How much critical thought can the military allow the bar? Certainly most orders must be followed no doubt, otherwise in the end all the Armed Services would collapse. But where do you draw the line? Matter how well soldiers know not only military but also their civic action tasks? What does it matter if the evidence against members of the military to carry out the court martial, or before the ordinary courts?
I first saw the "Few Good Men," as in-flight movie, and after the first couple of scenes I thought that for once, they really chose the right kind of movies: a bit 'of stereotypes (another idle , a lawyer hired dragged forcefully initiate proceedings against her will), but the good players, a good director and a promising story.
Then the short introduction movie scenes of Washington, DC to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Jack Nicholson (Colonel Nathan Jessup) inquired: "Who the f ** k is PFC William T. Santiago"
And suddenly I was all eyes and ears.
Directed by Rob Reiner and Nicholson's costars describe how the DVD is a movie for the first time Nicholson spoke this (first) row of the exercises that had everyone's attention, and the bar of all a good performance immediately rose to new heights . Based on his reaction, I think they are seeing. Or rather, not quite "invisible" as a result of Nicholson's influence is all available to watch: Do not worry, that he had not actually much screen time, his intensity as an actor and the personality of his character, Colonel Jessup, dominate the film more than anything else, far away is now known as the final showdown with Tom Cruise Lt. Kaffee.
No one could have given more power to the role of Jessup than Nicholson, no other actor made him a more complex figure, and nobody delivered his final monologue so as to force you to reflect on the issues he (and film)-addresses and that despite all the movie cliches: The reluctant lawyer turning a courtroom genius (as lead counsel in a murder trial, barely a year on the law and without * any * experience test before, no less), the son fighting to get rid of the shadow dominating a deceased superstar-father, and "redneck" high quality of the victim, Lieutenant Kendrick (Kiefer Sutherland, who nevertheless milks the role for all it is.)
Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who adapted his own play, reportedly based on the starting point of the story - and tried to hide the death resulted from an illegal pseudo-disciplinary action - a case of real life that her sister, a lawyer , had come across the JAG Corps. (Even if you take his statement at face value, specifying that the young lawyer with no experience the process was part of a cover-up, I still do not believe in a real case continued the way it is here. But it can be.) Worse, the victim is a Marine serving "Gitmo", U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, where * any * of a voltage from a completely different from anywhere else. Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee in coming (Tom Cruise) and co-Lieutenant Sam Weinberg tips (Kevin Pollack) and Lt.Cmdr. Joanne Galloway (Demi Moore), whose task is to defend two Marines responsible for the death of Santiago, L. from the control panel.
At the time of production of this film, Tom Cruise has made the surface of early adulthood launched one of his trademark characters (see, for example, "The Color of Money", "Top Gun" and "Rain Man ") However, his great skill (mostly) rises above the Kaffee cardboard. Demi Moore gives one of his greatest ever performances as Commander Galloway, who will be senior adviser accordance with its own ranking, but overcomes her disappointment to push Kaffee to a high-end performance instead. Kevin Pollack, Kevin Bacon and JT Walsh (. Jessup deputy Lt. Col. Markinson a) simple performance is tied easily forgotten, but which are too long and leaves absolutely crucial for Kaffee, Galloway and Jessup, and live well - a-vis Dawson, James Marshall's shy, scared Downey, who is clearly far above his head.
The largest surprise film, however, is Wolfgang Bodison which, although otherwise involved in the production, had never played before being drafted by Rob Reiner solely because of his physical appearance, which is Dawson better than any other player established, and gives a fantastic performance as the young Lance Corporal who will rather be convicted of murder than take a plea bargain unhonorable, has yet to understand the complexity of its action "complete after hearing the verdict.
"Unity - body - God - country" is the code of honor that says Dawson Kaffee, the marines at "Gitmo" live their lives, and Colonel Jessup declares that under his command orders are followed "or the people die, "and words like" honor "," code "and" loyalty "to him are the backbone of a life devoted to defending the freedom to say proudly that:. But for the "code red", but for the raid on that invisible line between moral and immoral order, illegal, may well be justified. This line, however, exists, and is dragged into a non-public court-martial. I believe that insofar at least, this movie does well.
Harold Dawson (Wolfgang Bodison) and PFC Louden Downey (James Marshall), who claims to have acted on Kendrick's orders with respect to Santiago for a "Code Red," an act of humiliating peer-punishment, after Santiago had gone outside the chain of command on a rat fellow marine (none other than Dawson), attempting to obtain a transfer of "Gitmo." But while Kendrick strictly denies having given such an order and the attorney Captain Ross (Kevin Bacon) is ready to have company any of the defendants swear that Kendrick ordered them to leave Santiago alone, Kaffee and Co. believe their clients the story - which ultimately leads to Jessup himself, as it is unthinkable that the event must have taken place without his knowledge or direction, even specific.
