Full Metal Jacket

Full Metal Jacket is a war film that was released in 1987. It was directed, co-written, and produced by Stanley Kubrick who gives his take on the Vietnam War by following the main character’s life throughout his marine boot camp and the TET Offensive. The main character, Private Davis, played by Mathew Modine, is the focal point of the movie because of the challenges he faces as well as the relationships he makes while he is in the Marine Core. The opening scene sets the tone in which the film will operate within by introducing the audience to Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, played by R. Lee Ermey, a foul mouthed drill sergeant who is in-charge of breaking the recruits in boot camp and turning them into stone cold “killing machines”. Sergeant Hartman opens by addressing what the expectations of being a marine under his authority requires while he also manages to insult every recruit in an attempt to get a reaction. Throughout bootcamp, the audience begins to learn of a recruit who learns slower and is not as physically capable due to his own fault called Private Pyle, played by Vincent D’Onofrio. After Sergeant Hartman tries to motivate Private Pyle by all means of verbal and physical abuse possible, he proves to be a burden to the rest of the recruits because they are punished for all of his mistakes. Private Davis is assigned to being responsible for helping and teaching Private Pyle what he lacks. As bootcamp comes to an end Private Pyle becomes a well rounded marine but he seems to be a bit off in the head. On the last night in the bunks Private Pyle kills Sergeant Hartman before killing himself. Immediately the film jumps into the Vietnam War with Private Davis paying for a hooker while he should be on duty. Throughout the rest of the movie Private Davis learns what it means to be field marine in Vietnam while the audience watches his growth from a sarcastic boy  to a mature man.