Despite the chaos that the Vietnam War is lent in its cinematic iterations, this is among the most rigid and ascetic exercises in Kubrick’s career. The first third is comprised incessantly of a drill instructor screaming at his platoon with his mouth inches away from their faces. It ends inevitably, and the motif pronounced in this third – that marines are built to be killers – is unambiguous, as is much of the film. It lacks the complexity and dynamics that distinguish its peers, but it’s nonetheless a superior war film.
by Rumsey Taylor | Source: Cable TV
04 Apr 2006 9:24 AM | Comments (2)
Kubrick struck gold with the drill instructor Lee Ermy who I believe was brought in as a consultant. Kubrick was obviously impressed and hired him for the role. This may have been why his performance ended up taking a third of the film and, to me, gave the legs onto which this production will always stand on.
I recently read Matthew Modine’s Full Metal Jacket Diary (got it from the library—the thing’s expensive!), and found it an enjoyable look into the film’s difficult birthing process. What sticks with me most is Modine wondering during the first days of filming whether Kubrick was going to take the film into “Dr. Strangelove territory.” Which would be odd—I wonder if the director really ever considered making a more satirical type film—there are definitely elements where you can see how it could go in that direction. Also funny is when Modine suggests to Kubrick that he change the title of the film to “Youth In Asia.” That Modine—what a joker.
mark
4 April 2006
5:44 PM