A Few Good Men

Director: Rob Reiner
Main Cast: Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Jack Nicholson, Kevin Bacon
Writer(s): Aaron Sorkin
Director of Photography: Robert Richardson
Producer: Rob Reiner & David Brown
Editor(s): Robert Leighton & Steven Nevius
Original Score By: Marc Shaiman
Release Date: 1992 December 9

Rob Reiner is an exceptional director, but the brilliance here is not in the directing but the writing. Originally a stage play, the storyline from concept to dialogue is undeniably the most intriguing part of this film. Sorkin has fantastic complexity, believable characters, and unwavering delivery. He does not resort to unnecessary wisecracks for comic relief or obliterate the sexual tension with superfluous consummation. The audience is treated to a wonderful exploration of military cover-up, courtroom drama, and coming-of-age all in a neatly packaged script. It is no wonder that his career achievments are primarily comprised of stories for the highly successful, though somewhat left-slanted, West Wing.

This film is a true drama. There was no need to make jokes to relieve the tension or force characters into scenes that were designed to capture a primary demographic and sell more tickets. The cast consists of high-caliber all-stars. It was near miraculous that this movie did not end up being a star-studded vehicle designed only to pimp those stars that were lucky enough to get cast. Each one, from Cruise to Nicholson, to Moore to Bacon delivered, without resorting to self-infatuated pandering to the camera.

The editing, score, lighting, and directing were all so amazingly understated that even after multiple viewing I have little to say. They were smart and stayed out of the way of the story.

Kaffee lived under the oppression of the memory of his highly successful father. The story, at its core, is about his move to adulthood and a point where he meets and maybe even exceeds his own expectations. Sam said it best when he said, and I paraphrase, "It doesn't matter what I would do or your father would do. It only matters what you would do." He must make a choice on his own for himself and live with the consequences that may result. The earning of respect and honoring an agreement that you have given your word to is a central theme. For Kaffee the final step toward earning respect comes at the end of the film when Dawson salutes him in the courtroom. Others have recognized his acheivement and his journey is complete.

The underlying subplots seem particularly poignant given the recent observance of Memorial Day and the media barage of reports of terrorist prisoners being mistreated. Should those protecting our country be allowed to use any means necessary to protect us that live as civilians? The answer is an emphatic no. Jessup's courtroom speech leaves the audience a lot to think about, however:

"Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a d--n what you think you are entitled to. "

We do indeed live in a world where we need protection. We must take care not to take for granted the lives that are lived and given to ensure our freedom.

Bottom Line: The exceptional story and writing, though in some areas predictable, was the driving force behind this movie. Intelligent well-constructed dialogue and an intriguing plot gave the director much to work with. The actors delivered good performances and the cinematography was sufficiently subtle as to avoid interference in the story. The end result is great work with few complaints.

A Code Red, 9 out of 10.

~RG