Lance Cutshall: Response to Jarhead

Lance Cutshall

Since the beginning of October I had planned to go see Jarhead on its opening night. I was antsy all day waiting until it was time to go see this movie. Teaser trailers and talk in newspapers, magazines, class and the internet only made my excitement even larger. I would definitely fit into the category of being sick of seeing all the negative attention from the news and ready to see us kick some Iraqi ass.

I come from a military family that has served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. All I wanted to do as a child was join the army, navy or marines. My collection of GI Joes dwarfed that of any of my friends. When at my grandparents’ house I was always pleading to go to the military surplus store. I could very often be found in a pair of fatigues around the house. However, my application into the armed forces was declined due to the medical condition of my knees. So needless to say, I went to this viewing with more expectation than others, because I was seeking closure and acceptance of the fact that I cannot serve my country in Iraq.

This film touched me very deeply. There were no gratuitously violent scenes. No shoot ‘em up montage, and even more there was no victory for the men. These soldiers came home with no scene of moral victory and feeling as if they had no part in the victory. This film focused more on the psychological effects of war rather than the violence and death. In one of the more difficult scenes to watch, one of the soldier’s receives a video from his wife that he believes is The Deer Hunter, a war movie, but is a video of her engaging in sexual intercourse with his neighbor. My heart sunk at this sight, I couldn’t imagine going through the pains of war and having that image weighing on you all the while.

Jarhead was a breath of fresh air compared to many of the other war movies I have seen. Not to say Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Now, or Black Hawk down , just to name a few, aren’t great films, they just focus on a different part of war. This movie focused on how difficult the battle against boredom and insanity are almost worse than the battle against the enemy. We see the main character Swofford beginning to lose his grip as the film progresses. He understands there is nothing to stop him from slipping into insanity, and is afraid.

Jarhead is a very psychological movie in itself. It is not a movie that blows things up to entertain you, it makes you think, lets you connect with the characters and feel what they feel. Because of its grip on your emotions, and making you feel like you are there with the soldiers, it is a very tough film to view. I left the theater feeling very emotionally drained and physically shaking, I couldn’t calm my trembling hands for a long time after leaving the theater.

As the Marines are returning home, a Vietnam veteran boards the bus to greet them and congratulate the men. As the crowds cheer he asks the Staff Sergeant if he can sit on the bus with them. This scene evokes very strong emotions to those who are familiar with any military or US history. When the Vietnam veterans returned home, they returned to hatred and disdain from their countrymen. This man was trying to feel gratified for his service to his country and you can see the pain in his eyes as he slowly sits down in the front seat.

I felt that this movie will go down as one of the great American Military films. No other war movie has touched me emotionally as this one did. Not all who view it will have the same feeling, as no one else has the same background going into it. However, I believe anyone who watches the news about our involvement in Iraq now should see it. Because, whether you support the actions or not, this film gives you a little more appreciation of the men, and what they are going through. I am not asking anyone to support the war, just support the troops, and Jarhead is a film that shows why these men need our support.