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Jarhead (2005)
A film about a war, and wars in general.
"Jarhead" ultimately operates as a movie with many messages, some of them stated quite plainly and others deeply embedded in the story of the characters. Don't confuse this with movies like "Saving Private Ryan" or "Black Hawk Down"-- this film does not glorify war in some roundabout way. Like "Three Kings" before it, "Jarhead" instead presents combat in a completely unique light, as only a sniper struggling in a high tech war could see it. His introspective, often silent observations drive the story about a group of eight elite marine snipers who spend nearly 130 some-odd days in Iraq. As Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) explains, it is at the same time a war that for him lasts four days. The impact it leaves behind however, is immeasurable.
A character that downright denies the audience much insight into his past with a bold and direct statement immediately in the first 5 minutes of the film, we are presented with the nearly clean slate of Swofford, who initially wants genuinely to serve his country, despite the jokes about merely "getting lost on the way to college".
He was not recruited, he reads Camus, and that's about all we're given. His character evolves afterwords into a realistic portrayal of a kid trying very hard to make sense of what is being thrown at him by the war as fatigues unique to the desert (as well as the more familiar stresses like that of the girl friend left behind) wear him down. Boredom and uselessness make him question his purpose in the war, and more importantly the role of the war in his life.
Using Swofford and the men in his unit, Sam Mendes (director of "American Beauty" and "Road to Perdition") masterfully presents a bleak at the same time violently vibrant portrait of youthful enthusiasm and pop culture-- where young soldiers refer continually to other films about war and try to act like the heroes portrayed in those films. Amidst beautifully stylized shots of blazing oil fires, friendly fire, and smoldering wreckage Mendes manages to make the sprawling desert as expressive as the period piece journey in "Perdition" or the home wrought with conflict in "Amercian Beauty" .
With strong supporting performances by both Peter Sarsgaard and Chris Cooper that that blend vulgar humor and sometimes smart, contemplative dialogue, the film makes a bold statement about the nature of war, as well as the place of war in today's society. As Swofford says in the closing scenes, "Every war is different, every war is the same."
The Hook of Woodland Heights (1990)
Oh Yes
The film is soooo intensely awful it's amazing. So awful in fact, that it's awesome. From the villain's undeniably bad makeup to the shotty special effects, you'll be sitting in complete disbelief. But wait--just when you think it's over and your night is about to once again descend into mediocrity...the behind the scenes documentary starts. You'll be perplexed to say the least as you learn everything about the production and more importantly the premier party for the movie. Keeping in mind that this is also packaged back to back with the short "Attack of the Killer Refrigerator", you should already be trying to find a copy at your nearby rental store.
Attack of the Killer Refrigerator (1990)
no budget effort, and it shows
It seriously has to be seen to be believed. Yes, the movie is about a refrigerator attacking a house full of people who previously abused it...in particular the one guy who chipped the ice off of its interior to cool down some drinks at a party. This, of course, is explained in a flashback...by the refrigerator. Yes, the refrigerator has a flashback. It's for gems like this that you should see the movie. How a stationary object, possessed or otherwise, would succeed in killing half a dozen people is beyond me, but it happens in this short film. I know, I know--it was a college film with no budget, etc etc; so props for the effort and all. But seriously...I guess you should really just see it for yourself.