Full Metal Jacket

Dir: Stanley Kubrick

1987

*****

Stanley Kubrick's Vietnam War film Full Metal Jacket is a unique addition to the genre which has yet to been bettered, indeed, it's the film that pretty much ended the genre due to its perfection. The film is an adaptation of Gustav Hasford's 1979 novel The Short-Timers, a semi-autobiographical account of his time serving as a marine during the Vietnam conflict. The book is separated into three chapters; Spirit of the Bayonet (which chronicles his days in military boot camp under the watch of a strict drill instructor), Body Count (which explores combat in the field) and Grunts (which deals with lose and sacrifice that many a solder had to endure). Kubrick split his version right down the middle, adapting Spirit of the Bayonet almost word for word but changing the last scene ever so slightly. The second half of the film is a mix of Body Count and Grunts, characters are changed and merged and certain actions are performed by different people but all the important elements are played out. Having read the book and seen the film I'm split on whether the changes were for the best, however I love them both. The book and film features the character of Joker as the stories protagonist. Joker isn't so much based on Hasford but is a representation of how he felt about war after it was over and how he would have liked to have been at the time. Kubrick found the book when looking for a war film to make with Michael Herr. Kubrick had want to work with Herr for some time after reading his 1977 memoir Dispatches. He suggest they work on a film about the Holocaust together but Herr wasn't interested, indeed, he wasn't initially interested in making a Vietnam war film at all as he didn't want to relive his time in the army. After a lot of persuading he agreed and they got in contact with Hasford. Between them they came up with a script, although they all worked independently of each other with Kubrick deciding the final edit. The three met for a diner party at Kubrick's house, against the advice of Herr who described Hasford as 'a mad man'. It didn't go well, details were never leaked but apparently it was a complete disaster that got Hasford thrown out of the production. There is definitely a film there. Filming took place in a former RAF and Army base at Bassingbourn Barracks for the boot camp scenes and then in London's Isle of Dogs and in the ruins of Beckton Gas Works. Not the first places you'd think of filming a Vietnam War film but thanks to Kubrick meticulous attention to detail every shot was utterly convincing. R. Lee Ermey was hired as a technical adviser due to his experience as a drill instructor during the Vietnam conflict. He asked if he could audition was told he wasn't tough enough. He then went full character at a group of actors waiting to audition and Kubrick realized he was perfect for the part, so perfect in fact that he allowed him to write and ad-lib most of his own script, something quite unexpected from the infamously controlling director. Anthony Michael Hall was in the running to play Joker but after eight months of negotiations Matthew Modine was eventually cast. Vincent D'Onofrio broke the record for most weight gained for a role for his portrayal of Private Pyle and he remains one of cinema's most disturbingly iconic characters ever since. It's hard to see anyone else play these parts as well as these key actors and the same goes for the supporting cast. The film was largely well received, particularly the first chapter, but there is still confusion and controversy surrounding the character of Joker and his actions in the second half when he's in Vietnam. Personally I've always seen Joker as representing the contradiction of war. He is stationed as reporter, he wants to get close and learn about war but without being a part of it. As the film progresses he is pushed to his limits, war is a situation too hard for most people to handle, the training kicks in and he is part of it. I fear no evil, I am the evil. The scene where Joker is confronted by a Sgt as to why he is wearing a peace badge on his uniform sums up war beautifully. It's funny how the film is often applauded by the military when I’m not sure it really shows them in a good light, although Herr said from the very beginning that he was only going to be part of the project if it wasn't an anti-war film as such, but that it showed the viewers exactly what it was like. I wouldn't say it is open to interpretation but I would suggest it is up to the viewer what they take from it. It is a different film each time I watch it, which is typical of Kubrick's films. Most people think of Strauss or Beethoven when they think of Kubrick scores but for me, Kubrick's daughter Vivian (under the alias Abigail Mead) produced his greatest soundtrack. The piercing synth is enough to make anyone's hair stand up and adds an extra dimension of intensity during the sniper scenes. An undeniable classic.