Where to watch A Few Good Men
4 Stars
In this dramatic courtroom thriller, LT Daniel Kaffee, a Navy lawyer who has never seen the inside of the courtroom, defends two stubborn Marines who have been accused of murdering a colleague. Kaffee is known as being lazy and had arranged for a plea bargain. Downey’s Aunt Ginny appoints Cmdr. Galloway to represent him. Also on the legal staff is LTJG Sam Weinberg. The team rounds up many facts and Kaffee is discovering that he is really cut out for trial work. The defense is originally based upon the fact that PFC Santiago, the victim, was given a “CODE RED”. Santiago was basically a screw-up. At Gitmo, screw-ups aren’t tolerated. Especially by Col. Nathan Jessup. In Cuba, Jessup and two senior officers try to give all the help they can, but Kaffee knows something’s fishy. In the conclusion of the film, the fireworks are set off by a confrontation between Jessup and Kaffee.
A Few Good Men is the best courtroom thriller since To Kill a Mockingbird. Rob Reiner and Aaron Sorkin have expertly written, cast, and staged the film. It is a joy to behold when gifted craftsmen are given a project that matches their talents, and this movie perfectly exemplifies studio filmmaking when done correctly and efficiently. How good is A Few Good Men? So good that the movie is still quoted today in pop culture references.
The Oscar race for Best Picture of 1992 favored Eastwood’s Unforgiven, which seemed preordained to win the prize. I argue that fellow nominees Scent of a Woman and A Few Good Men are superior to Clint’s revisionist Western. A Few Good Men is the best film of 1992 and was the first in the renewed sub-genre of courthouse-set movies and TV series in its wake. Nicholson has a memorable role, and he’s excellent; equally so are Cruise and Moore, each proving themselves outstanding actors in their own right.
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Written by: Aaron Sorkin
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore