A Few Good Men (1992)

Director: Rob Reiner

Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin (based on his play of the same name)

Cast: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore

Music: Marc Shaiman

Time: 138 minutes

Bottom-line: Brilliant screenplay and solid acting

Nominated for 4 Academy Awards, Rob Reiner’s courtroom drama relies heavily on Sorkin’s biting screenplay and the powerful lead performances of Cruise, Moore and Nicholson and a large supporting cast. The film uses a lot of courtroom and military terminology, so while it may be a tad difficult to follow, it certainly makes the watch all the more realistic.

“You can’t handle the truth!”

US Marines Lance Corporal Dawson and Private Downey stuff a rag down a fellow Marine, Private Santiago’s mouth in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Santiago dies an hour later, and both the Marines are court-martialled. Santiago was known to have poor relations with others, and even broke the chain of command. While Santiago’s executive officer, Lt. Col. Markinson (J.T. Walsh), requests Santiago to be transferred off the base, Colonel Nathan Jessup (Nicholson) denies this. Naval investigator Lt. Commander Joanne Galloway (Moore) thinks that the Marines carried out a “code red” ordered by some other officer, and believes they are innocent. However, the case is given to Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Cruise), an inexperienced and carefree lawyer. Despite the initial hostility between Joanne and Kaffee, as the case progresses, each one admires the other. They are also assisted by Lt. Sam Weinberg (Kevin Pollak). Are the three of them able to prove the Marines innocent?

 

Cruise as Lt. Kaffee

To me, it was a surprise to see Cruise take on such a serious role as this, having always pictured him as Ethan Hunt. For the first part of the film, he is this jolly “lawyer” whose interest and passion lie solely in baseball, but he slowly transforms into a matured and professional lawyer as the story goes. Kaffee is one hell of an energetic character, and thanks to Sorkin’s script, he packs a lot of cunning and intelligence, evident from his gruelling cross-questioning. Jack Nicholson was nominated for the Oscar in the Supporting Actor category even though he has a short screen time. With his menacing exterior and powerful lines (“I eat breakfast 300 yards from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill me,” he says), his ten minutes in the courtroom is enough to command your respect.

Moore as Lt. Commander Galloway 

By the time you’re done watching the film, you will also have learnt a good set of military and courtroom vocabulary. While the story gets technical that way – the plot wouldn’t make sense if it wasn’t for the strict rules and regulations and practices of the military – it presented in an entertaining manner that you enjoy every bit of it. The tension in the courtroom atmosphere is brilliantly portrayed, and all the counter-arguments and rebuttals have that aha effect.

 

Nicholson as Lt. Col. Jesup

The climax will make you debate over whether justice was really served, but by then, what you take away from the film is perseverance and effort of Kaffee and team against all odds. How far will one man go to find the truth, and how far will one go to keep his honour? When everyone is desperate to cover up their crimes, how many people do their job right? A few good men… and a woman.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 81%