Mendes's Jarhead, a forgotten gem, explores the complex psychology of the Gulf War

Jarhead - Sam Mendes - 2005

★★★★-Operation Dessert Storm movie. Portrayed in all its futility, with the Iraq War just getting started at the time of its release. Doesn't exactly make me wish I had enlisted instead of going to school. 

Directed by Sam Mendes. He also did American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Skyfall, Spectre, and 1917. A real talent, this guy. Have to be to get a pair of Bond films. 

The film delves into the psychological study of a U.S. Marine sniper during the Gulf War dealing with existential issues with meaning, purpose, and boredom. Hones in on the isolation and monotony that the soldiers experienced in that mostly forgotten war. Adapted from Anthony Swofford's memoir of the same name.

The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford, who gives a great performance. Shows a lot of subdued range. Others in the ensemble include Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, Lucas Black, Dennis Haysbert, and Chris Cooper, who are all at the top of their collective games. 

Criticized for a lack of a strong emotional impact. I strongly disagreed with that assessment, as the movie hammers home the delayed psychological effects of traumatic experiences in a morally dubious war that started a fight with consequences for a generation that are still ever-present. A good introspective exploration of war. Definite recommend, even as one opposed to both this war and the next one. 

Boston Strangler - Matt Ruskin - 2023

★★★- Zodiac lite with some shades of Spotlight. You can watch it right now on Hulu. One of their originals. It's pretty good, but not nearly as great as its obvious predecessors. Though the combo of Keira Knightly (what a talent) and Carrie Coon (Gone Girl, Ghostbusters: Afterlife) makes this an enjoyable watch; however, the film has some problems. 

Gist of the movie is reporter Loretta McLaughlin (Knightly) breaks the story of the Boston Strangler murders. As the killer's body count rises, she continues the investigation alongside colleague veteran investigative journalist Jean Cole (Coon). The film has a lot to say about how shitty it was to be a working woman in 1960s, how cops sometimes take the easiest narratives, and how powerful old-school journalism used to be.

In addition to Knightly and Coon, the film stars Robert John Burke (I think of him as the lead in Thinner), Rory Cochrane (Dazed and Confused, Freck in A Scanner Darkly), Chris Cooper (Adaptation, American Beauty), David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight, Suicide Squad, Dune), and Alessandro Nivola (The Many Saints of Newark, American Hustle).

Moves a little fast and the story is all over the place. The beats keep coming at you. She's at a crime scene, now she's talking to a cop, now she's home, now she's at work, now she's talking to another cop, now she's at a bar with her writing partner, now she's getting chewed out by her editor, now she's arguing with her husband. Repeat like six or seven times. Listened to a podcast about this and the possible Ann Arbor connection called Stranglers. Not sure I would have been a follow all this without having a 12-part docuseries under my belt.

I sort of hate mine and everyone's fascination with serial killers. They disgust and repulse me to no end. Yet I consume a lot of media based on these sick fucks whom I loath for bringing so much suffering into the world. All the victims die bad. Every once in a while I watch something so disturbing that I have to stop. Such has been the case for the last couple months. But goddamn do I love an investigative journalism movie. 

More than anything I love how they show the life of a journalist living a story. I've been there. It's a tough grind. You put in an incredible amount of time for no money, but there is nothing like it. That buzz of election night, basketball sectionals, watching the cops bring in a murderer. Thinking hard about it. Pouring your soul out. You live for that shit. Like a lot of movies like this, the film does a great job of putting you in that world. Hesitantly recommend.