Full Metal Jacket (1987)

ITV4, 10.00PM ★★★★

 Stanley Kubrick’s tightly constructed anti-war satire is two films in one. The first half focuses on the training – and dehumanising – of a squad of marines before they are allowed to join the corp, while the second half sees the soldiers arrive in Vietnam and follows the experiences of two of them in combat, showcasing their sense of humour offset by the tragedy of war. Lee Ermey is superb as the Drill Sergeant.