SSC Film Studies

"Our emotional response to a film is determined by how we are made to connect with characters"

How far has this been true for Full Metal Jacket?

The beginning of the film makes me align with the group and not sympathise with Pyle, this is because of how he is shown to be holding back the group so I disconnect with him. The film generates a central response as I know what it feels like to be held back by one person so I emphasis with the group because I don't need to imagine what it feels like.

Pyle is shown as an outside by how he his much more physically punished for his failure...

On the pull ups when Joker cannot complete a rep Hartman says "I guess the core doesn't get their" whereas when Pyle cannot complete it he calls him a "piece of shit" showing how Hartman treats him differently to the other members. On the assault course we get to see someone else's reaction to Pyle bar Hartman's. Cowboy looks on in disgust as Pyle fails to achieve any physical accomplishment, this view of him being pathetic is taken on by me as an audience member as well. This is because the hand held camera adds realism and further emphasises Pyle's failure, the camera is also physically close to him which makes the audience criticise him and look out for any faults just like Hartman. Watching him trying to get over the assault course frustrates me as you can see how easily he could get over it but he keeps making the same mistakes. 

Pyle is first shown holding back people when he has to be held up by Joker at the back of the Core, he is physically holding him back. The next shot shows Pyle falling in mud and pulling both Joker and Cowboy down with him at the same time as stopping the group in their tracks. This is shot in slow motion to emphasise how much Pyle is affecting the group and how he is a threat to their progression and solidarity. What is interesting about this scene is that Cowboy is the one who helps him get back up and Joker is still stuck in the mud.These shots are a more physical representation of how myself and moth of the audience has been held back by a member of a group like during group projects.