I’m not good at writing short movie synopsis so I had to visit IMDB to get one and here it goes:
In this dramatic courtroom thriller, Lieutenant Junior Grade 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 Lieutenant Commander 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.
Credit: Matt Curtolo
1. Famzing Tom Cruise
I’ve been a big fan of Tom Cruise right from the release of “Top Gun: Maverick (2022)” and I know that I was late to the party because my man has been running in movies since the '80s — approximately 20 years before I was born.
While Tom loves entertaining audiences, he carefully selects his roles and so he hasn’t appeared in so many movies. I’ve watched a couple of his performances — first as Maverick in Top Gun, Nathan in the Mission Impossible franchise and also as Jack Reacher.
I watched “A Few Good Men” three days ago — I replayed many scenes, I laughed, I cried, I clapped and cheered and when it was done, I lay on my bed wondering if I’ve ever seen a movie that has got me like this before. I didn’t want to give much attention to that thought.
2. Aaron Sorkin
Aaron Sorkin wrote the screenplay for A Few Good Men and he just got a new fan. In his own words:
I read this and I saw the movie again — the first dialogue in the movie was iconic — he needs to tell me how he started that one. Hell, I even took a snapshot:
I respected him more when I found out that he was the one that refused to write a sex scene for Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) and Commander Joanne Galloway (Demi Moore).
The two characters went on to have this amazing chemistry and yet, they never kissed let alone sex.
My Highlights
The movie had multiple highlights but I have to make this as short as possible.
1. Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee Plea Bargaining a Case While Playing Softball
“He does think better with that bat” — Lt. Sam Weinberg.
The scene gave credence to that statement and also showed us Lt. Kaffee’s carefree attitude.
Having watched Harvey Specter in Suits before seeing this, I understood where Harvey got his off-court negotiation preference from.
Lt. Kaffee, prior to representing the two accused Marines had plea bargained 44 cases in nine months and had never been inside a courtroom. “One more, I get a set of steak knives” — Lt. Kaffee
2. Lance Corporal Harold Dawson and Private Louden Downey rejects a six month jail sentence offer.
Lt. Kaffee, the man who avoided facing the jury whichever way possible, was able to get a deal for the two Marines he was representing and they refused to take it.
According to them, they were innocent and they would rather face the full weight of the law instead of pleading guilty and be discharged dishonorably.
3. General Markinson’s Suicide
“You rea-lly gotta hand it to those Federal Marshals, boy. It’s not like he hanged himself by his shoe laces or slashed his wrists with a concealed butter knife.
This guy… got into a full dress uniform, stood in the middle of that room, drew a nickel-plated pistol from his holster and fired a bullet into his mouth.” — Lt. Kaffee.
I would say General Markinson’s death turned the notch in that movie — the aggressive side of Lt. Kaffee was portrayed the more after that incident.
4. Lt. Kaffee thinking better with and without his bat.
Without his Bat: Conversation with Joanne and Sam Weinberg
Lt. Kaffee“...To win, Col. Nathan needs to tell the court that he ordered the Code Red”
Sam Weinberg: “Now, you think you can just get him to say it?”
Lt. Kaffee: “I think he wants to say it. I think he’s pissed off that he’s got to hide from us.
I think he wants to say that he made a command decision, and that’s the end.
'He eats breakfast 300 yards away from 4000 Cubans that are trained to kill him and no one’s gonna tell him how to run his unit. Least of all, the Harvard mouth in his faggotty white uniform.’
I need to shake him, put him on the defensive and lead him right where he’s dying to go”
5. Lt. Daniel Kaffee vs Colonel Nathan R. Jessup
The clash we waited almost 120 minutes to make… the dialogue was the best way to conclude the thriller.
Lt. Kaffee: “Colonel Jessup, did you order the Code Red?”
Col. Jessup: “You want answers?”
Lt. Kaffee: “I think I’m entitled!”
Col. Jessup: “You want answers?”
Lt. Kaffee: “I want the truth!”
Co. Jessup: “You can’t handle the truth!
Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can 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 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 and then questions the manner in which I provide it.
I would rather you 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 damn what you think you’re entitled to”
Lt. Kaffee: “Did you order the Code Red?”
Col. Jessup: “I did the job-”
Lt. Kaffee: “Did you order the Code Red?”
Col. Jessup: “You’re goddamned right, I did!”
So I decided to take a look at your review on the movie: A Few Good Men and I did smile a couple of times while reading it.
When I read the part where you asserted to expressing different emotions while watching the movie, I felt pushed to see it too.. even though that won't be now.
By the way, in your words 'The movie had multiple highlights but I have to make this as short as possible', you weren't true to your words. Hell no! It wasn't short at all 😏. I didn't read it, perhaps, when I am chanced, I will.
Overall it is a good review, I'll definitely see the movie and maybe try out some of Tom Cruise's other movies 😊.