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Jarhead

Jarhead

Drama · War · 2005

Jarhead is a film about a US Marine Anthony Swofford’s experience in the Gulf War. After putting up with an arduous boot camp, Swofford and his unit are sent to the Persian Gulf where they are eager to fight, but are forced to stay back from the action. Swofford struggles with the possibility of his girlfriend cheating on him, and as his mental state deteriorates, his desire to kill increases.

Movie details

Jarhead

“Welcome to the suck.”

2005 Drama · War 2h 3m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.7 / 10

Community rating

Jarhead is a film about a US Marine Anthony Swofford’s experience in the Gulf War. After putting up with an arduous boot camp, Swofford and his unit are sent to the Persian Gulf where they are eager to fight, but are forced to stay back from the action. Swofford struggles with the possibility of his girlfriend cheating on him, and as his mental state deteriorates, his desire to kill increases.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Jarhead?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Sam Mendes

Written by

William Broyles Jr.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal

Anthony Swofford

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx

Staff Sgt. Sykes

Peter Sarsgaard

Peter Sarsgaard

Alan Troy

Scott MacDonald

Scott MacDonald

D.I. Fitch

Chris Cooper

Chris Cooper

Lt. Col. Kazinski

Laz Alonso

Laz Alonso

Ramon Escobar

Lucas Black

Lucas Black

Kruger

Court is in session

Put Jarhead on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.