Full Metal Jacket Analysis

Hasan Shah
FILM 1401
212857033
TUTR 06

Sequence Analysis - Full Metal Jacket – 1987

The film “Full Metal Jacket” directed by Stanley Kubrick, illustrates a defined story of young army trainees, who were being trained for the Vietnam War. Throughout the film, it is clearly evident that the director was able to engage its audience by the use of humor, linguistic queues, framing and editing. This paper will analyze the relationships between choice and thing, and will further elaborate on how framing and shot composition played a vital role in delivering a message of masculinity and controls to its audience.

In context, the film was able integrate humor very strategically for example, the scene in which private Dains – joker made a joke

The role of the sergeant seems to be the subject of this idea. Throughout the film, sergeants personality is shown very tough, dreadful, fearless, and emotionless as someone who is training the trainees for war. However, I think that the idea of realism, and appearance versus reality relates to this character and possibly shows that he can possibly have a different personality. I feel that he is the way he is because of his position and the job he is given. In reality he can be someone who is different, someone who is able to understand these trainees better than a father, and is doing everything for them to be on the highest rank from his division. However, on the other side, the sergeants personality is shown very masculine, and superior. He is shown as someone who can manipulate, control and lead with all respect. Therefore, in context to his personality a prediction of what he might be in reality could be different as the film progresses. In addition, questions like how does his personality reflect in his personal life, in comparison to his professional

This feature was able convey the message to the audience very effectively for example; the scene in which the officer is pointing towards the camera “You will not laugh, you will not cry” is sending a message of control and dominance. The director was able to position the shot from a below the eye-level shot, in which the camera is placed below, from the trainees perspective. This shot was an important element for control, dominance, and shows the Sargent being very superior. Secondly, the editing of this film was very progressive, and starts to build up towards the end. In addition, the framing of most of the shots was mostly track in and track out, primarily to focus on the subject. Furthermore, the compositions of shots used were mostly over the shoulder shots for dialogue, to keep distance height and point of view. Lastly, the sound for the film was kept non-diegetic through most of the film. Throughout, the use of suspenseful music was used to create tension and suspense for most of the scenes for example; the scenes with training, and the conversation between sergeant and the