Full Metal Jacket Diary.(Brief Article)(Book Review)

Full Metal Jacket Diary MATTHEW MODINE. Rugged Land, $29.95 (304p) ISBN 1-59071-047-9

Modine, who starred as Private Joker in Stanley Kubrick's 1987 Vietnam War masterpiece, Full Metal Jacket, gets right to the core of his subject by beginning with the question, "What was Stanley like?" He supplies the answers throughout this diary on the movie's filming, which should provide new insights for Kubrick enthusiasts. Modine's writing isn't graceful, but his insider's view of events have enough acrid flavor and authenticity to compensate. He explains Kubrick's philosophy by quoting him, "There are no bad ideas--only better ones," and convincingly highlights the fanatical …