Special Review
This review is a special request from Patreon supporter BodaciousCNO. If you'd like to support me on Patreon, click the button below. Visit PatreonIn the early 1980s, Stanley Kubrick expressed interest in doing a film about the horrors of the Vietnam War. After discovering the 1979 novel The Short-Timers, Kubrick referred to Gustav Hasford, the original author, to adapt the book. Kubrick had also been working with novelist Michael Herr, who previously wrote the Vietnam memoir Dispatches, on the screenplay. Initially, they brought on former Marine R. Lee Ermey as a technical advisor, but he convinced Kubrick to cast him. The rest of the cast consisted of relative unknowns like Matthew Modine, Vincent D’Onofrio, Adam Baldwin, and Arliss Howard. Filming occurred between 1985 and 1986, primarily in England, though it was difficult for many cast and crew members. After a rough shooting, the film premiered in the US in June 1987 and the UK in September. Concerned that audiences would misunderstand the title, Kubrick chose to call the movie Full Metal Jacket.
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Synopsis
At Parris Island, Drill Instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (R. Lee Ermey) trains recruits to become Marines. While he’s tough but fair to most of them, he’s particularly annoyed with Private Leonard “Gomer Pyle” Lawrence (Vincent D’Onofrio). Throughout the training, Lawrence is mocked and ridiculed by both Hartman and his fellow recruits for being overweight and incompetent. The only one who shows some compassion is J. T. “Joker” Davis (Matthew Modine), but even he can’t help him. After training, J. T. is made a sergeant and sent off to Vietnam as a reporter for Stars and Stripes. Paired with combat photographer Private First Class Rafterman (Kevyn Major Howard), J. T. witnesses first-hand the horrors of war. He sees fellow soldiers getting blown up, shot by snipers, and losing their humanity as the conflict continues. In his own words, J. T. sees what he calls “the duality of man” at play.
Review
Of the many Vietnam war movies released around this time, Full Metal Jacket is undoubtedly one of the most well-made. There are tons of long takes, tracking shots, and harsh lighting to accentuate the mood in typical Kubrick fashion. Admittedly, the movie’s best parts are the scenes at boot camp, mainly because of the performances. R. Lee Ermey steals the show as the hard-as-nails drill sergeant spouting some of the most profane dialogue imaginable. Also, Vincent D’Onofrio is another stand-out as the sympathetic yet insane Private Pyle with some memorable lines of his own. Matthew Modine makes for a good center as he deals with the unhinged insanity of Ermey and D’Onofrio. Unfortunately, the boot camp sequences end roughly 45 minutes in, and the rest of the movie slows down dramatically. Still, the scenes in Vietnam have their merits, even if they’re not as memorable.
As mentioned earlier, the film is incredibly well-made, and it shows during the Vietnam scenes. You get a sense of how ravaged these cities have become by the war with all the blown-up buildings. It’s crazy to think the film was shot in England, considering how well they could recreate a bombed-out Vietnam. The film tackles many themes, such as the duality of man and how war can make people into killing machines. Sadly, the sequences in Vietnam feel somewhat scattered and more like a series of events that just happen. It doesn’t quite have the emotional impact of similar Vietnam war movies like Platoon or Apocalypse Now. Despite its flaws, this is still an incredible well-made war film with great performances that explores humanity as a whole. Overall, Full Metal Jacket isn’t perfect, but it still earns its place as a cinematic classic.
Buy Full Metal Jacket from Amazon: https://amzn.to/34cknVR.
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