Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Rob Reiner, Columbia Pictures, M 138 Minutes.
Considered one of the best movies of the ‘90s comes this riveting courtroom drama from celebrated director Rob Reiner (‘The American President’) that is centred on the murder by two marines of a fellow marine at a naval base.
At the Guantanamo Marine Base a private dies at the hands of two marines resulting in an investigation by a Lt. Commander Galloway (Demi Moore – ‘Disclosure’) that reveals the private threatened to go over the head of the base commander.
The commander in charge is the resolute Colonel Jessup (Jack Nicholson – ‘Batman’) who rejects private Santiago’s transfer and instead orders a “Code Red” considered to be an illegal disciplinary course of action.
Aided by Galloway as well as Lt. Weinberg (Kevin Pollak – ‘Hoods’) the case to defend the marines – Dawson (Wolfgang Bodison – ‘Blood Type’) and Downey (James Marshall – ‘Doomsday Man’) is assigned to a rather inexperienced Naval lawyer Lt. Kaffee (Tom Cruise – ‘Top Gun’).
The stage is now set for the much – anticipated military trial to be held in Washington with the prosecution led by Marine Captain Ross (Kevin Bacon – ‘Sleepers’) and presided over by Judge Randolph (J.A. Preston – ‘Captain Ron’).
On completing his cross – examination of Lt. Kendrick (Kiefer Sutherland – ‘Flatliners’) and hearing that he may have ordered the Code Red against Santiago, Kaffee proceeds to call Jessop to the witness stand which turns into a fiery exchange between both men.
It is during this enthralling exchange where Kafee finally extracts the truth demanding Jessop tell him the truth with Jessop’s culpable response being “you can’t handle the truth.”
In admitting to ordering the Code Red it is Jessop’s notable phrase that has now become part of popular parlance.
Reiner’s thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable courtroom drama is by far the best ever brought to the big screen and is based on Aaron Sorkin’s renowned screenplay which turned into a box office success worldwide.
Besides the pleasing portrayals of Moore, Bacon, Sutherland and Preston (as the Judge) in their particular roles there is the brilliant performances from both Nicholson and Cruise dramatically played out in the concluding courtroom scenes.
In ‘A Few Good Men’ Reiner has superbly adapted a well – scripted storyline that essentially tells of one man willing to stop at nothing to keep his honour with the other willing to stop at nothing to find the truth.
Vic’s Verdict: 4 ½ Stars
A Few Good Men is being televised on Channel9 at 8.30pm on Friday 19 November
