Expand

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

SteveW.

Aug 15, 2007

i clapped at the end of this movie - i thought it was interesting in not following a predictable script and faithful to the plethora of information that was in the book, i think those who read the book would appreciate the movie better. And yes the detailing of male sexuality in the i clapped at the end of this movie - i thought it was interesting in not following a predictable script and faithful to the plethora of information that was in the book, i think those who read the book would appreciate the movie better. And yes the detailing of male sexuality in the military is not for everyone's delicate ears, but it happens and probably a lot more obscene than this.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

glomman

May 21, 2020

It's a pretty solid movie depicting the horrors of war in a very cynical light. What I missed, though, was some sort of clear objective or better written characters with actual development, instead everybody behaves in the same melodramatic, but still very brunt, way over the entire movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ProfAmateur

Dec 30, 2020

Ein weiterer oberflächiger Standardkriegsfilm ohne etwas Neues. Einzig der Schluss hat etwas Tiefgündigkeit und die Besetzung ist okay.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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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