The cast of characters in the movie Full Metal Jacket is one of the most interesting assemblages of soldiers in the history of film. Unlike the cast of characters in Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, the characters in Full Metal Jacket seem like they could have been real. And that’s only one of the reasons Full Metal Jacket is a classic.
The most important and memorable character from the 1st half of the movie is the Gunnery Sergeat Hartmann, who is played by a still-almost-unknown R. Lee Ermey. He’s responsible for training the Marines in the movie, and he’s wonderfully insulting and charismatic. It’s hard not to laugh at his antics with the men under his command, but at the same time, he makes you a little scared and uncomfortable.
Private Gomer Pyle is the 2nd most important character in the 1st half of the movie. (“Gomer Pyle” is the nickname he’s given by Hartmann.) He’s slow, dull-witted, but good-natured. The nature of life in the Marines results in his becoming completely psychotic and insane.
Private Joker is the narrator of the film, and he’s also the protagonist. In the 2nd half of the movie, his character takes center stage. He’s an everyman type character, and he’s easy for the audience to relate to. His approach to coping with the horrors of the Vietnam war involve a studied, cynical type of humor that’s meant to keep him distant from what’s going on around him.
The cast of Full Metal Jacket is full of great characters. (This Full Metal Jacket quotes site is full of quotes from them.) Some of the other great characters in the movie include Private Cowboy, Animal Mother, and Corporal Eightball. And there are plenty more. If you’ve never seen this movie, do yourself a favor and at least rent it.