Few directors had such a good run in 1980s Hollywood as Rob Reiner. He directed series of very different films, but each of them being memorable, earning or being close to cult status. His run came to an end with A Few Good Men, 1992 courtroom drama which was Reiner’s commercially most successful film, but, in retrospect and in comparison with his earlier work, one of the most overrated.
The film is based on eponymous stage play by Aaron Sorkin, itself loosely inspired by real life trial in which Sorkin’s sister Deborah took part as one of the defending counsels. The plot begins in US Navy base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where two Marines -Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson (played by Wolfgang Bodison) and Pfc. Louden Downey (played by James Marshall) – conduct “Code Red” or brutal hazing on fellow Marine, Pfc. William H. Santiago (played by Michael Lorenzo). He dies soon afterwards and Dawson and Downey are charged for murder, allegedly motivated by victim’s desire to inform on Dawson’s shooting incident. Marines are defended by US Navy Lt. Daniel Kaffee (played by Tom Cruise), young attorney who sees his service in Judge Advocate General Corps as nothing more than stepping stone towards more glamorous civilian career. Kaffee actually never saw courtroom, preferring to solve all his cases with plea bargains. When he tries to do the same in this one, it infuriates his co-counsel Lt. Commander Joanne Galloway (played by Demi Moore). Kaffee realises that his superiors gave him the case because they wanted it to quickly go away, so he decides to actually investigates what could be major cover up. The clues point towards victims’ superior officer Lt. James Kendrick (played by Kiefer Sutherland) and Colonel Nathan B. Jessep (played by Jack Nicholson), base commander who casually admits that he endorses hazing as informal disciplinary measure intended to keep personnel in top shape.
A Few Good Men had very good success at the box office, which was becoming increasingly rare for courtroom dramas. Much of it can be explained with the raw star power, with Tom Cruise, one of the most popular actors, radiating his youthful confidence from the poster and reminding audience of another US Navy character he had played in Top Gun. He was accompanied by Demi Moore, who despite her character looking like token female in otherwise all-male courtroom, actually did solid job. But both were easily overshadowed by Jack Nicholson in one of the most memorable roles of his career. He played Colonel Jessep as arrogant, sexist and authoritative man, in many ways representing all that was wrong with America. Some might argue that A Few Good Men, and especially the final courtroom conflict between Jessep and Kaffee was symbolic representation of the generational conflict between America As It Was and America As It Should Be. Jessep represented the old world based on militarism, strength, violence and discipline, while Kaffee represented new world dedicated to prosperity and human dignity. Such Manichaean division in some ways resembled passing of the torch between the generation represented by George H. W. Bush and generation represented by Bill Clinton, with Reiner and the rest of Hollywood wholeheartedly adopting the latter.
Yet, all those important issues were trapped in rather simplistic courtroom drama, which, despite Sorkin (who wrote the script based on his play) trying to spice up real life story with few fictional melodramatic twists. While Sorkin has great talent for dialogue and it is marvel to listen to Cruise and the rest of cast delivering their lines, there aren’t actually any major surprises in the film. Cynical protagonist, after getting predictable epiphany, transforms into crusader for truth and justice and tells his colleagues and audience exactly what he would do. It is only the extremely strong finale featuring Nicholson’s top performance and one of the most quoted dialogue lines of his career, that carries A Few Good Men over the water. In order to truly enjoy it, audience will have to endure problems with pacing and at times very irritating score by Marc Shaiman. While highly recommendable because of the great acting, A Few Good Men represented major disappointment for anyone expecting Rob Reiner to maintain his high standards and Reiner’s career, unsurprisingly, took turn for the worse afterwards. For Aaron Sorkin, on the other hand, this film opened many career doors and helped him establish himself with The West Wing as one of the most celebrated and respected screenwriters in past few decades.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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