A Few Good Men
10/10
A great drama movie focused on 2 Marines on trial for murder with the Navy defense lawyer Daniel Kaffe (Tom Cruise) having to prove a code red was ordered by Colonel Jessup (Jack Nicholson) because that’s the only realistic chance for him to prove the 2 Marines aren’t guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, and murder.
A main message stated by Lance Corporal Harold Dawson about what he and Private First Class Louden Downey failed to do isn’t shoehorned in.
While it’s undeniable Lance Corporal Harold Dawson is in the wrong along with Private First Class Louden Downey for what they did to Willie Santiago , the movie still gives important information that Lance Corporal Harold Dawson is a man with honor that the audience can like which the movie never directly stated because respects the audience enough to understand that without saying it directly.
The movie earns the change with Daniel Kaffe and Lance Corporal Harold Dawson’s relationship.
It’s a well written drama movie focused on the US Marines that has shades of gray morality, and also black and white morality.
It’s the iconic courtroom drama movie that has that iconic line “You can’t handle the truth.” said by the Marines Colonel Jessup.
It’s understandable why Daniel is a Red Sox fan because the movie gives information Danny was born in Boston which isn’t shoehorned in the movie.
It’s a Courtroom drama movie with high stakes including a main conflict that can’t be easily resolved, fleshed out antagonists and protagonists, variety of real world locations including Washington D.C. and Cuba, impressive costumes including the Marines suits and Marines Soldiers suits matching what we’ve seen in US Marines commercials, a memorable original soundtrack that fits the scenes, good dialogue, memorable lines, unforgettable thrilling climax, smooth pacing, great messages including about doing the right thing even when a high drawback can be the result, and a satisfying open ending.
Minor nitpicks are it’s a very visible continuity error when Colonel Jessup picks up his Colonel Hat because his tie is missing while in the climax before that his tie was visible.
It’s unbelievable that Lance Corporal Harold Dawson and Private First Class Louden Downey don’t ask for water, subway sandwiches, other healthy drinks or food before Danny and Sam leave since they’ve been in the same detained location for likely over 3 hours.
Also, the detail about Daniel being late for a meeting for being assigned cases looks nonsensical because the meeting wasn’t in progress before Daniel entered the meeting room.
Anything in the movie that should get explained does get explained including
why didn’t Private Willie Santiago get a code red since he was a burden to his unit,
Why Lance Corporal Harold Dawson had a promotion held up with a stated reason which gets talked about when Lieutenant Kendrick is on the witness stand.
Also the understandable reason why Lance CorporeaL Harold Dawson got a below average rating on the most recent report by Lieutenant Kendrick.
Also, why exactly Lieutenant Kendrick wanted Curtis Bell dealt with in the unit after discovering he stole alcohol instead of reporting him to Kendrick’s Superiors.
I noticed during 1 scene of all the visible Magazines while Daniel is in that area that a Sports Magazine has the great Tennis player Andre Agassi during the era when Agassi wore a high quality wig before his bald head style playing days.
Colonel Jessup has a long entertaining monologue for why he believes he’s in the right when on the witness stand.
While it’s a very common cliche for movie antagonists to justify why they believe they are in the right, Colonel Jessup played by the charismatic great Jack Nicholson succeeded making this monologue very unique.
Also, this movie has an amazing scene of Marines shown in impressive unity moving their rifles in multiple ways during the opening scene which most likely took hours of practice.