| "A Few Good Men" is first-rate drama and intrigue | | | | is a joy, with all of them appearing like they enjoyed |
| combined with a quality, super star cast. It gives you | | | | working with such strong material. The court room |
| the feeling of how movies used to be made, where | | | | scenes, despite their static nature, are the strongest |
| it was just story, characters and drama without | | | | of the lot, with the most famous being the final |
| location hopping and extensive CGI. This film is based | | | | scenes between Cruise and Nicholson. Given the fact |
| on the stage play of the same name from Aaron | | | | that its a character piece and plot driven, the film |
| Sorkin (who would later go on to create The West | | | | also has a number of twists and surprises which are |
| Wing) and one can see the roots of this story in the | | | | not forced and make the viewing of the film all the |
| film with its character-based set pieces. However, it | | | | more enjoyable. |
| is to Rob Reiner's credit that he expanded the film's | | | | Performances across the board are excellent. Tom |
| scope to make it more alive than a stage play and | | | | Cruise, otherwise annoying in his cheeky Top |
| work as a film. Everything really clicks with this film, | | | | Gun-esque roles, is spot on with his character of |
| including the all-star cast who seem to have | | | | Daniel Caffee. We see a growth in Cruise as a |
| challenged each other to get their best work on | | | | character in this film, almost as if it's a vehicle to |
| screen. Overall, this is a film not to be missed. | | | | transport him from his early 80's roles to something |
| The film sets us up with what appears to be a | | | | more complex and deep. Demi Moore and Kevin |
| straight-forward murder mystery; two marines are | | | | Pollack work brilliantly as Caffee's legal team, with |
| accused of intentionally killing another marine at their | | | | Kevin Bacon playing the role of the DA quite well, |
| base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Tom Cruise's Lt. | | | | expertly trying to outmanouevre Caffee at every |
| Caffee is assigned the case and at first tries to plea | | | | turn. Kiefer Sutherland is downright creepy as Lt. |
| bargain the best deal for his clients but is eventually | | | | Kendrick but the true powerhouse performance |
| forced to look closer by firebrand Lt. Cmdr Joanne | | | | comes from no one other than Jack Nicholson. He's |
| Galloway (Demi Moore). He is joined by his friend | | | | only in the film for maybe 30 minutes but it's so |
| Kevin Pollack and as the three look closer, the more | | | | strong that it'll leave a lasting impression. His infamous |
| they realise that they've barely scratched the | | | | line, "You can't handle the truth!" has been constantly |
| surface of this complex case which could in fact | | | | quoted in popular culture. |
| implicate the commander of Guantanamo Bay, Col. | | | | The film looks great and as I said before, it's to |
| Jessop (Jack Nicholson) due to an alleged order given | | | | Reiner's credit that he actually makes this a 'film'. He |
| to the two marines to give the victim a form of | | | | could have very easily been lazy and locked himself in |
| disciplinary action called a 'Code Red'. | | | | to static sets, especially as this is a courtroom drama, |
| This type of story immediately draws you in with its | | | | but Reiner takes us out and about, including a trip |
| intrigue. A story where nothing is at it seems is | | | | down to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The film is shot |
| delicious when executed correctly and "A Few Good | | | | with an old-style sensibility, further lending credence |
| Men" doesn't disappoint. The story works so well not | | | | to the theory that it's style pays homage to the old |
| only because it's so well constructed, both in | | | | Studio-style films of the forties and fifties. Great |
| screenplay form and in its direction, but the dialogue | | | | stuff. |
| and acting is also spot on. Watching an all star cast in | | | | An excellent film that will keep you on the edge of |
| Cruise, Moore and Nicholson, and amptly backed up | | | | your seat through riveting performances and a great |
| by Pollack, Bacon, Sutherland and the late J.T. Walsh | | | | story. |