I love how the Captain tosses the pen to Kaffee. It's like he really is losing patience and wants to tee off on Kaffee, but he knows it would just go in one ear and out the other.
It's also part of a running gag where Kaffee never has a pen on hand, illustrating his lack of dedication to the work. By now his commander is used to it and tosses him one without being asked.
I'd say it's similar to how star athletes are treated. The more talented they are, the more coaches and other teammates are willing to overlook any behavioral issues they might have.
In my 11 years in the military, I've learned one thing: NEVER EVER keep a pen on you. Because what's going to happen? You're going to forget it's in your sleeve or pocket, and the second you wash it, you're going to be greeted to a freshly stained uniform. Especially bad for dress uniforms like this. Have pens in your office, LOTS of them. But those pen holders on the sleeves of your OCPs are an illusion. Don't use them!
The unspoken subtext is Kaffee was assigned this case because leadership saw him as undisciplined and lazy, taking the easy path and settling cases quickly. They wanted to bury this incident quickly to grease the tracks for the Major's next career move in DC.
But why? Why would the Navy brass clear the way for Jessup's promotion to a top DC job? Jessup has ultra-macho contempt for the Navy as he shows in his meeting with Kaffey. Jessup also resents/scorns Ivy Leaguers, lawyers, and other elites - which although it is a key factor enabling Kaffey to goad Jessup into finally exploding into a self-incriminating rant on the stand, is hardly a quality endearing to DC bigwigs.
I don't care how unrealistic some of the courtroom scenes were, this is a great movie. Jack gets all the attention, but EVERYONE was at their best in this film.
Legal Eagle did a great video on the movie where he dissects the courtroom/legal aspects with a former JAG lawyer. You should check it out, I think you'd enjoy it!
Former Barracks Lawyer here. While he could in theory be charged under Article 112a of the UCMJ (Unauthorized possession of a controlled substance), it would be difficult to get a conviction if there weren’t any actual drugs involved. Instead, he’d probably be hit with Article 134 (Actions threatening the good order and discipline of the Armed Forces). That being said, this kind of thing is almost always handled at the unit command level with non-judicial punishment. JAGs wouldn’t get involved unless the service member indicates they’d like a court martial instead of an NJP.
That’s the worst going to captains mast for a bag of oregano. Hey shipmate what are you on restriction for? Ohh nothing just bought a bag of oregano 🌿 and was gonna smoke it. 🤦🏻♂️ hopefully you wouldn’t get a half a months pay for two months with it. I’d be pissed about that one.
@@leo29hornsfan Also it could also work out in getting it dismissed anyway, cause unless the command really hated the dude, it could boil down to "I just bought a bag of oregano" and noone is going to want to waste a Colonel/Captain's time with that over such a stupid reason.
@@arazusaysbah6784 However, there is some necessity to this. Most humans can't read as fast as they can speak/hear. So if everything said was written down, then most people would not make it to the end of the sentence before the next subtitle card would need to show. Also, it would be all over the screen.
@@DJDoena It's also possible that the subtitles are from the published script, but the actual lines were 'penciled in' during filming. Sorkin may have wanted to flesh out his stage play when writing the screenplay as well. Maybe the subtitles are the stage version?
Subtitles for movies are taken from the script. So if you're watching a movie and the subtitles don't match what's actually being said, it's because the actor(s) are ad libbing a bit. You see this a lot with method actors. It's kinda cool, actually.
They do such a good job of setting up Kaffee's character: - always goes for plea deals to avoid going to court. - playing softball while his opponent is actually trying to work the case. - always asking Sam to explain military jargon showing that he's either very green or just hasn't bothered to learn. - speaks to superior officers in an offhand way All adds up to someone who is intelligent but arrogant, lazy, checked out, and probably doesn't care much about his career in the Navy. Compare that to the end of the movie and the difference is night and day.
Kaffee is selfish, wants to have a reputation of a winner, just like all lawyers. The guy who smoked the oregano RIGHTLY deserved at least B-misdemeanour punishment, but if Kaffee had just backed down and said "Sure ok", people would start to think he was weak and the type to always fold. He can't let that happen. So he keeps slickly negotiating until the opposing counsel is exhausted, and agrees.
@@CheerfullyCynical829 About the misdemeanour, does he really deserve that? I mean, in my country, even if you THINK you broke the law, or CONFESSED you broke the law, but not ACTUALLY broke the law, you can't be punished.
@@MSWSB as Vincent in Collateral , He was so different and I'd say he proved his point as a good versatile actor. (for me personal bias, Top gun in the 80's)
I’ve never cared for Sorkin dialogue. It never rings true to me. It’s too polished. The rhythm is too perfect. People never speak like that in real life. Listening to his dialogue always brings me out of the story and I find myself aware of the dialogue and how “perfect” it is and how fast the characters are able to reply with the exact correct response. It never feels natural. But that’s just me because I know I am in the minority. 😁
1:05 Tom Cruise talks about all the motions he's going to file, and then tells the prosecutor guy that HE'S going to buried in paperwork. Uniformed Navy guy should have at least called his bluff....and make Tom draft and file all those motions. The "paperwork" goes both ways.
@@podsmpsg1 Why do you think so? Imagine you have to keep working on the case of someone who's crime is smoking bag of oregano. Great use of your time, education and taxpayers' money. Failing to find the deal on the first meeting would be prove that he is not smart, not on contrary
This movie is SO GOOD. Tiny details. Tom's machine like tempo while batting... it imparts a thing about soldiers. The monotony of their exercises, a Neverending thrum just below the surface of where their attention is actually required. If soldiers were "all there" for every mile of every run, no one would ever make it. And then, as their coming into the office, the little aside about Sam and his baby, it humanized every character in the room, and there wasn't a cheesy exchange of the movie going "look, we are using this moment to make the characters relatable..." It was just slid in, nice and subtle. Added relatability without insulting the intelligence of the viewer. That is 2 scenes. I'd bet that level of detail exists through this whole film if you went looking. Wow. What a time in movie making.
DA: “It was $10 worth of oregano.” PA: “Your client thought it was pot.” DA: “My client is a moron, but that’s not against the law.” PA: “I’m still gonna charge him.” DA: “For what..possession of a condiment?” 😂😂😂😂
Some might think that Kaffee was assigned to this case because of Kaffee’s record for just going for plea bargains, therefore furthering the corrupt Colonial’s career. But that’s not exactly the case. The JAG Captain specifically said Kaffee was selected by the Division officer. This means LT Galloway selected Kaffee. She did this because she knew of Kaffee’s father’s reputation as an outstanding lawyer.
@@philanthony7349 Its amazing how much of a jerk he is in that role, but Rob Reiner says he was so great on set, even doing extra takes for free in the courtroom. Jack is so good.
It's actually a good defense strategy in a lot of cases. Presenting your client as stupid or incompetent usually eliminates stuff like premeditation and intent and can therefore mitigate a lot of penalties
Well, threat of wasting time on a boatload of paperwork that'll go nowhere in addition to the paperwork he will be doing for the other cases he has. Looking for a prosecution for possession of oregano would very likely be thrown out anyway
@@mvol5973 If he got to prosecution he'd probably win; intent is part of what's considered in US law. The problem is taking this case to court would require more of Spradling's resources - and the Navy's - than Spradling has budgeted. So he settles.
Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time…..is what douches say. Seriously though, the justice system is not there for justice. This system is in serious need of an overhaul but they won’t do it because it’s their way to keep the lower class low.
In the UCMJ (Unified Code of Military Justice) the attempt is the same as an accomplished act - if you think you were buying or were in the possession of weed....they would have treated it as if you were.
I adore this movie for a variety of moments, but scenes like this are a big reason why. Every major or minor actor in the tale, from Cruise and Nicholson to then-newbies Noah Wyle and Cuba Gooding Jr. - all of them brought their A-game to the table, and it shows.
Generally, no. Scripted actions are mostly blocking. Actors have a LOT of leeway as to how they want to execute their scripted actions because the film is about 10% in the script and about 90% in the performance.
Friend of mine who was stationed in Northern Ireland an army cook ,when in kitchen placed his pistol in an empty flour bin out of the way . When his commanding officer heard about it had to give a punishment but as friend was well respected and a good cook decided the least punishment was two weeks loss of civilian socks,meaning he had to wear army socks even when off duty.
Because of Kaffe's, questioning when oh-six-hundred is, I immediately catch it when someone, anyone says 6am in the morning or some such redundant phraseology.
I spent 8 years in the navy and never saw anyone taken to court martial over a dime bag unless it was tacked on to a more serious charge. A dime bag normally got you to Captain's Mast and usually punished with reduction in rank, restriction to ship or barracks for 30-60 days and forfeiture of 1/2 months pay.
Not sure about Navy but in the Army you can opt for a court martial if you think they will find you not guilty pr if you think the CO's punishment was too extreme.
When I was in the navy if you ever popped on a piss test you got all of what you said plus an admin separation. Don’t know how it is now but that’s how it was back in my day 20 years ago
Imagine having to defend a client for murder that has already admitted to knowing the victim ratted him out for a crime, admitted to sneaking into the victim's room with an accomplice while they were sleeping, tying the victim up, and shoving a rag down their throat before leaving them there helpless. At least he denied that he poisoned the rag! Are you kidding me? He already gave the prosecution literally everything they need to convict him. Even if you're somehow able to prove that he didn't poison the rag, they could argue that the poison wasn't needed to kill the man, a rag obstructing his trachea would have been enough. And I don't think being ignorant of the fact that the rag was poisoned is enough to make it less than murder. What an absolutely useless client.
And that's exactly why we have a justice system that requires the defense have competent representation, even in the military. It turns out there was more to this story than just two guys stuffing a rag down a third Marine's throat. There were orders from above that the LT and Colonel Jessup were proud to issue until Santiago died, and then they clammed up to save their own skin. There was no intent to kill by either of the Marines who actually committed the act. These are important facts that, when brought to the light of day, show there was no murder. There was conduct unbecoming which got both of them dishonorably discharged, but there were also going to be follow-on charges against the Colonel and Lieutenant that would be far more severe. Honestly, your attitude is part of the reason why Tom Cruise's character had such a great record. He looks at a case in the most shallow way possible and then makes whatever deal he thinks he can to keep out of an actual courtroom. He doesn't care about justice. He cares about being popular, other people being impressed by his record, and nothing else. If it weren't for Demi Moore's character, the two Marine's would got screwed and the real problem, Colonel Jessup, would've gotten away with ... not murder, but his crimes. And it's quite likely he's committed other crimes before and, by getting away with it again, he's incentivized to commit more.
One of my favorite scenes, but the subtitles for this and nearly every other film are so bad that it reveals Hollywood's true attitude toward accessibility.
I saw a video of a real JAG officer reviewing this movie, and the opening scene is the most realistic when it comes to what actual JAG officers do, prosecute petty crimes all day by members of the military who did somethign stupid. A Colonel, in line for a promotion and a star is not going to worry about some private reporting on a Corporal.
Sam (Kevin Pollak) at 1:38: "She just...looks like she has something to say." May sound like an irrelevant line but...does it foreshadow Jessup looking like he has something to say?
I’ve seen this movie at least twenty times. It’s a great film. Also, I’ve seen The Firm just as many times and TC’s performance is outstanding in that movie too.
In addition to demonstrating his habit of always going for plea deals out of laziness, I love that this scene shows how willingly Kaffee jumps to lawyer tricks rather than "making an argument." When he says "I tried to help you out of this" you think he's gonna make some brilliant legal argument that shows how smart he is and how easily he could dismantle the prosecution's case. Instead, he basically admits that he's going to annoy the guy with paperwork and stalling until he drops the case. You could argue that he's showing the prosecutor that the crime is not worth the effort (and therefore not worth the charge) but I suspect Kaffee, like all smart, lazy people, is demonstrating that he's found the most work he can make other people do with the least amount of effort from him.
What I love about the Law, the ability to fight for the weakest among us, to protect their Rights as jealously as if it were our own Freedoms at stake. What I hate about the Law, the subversion of Justice through the Plea Deal system. A guilty person takes advantage of such Plea Deals so as to never be accountable for the full weight of their crimes, while innocent people are coerced into taking a Plea Deal, seeing a trail as too big a risk to take, and that is EXACTLY how the Plea Deal is SOLD to them, both by the Prosecution and their own Defense Attorneys. IN-Justice either way.
Cant say about the Navy, but in a civilian court. the drugs being fake only saves you from a possession charge, purchasing however is a different matter. because your intention was to buy the real thing.
Is it just me or has Tom Cruise’s acting gotten progressively worse ever since he started doing the Mission Impossible movies? His acting was so damn good during his early days. Nowadays, he won’t touch a role unless it involves minimal dialogue and jumping off buildings.
Directors back then were very particular with how they wanted scenes shot. They would do it over and over until they got it right. Hollywood right now is in cruise control. No pun intended. Easy movies, easy scripts, easy money.
They make this sound like Tom cruise’s character is a legal wizard for getting his client a reduced offer. His client wasn’t guilty of anything though. Thinking that you are in possession of marijuana or a controlled substance is not a crime(in most jurisdictions at least, and probably in military court). He should have just taken the case to trial.
It's meant to establish that Kaffee likes plea deals, and will even plead down an innocent client to avoid going to court. Which is why he specifically is "Requested by Division" for the case -- they never wanted it to go to trial.
@@lobby-zx2ux "Conduct prejudicial to the good order & discipline of the armed forces" would be the charge - "conduct unbecoming" is an officer charge. It's short for "Conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman." Enlisted people aren't expected to act like gentlemen or women. They're expected to act like, well, "grabasstic pieces of amphibian shit," to quote Gunny Hartman.
you can tell Xander Berkley, a guy who has been on more failed auditions than any other actor in Hollywood really wanted to go to town on Tom's character.
Love how the JAG CO just slid his pen over at Kaffee knowing he's not organized & prepared enough to have one on him, & how he chose to ignore his question regarding military time. ("Is that 0600 in the morning, Sir") 😅
Doesn't this scene ordering Kaffee to Cuba contradict a later scene when Joanne says "you could have gotten that paperwork sent to you, you went to Cuba because you wanted to [stand up to Jack Nicholson]?
Not quite. It was necessary to go to Cuba for several reasons. Joanne says that he could’ve got his hands on said paperwork by simply picking up the phone and calling one of numerous pentagon departments. But that he asked Jessop in person to see his reaction.
LOL, it's hilarious he played such a good caricature of a liberal on AitF, and in the real life, he basically IS Mike Stivic....meat head, dead from the neck up. And I don't say that as name calling, I mean his comments are just beyond idiotic and ill informed.@@nyterpfan
@@20thCenturyMan80 If I remember correctly it was the opposite. Cruise's character was going to accuse a senior officer of a crime and Bacon's character warned him that if he did so without evidence there could be severe consequences. Cruise's character that shouts out that Bacon's character is a lousy softball player.
@@seanwebb605 Yeah I remember that. There was a scene before that though where Bacon is introduced in the movie and he said something to the effect that hopefully Cruise practices law better than he is a softball player. So they both made fun of each other's softball skills, lol.
@@seanwebb605 Yeah I remember that. There was a scene before that though where Bacon said something to the effect that hopefully Cruise practices law better than he is a softball player. So they both made fun of each other's softball skills, lol.
Most people missed the joke, "was that 0600, in the morning, sir?" Evening would be 1800, but he's just taking a jab at his CO, like he doesn't know the 24hr time. Lol
@@philanthony7349 I can guarantee you most civilians did not get that joke because they think 0600 AM or PM. If you're military like myself of course you will get it.
@@DB-07well duh, most civilians don't, I have about 40 years of experience watching civilians not knowing it, but if you do obviously you'll get the joke.
Even if they thought they had drugs and it turned out to be sugar, the law sees it pretty much the same as if they had the real deal if they made an admission during the arrest. The same goes for using a fake gun in a robbery - it's still seen as armed robbery, and intent to commit is the same as committing the crime itself. You don't just say my client is a moron because he was too stupid to successfully rob the joint, that's not necessary a defence.
Hi everyone! What grade (out of 10) would you give this video?
0
0 because the subtitles don't match
you jumbled the scene around, why?
1 because of the stupid subtitles, which aren't necessary, and are wrong in many of the sentences.
10 all the way. One of my favorite scenes in the movie!
"My client's a moron, that's not against the law". One of my favorite lines in the movie.
I love how the Captain tosses the pen to Kaffee. It's like he really is losing patience and wants to tee off on Kaffee, but he knows it would just go in one ear and out the other.
It's also part of a running gag where Kaffee never has a pen on hand, illustrating his lack of dedication to the work. By now his commander is used to it and tosses him one without being asked.
Indeed. The line "I know you don't have a good excuse so I won't force you to come up with a bad one."
I'd say it's similar to how star athletes are treated. The more talented they are, the more coaches and other teammates are willing to overlook any behavioral issues they might have.
In my 11 years in the military, I've learned one thing: NEVER EVER keep a pen on you. Because what's going to happen? You're going to forget it's in your sleeve or pocket, and the second you wash it, you're going to be greeted to a freshly stained uniform. Especially bad for dress uniforms like this. Have pens in your office, LOTS of them. But those pen holders on the sleeves of your OCPs are an illusion. Don't use them!
@@Dreamline78Nothing succeeds like success. Pick a winner!
I love how Kevin Pollack's character keeps introducing himself to people as "Hi, I'm Sam. I have no responsibilities here whatsoever."
Yeah that was the whole joke. Like Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson were the heavies in that movie and he's like Where's Waldo in this cast.
Just wait until you meet 10-Seconds-Tom introducing himself as "Hi, I am Tom" every 10 seconds. (50 First Dates)
It’s a humorous way of letting people know it is all on Khaffee.
The character is deeper in the play. Parts were cut for the movie.
The unspoken subtext is Kaffee was assigned this case because leadership saw him as undisciplined and lazy, taking the easy path and settling cases quickly. They wanted to bury this incident quickly to grease the tracks for the Major's next career move in DC.
Colonel...But yup, Exactly...
@@ICU2B4UDO "I'd appreciate he address me as colonel. I believe I've earned it."
@@hitchslap8254 ...Yeah, I know...Your message is to the wrong guy...
Lazy but brilliant. 😉😁
But why? Why would the Navy brass clear the way for Jessup's promotion to a top DC job? Jessup has ultra-macho contempt for the Navy as he shows in his meeting with Kaffey. Jessup also resents/scorns Ivy Leaguers, lawyers, and other elites - which although it is a key factor enabling Kaffey to goad Jessup into finally exploding into a self-incriminating rant on the stand, is hardly a quality endearing to DC bigwigs.
the way Kaffee slaps Sam on the back after throwing the file in front of him is a VERY nice touch.
"Enjoy pal"
I don't care how unrealistic some of the courtroom scenes were, this is a great movie. Jack gets all the attention, but EVERYONE was at their best in this film.
Legal Eagle did a great video on the movie where he dissects the courtroom/legal aspects with a former JAG lawyer. You should check it out, I think you'd enjoy it!
I saw it first run with my family - and we all enjoyed it. Yes, they were all good. I've always felt it was my favorite Demi Moore performance.
@Nicholas Grandfield I meant what I said.
"Was that 0600 in the morning, sir?"
Not only is it unrealistic and melodramatic, some of the charges aren't even real in the UCMJ.
Former Barracks Lawyer here. While he could in theory be charged under Article 112a of the UCMJ (Unauthorized possession of a controlled substance), it would be difficult to get a conviction if there weren’t any actual drugs involved. Instead, he’d probably be hit with Article 134 (Actions threatening the good order and discipline of the Armed Forces). That being said, this kind of thing is almost always handled at the unit command level with non-judicial punishment. JAGs wouldn’t get involved unless the service member indicates they’d like a court martial instead of an NJP.
That’s the worst going to captains mast for a bag of oregano. Hey shipmate what are you on restriction for? Ohh nothing just bought a bag of oregano 🌿 and was gonna smoke it. 🤦🏻♂️ hopefully you wouldn’t get a half a months pay for two months with it. I’d be pissed about that one.
Given that the serviceman was a moron he might well have said "sir, i would prefer to be court martialed"😂
@@leo29hornsfan Also it could also work out in getting it dismissed anyway, cause unless the command really hated the dude, it could boil down to "I just bought a bag of oregano" and noone is going to want to waste a Colonel/Captain's time with that over such a stupid reason.
@@leo29hornsfan on the plus side room would smell amazing afterwards way better than weed.
You can bet Aaron Sorkin didn’t just pick out words that were close enough. Shame the sub-titler didn’t follow his example.
I can't believe someone decided to summarize in the subtitles. 0:57 for example.
@@arazusaysbah6784 However, there is some necessity to this. Most humans can't read as fast as they can speak/hear. So if everything said was written down, then most people would not make it to the end of the sentence before the next subtitle card would need to show. Also, it would be all over the screen.
@@DJDoena It's also possible that the subtitles are from the published script, but the actual lines were 'penciled in' during filming. Sorkin may have wanted to flesh out his stage play when writing the screenplay as well. Maybe the subtitles are the stage version?
Subtitles for movies are taken from the script. So if you're watching a movie and the subtitles don't match what's actually being said, it's because the actor(s) are ad libbing a bit. You see this a lot with method actors. It's kinda cool, actually.
Any other Sorkin film recommendations?
They do such a good job of setting up Kaffee's character:
- always goes for plea deals to avoid going to court.
- playing softball while his opponent is actually trying to work the case.
- always asking Sam to explain military jargon showing that he's either very green or just hasn't bothered to learn.
- speaks to superior officers in an offhand way
All adds up to someone who is intelligent but arrogant, lazy, checked out, and probably doesn't care much about his career in the Navy. Compare that to the end of the movie and the difference is night and day.
So… every character Tom Cruise has ever played. (Except for Les Grossman)
Well Lex (aka Alexandria) Grossman did all that in reverse, before he transitioned.
Kaffee is selfish, wants to have a reputation of a winner, just like all lawyers. The guy who smoked the oregano RIGHTLY deserved at least B-misdemeanour punishment, but if Kaffee had just backed down and said "Sure ok", people would start to think he was weak and the type to always fold. He can't let that happen. So he keeps slickly negotiating until the opposing counsel is exhausted, and agrees.
@@CheerfullyCynical829 About the misdemeanour, does he really deserve that? I mean, in my country, even if you THINK you broke the law, or CONFESSED you broke the law, but not ACTUALLY broke the law, you can't be punished.
@@MSWSB as Vincent in Collateral , He was so different and I'd say he proved his point as a good versatile actor. (for me personal bias, Top gun in the 80's)
Aaron Sorkin is probably the best writer of dialogue in contemporary drama. Any actor looks super smart and witty when fed Sorkin-written lines.
True, but Tom Cruise has always always *always* been utterly fantastic at playing the proverbial cat that ate the equally proverbial canary.
I wish he could write my lines everyday
I’ve never cared for Sorkin dialogue. It never rings true to me. It’s too polished. The rhythm is too perfect. People never speak like that in real life. Listening to his dialogue always brings me out of the story and I find myself aware of the dialogue and how “perfect” it is and how fast the characters are able to reply with the exact correct response. It never feels natural. But that’s just me because I know I am in the minority. 😁
Any actor looks as super anything as the script calls for.
Too bad they so often all sound the same. It’s like a hive mind talking to itself. That being sad, TC is amazing in this outstanding movie
I was a propmaker on this and watching them play this out was a sight!
Right....
@@thomasrobinette3227 he could have been
I WANT THE TRUTH
@@rotyler2177 YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH
He was a pretty good lawyer, but he was a better pilot.
Maybe he later got his pilot nickname because of his maverick attitude in the courtroom.
He was also a pretty good NASCAR driver.
Naval aviator
@@andrewbrown7976 He was keeping up communications with the enemy(giving the finger).
Lets not forget he was also a good spy.
It's really more of a seasoning than a condiment.
Wise beyond your years.
3:30 Danny slapping Sam on the back cracks me up every time. 😂😂😂
1:05 Tom Cruise talks about all the motions he's going to file, and then tells the prosecutor guy that HE'S going to buried in paperwork. Uniformed Navy guy should have at least called his bluff....and make Tom draft and file all those motions. The "paperwork" goes both ways.
It comes down to wether or not he thought it was worth it.
@@podsmpsg1 Why do you think so? Imagine you have to keep working on the case of someone who's crime is smoking bag of oregano. Great use of your time, education and taxpayers' money. Failing to find the deal on the first meeting would be prove that he is not smart, not on contrary
It depends on whether the attorney drafts the paperwork or has their aides do it, knowing the other side will have to respond directly.
motions are easier to file than to respond to. a paralegal can file a motion.
Raising them is WAY less work than responding to them. And it WAS just oregano...
One of Cruise's best movies
Most insane people are great at their arts…🤷
@Sam0 B00 WHU?
A good example of how great casting can elevate a movie. It's just so much fun to see this group of actors bringing their A game.
Sam Weinberg didn't volunteer, he was Voluntold.
That's the military in a nutshell..
This movie is SO GOOD. Tiny details. Tom's machine like tempo while batting... it imparts a thing about soldiers. The monotony of their exercises, a Neverending thrum just below the surface of where their attention is actually required. If soldiers were "all there" for every mile of every run, no one would ever make it. And then, as their coming into the office, the little aside about Sam and his baby, it humanized every character in the room, and there wasn't a cheesy exchange of the movie going "look, we are using this moment to make the characters relatable..." It was just slid in, nice and subtle. Added relatability without insulting the intelligence of the viewer. That is 2 scenes. I'd bet that level of detail exists through this whole film if you went looking. Wow. What a time in movie making.
Soldiers?
LTJG Spradling here also played "Zimmer" in another naval movie Crimson Tide.
Tom Cruise knocks most scenes he's in out of the park. Pun intended.
DA: “It was $10 worth of oregano.”
PA: “Your client thought it was pot.”
DA: “My client is a moron, but that’s not against the law.”
PA: “I’m still gonna charge him.”
DA: “For what..possession of a condiment?”
😂😂😂😂
"A Few Good Condiments". Great movie... 👍
3:18 "Your job is simply to go down there and help Kaffee handle the truth."
Some might think that Kaffee was assigned to this case because of Kaffee’s record for just going for plea bargains, therefore furthering the corrupt Colonial’s career. But that’s not exactly the case. The JAG Captain specifically said Kaffee was selected by the Division officer. This means LT Galloway selected Kaffee. She did this because she knew of Kaffee’s father’s reputation as an outstanding lawyer.
He was selected by Division. LtCdr Galloway is internal affairs.
If you're going to manually put the English subtitles in a clip why would you get it blatantly wrong in the first 5 seconds?
+1…and for the rest of the clip as well…
literally everyone in this movie is so good
Literally?
You're so right. Jack Nicholson's Col. Nathan Jessup is the best.
Also, Private Dawson was the directors assistant. He had never acted in his life. Amazing performance by Wolfgang Boddison
@@philanthony7349 Its amazing how much of a jerk he is in that role, but Rob Reiner says he was so great on set, even doing extra takes for free in the courtroom. Jack is so good.
Good line
My Client is a Moreon!!!!😁😁😁😁😁😁
It's actually a good defense strategy in a lot of cases. Presenting your client as stupid or incompetent usually eliminates stuff like premeditation and intent and can therefore mitigate a lot of penalties
When he throws that pen. I have been there. 😅
You can tell Kaffee didn't go to USNA. If he did he'd always have a pen on him.
The writing is superb.
So the threat of paperwork wins in the end. The pen is truly mightier than the sword.
LMAO.
lol. but also tbf, it wsn't just the paperwork. its the fact that there'd be a ton of paperwork to ultimately not accomplish anything. waste of time.
Well, threat of wasting time on a boatload of paperwork that'll go nowhere in addition to the paperwork he will be doing for the other cases he has. Looking for a prosecution for possession of oregano would very likely be thrown out anyway
@@mvol5973 If he got to prosecution he'd probably win; intent is part of what's considered in US law. The problem is taking this case to court would require more of Spradling's resources - and the Navy's - than Spradling has budgeted. So he settles.
It's all about wins for the prosecution, not justice.
Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time…..is what douches say.
Seriously though, the justice system is not there for justice. This system is in serious need of an overhaul but they won’t do it because it’s their way to keep the lower class low.
In the UCMJ (Unified Code of Military Justice) the attempt is the same as an accomplished act - if you think you were buying or were in the possession of weed....they would have treated it as if you were.
@@markseslstorytellerchannel3418
*Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
That prosecutor was really gonna charge a soldier with possession of oregano and being high on oregano.
How do you get high on oregano lmao, but being in the military I believe it, they do some ass backwards things
I adore this movie for a variety of moments, but scenes like this are a big reason why. Every major or minor actor in the tale, from Cruise and Nicholson to then-newbies Noah Wyle and Cuba Gooding Jr. - all of them brought their A-game to the table, and it shows.
Great movie. I've seen it a dozen times over the years. Thankfully I have it on DVD. Thank you.
You're welcome!
The timing of Caffee’s back pat on Weinberg is sublime. Something like this isn’t on the script, right?
Generally, no. Scripted actions are mostly blocking. Actors have a LOT of leeway as to how they want to execute their scripted actions because the film is about 10% in the script and about 90% in the performance.
Tom Cruise plays the same character in every movie.
IS THAT MR. ZIMMER FROM CRIMSON TIDE. WEARING THE SAME FUCKING UNIFORM?
1:40
OMG, who's that hot actress right to Kevin Pollak?
Prince's sister?
"Doing various administrative, things." Most underrated lines of the movie.
Friend of mine who was stationed in Northern Ireland an army cook ,when in kitchen placed his pistol in an empty flour bin out of the way . When his commanding officer heard about it had to give a punishment but as friend was well respected and a good cook decided the least punishment was two weeks loss of civilian socks,meaning he had to wear army socks even when off duty.
How would they know?
And why would a cook need a sidearm?
@@mikevanroy9356 Have you tasted Army food before?
@mikevanroy9356 have you seen the film Under Seige?
He was based with the SAS in a compound.
Tom Cruise is the consummate actor. Always ready for the role.
Because of Kaffe's, questioning when oh-six-hundred is, I immediately catch it when someone, anyone says 6am in the morning or some such redundant phraseology.
I spent 8 years in the navy and never saw anyone taken to court martial over a dime bag unless it was tacked on to a more serious charge. A dime bag normally got you to Captain's Mast and usually punished with reduction in rank, restriction to ship or barracks for 30-60 days and forfeiture of 1/2 months pay.
in those 8 years in the navy, did you perform fellatio on a fellow sailorman?
Not sure about Navy but in the Army you can opt for a court martial if you think they will find you not guilty pr if you think the CO's punishment was too extreme.
When I was in the navy if you ever popped on a piss test you got all of what you said plus an admin separation. Don’t know how it is now but that’s how it was back in my day 20 years ago
Imagine having to defend a client for murder that has already admitted to knowing the victim ratted him out for a crime, admitted to sneaking into the victim's room with an accomplice while they were sleeping, tying the victim up, and shoving a rag down their throat before leaving them there helpless. At least he denied that he poisoned the rag!
Are you kidding me? He already gave the prosecution literally everything they need to convict him. Even if you're somehow able to prove that he didn't poison the rag, they could argue that the poison wasn't needed to kill the man, a rag obstructing his trachea would have been enough. And I don't think being ignorant of the fact that the rag was poisoned is enough to make it less than murder. What an absolutely useless client.
And that's exactly why we have a justice system that requires the defense have competent representation, even in the military. It turns out there was more to this story than just two guys stuffing a rag down a third Marine's throat. There were orders from above that the LT and Colonel Jessup were proud to issue until Santiago died, and then they clammed up to save their own skin. There was no intent to kill by either of the Marines who actually committed the act. These are important facts that, when brought to the light of day, show there was no murder. There was conduct unbecoming which got both of them dishonorably discharged, but there were also going to be follow-on charges against the Colonel and Lieutenant that would be far more severe.
Honestly, your attitude is part of the reason why Tom Cruise's character had such a great record. He looks at a case in the most shallow way possible and then makes whatever deal he thinks he can to keep out of an actual courtroom. He doesn't care about justice. He cares about being popular, other people being impressed by his record, and nothing else. If it weren't for Demi Moore's character, the two Marine's would got screwed and the real problem, Colonel Jessup, would've gotten away with ... not murder, but his crimes. And it's quite likely he's committed other crimes before and, by getting away with it again, he's incentivized to commit more.
If the client is that stupid not knowing the difference between Marijuana and oregano..charge him 😆
how can you be under the influence with oregano? 🤣
This guy would be a great lawyer
If only he could handle vermouth....
As a low ranking infantryman that spent a year in combat. I hate every single person in that room.
One of my favorite scenes, but the subtitles for this and nearly every other film are so bad that it reveals Hollywood's true attitude toward accessibility.
Was the person writing the subtitles just not watching the movie? Why are they paraphrasing every other line?
Tom should’ve been nominated for a award
This and The Firm are the only Cruise films i've enjoyed....Aloha
"who? YOU Lieutenant Weinstein?" I laugh every time now after seeing Kevin Pollak's interview on the Rich Eisen show.
- In other words, I have no responsibilties?
- Right.
- My kind of case.
😂😂😂
That Red John guy turns up EVERYWHERE 😄
Been looking for this comment.
I'm not a fan of Rob Reiner's politics, but I can't deny his talent as a director. This is one of the best movies ever.
He really has filmed some modern classics...this, Stand By Me, Misery, This is Spinal Tap. His dad was pretty damn good, too!
I saw a video of a real JAG officer reviewing this movie, and the opening scene is the most realistic when it comes to what actual JAG officers do, prosecute petty crimes all day by members of the military who did somethign stupid. A Colonel, in line for a promotion and a star is not going to worry about some private reporting on a Corporal.
Agreed. It's the most implausible aspect of the movie.
Sam (Kevin Pollak) at 1:38: "She just...looks like she has something to say." May sound like an irrelevant line but...does it foreshadow Jessup looking like he has something to say?
FYI. They had Jason Alexander set to play Weinberg thinking Seinfeld was going to be cancelled. It wasn’t.
This was years before Seinfeld.
Seinfeld started in 92?
Maverick buzzed one too many towers in his Tomcat and lost his wings. Fortunately he had a juris doctorate to fall back on.
LOL....so he joined the Navy after leaving Bendini, Lambert, and Locke in Memphis......
I think that this movie had Tom Cruise's best acting.
I agree. But an actor is only as good as his script.
@@philanthony7349 True. Acting, writing, costume, casting, sound, location scouting, props, Foley and many more factors all can make or break a movie!
I’ve seen this movie at least twenty times. It’s a great film. Also, I’ve seen The Firm just as many times and TC’s performance is outstanding in that movie too.
In addition to demonstrating his habit of always going for plea deals out of laziness, I love that this scene shows how willingly Kaffee jumps to lawyer tricks rather than "making an argument."
When he says "I tried to help you out of this" you think he's gonna make some brilliant legal argument that shows how smart he is and how easily he could dismantle the prosecution's case.
Instead, he basically admits that he's going to annoy the guy with paperwork and stalling until he drops the case. You could argue that he's showing the prosecutor that the crime is not worth the effort (and therefore not worth the charge) but I suspect Kaffee, like all smart, lazy people, is demonstrating that he's found the most work he can make other people do with the least amount of effort from him.
One of the best lawyer movies just pure raw emotion not alway judicially accurate but good
uh, going forward can you make an effort to have the captions actually be the same as what is said?
Tom Cruise spent 6 weeks with Barry Bonds to groove that softball swing.
I’d love see him try to explain the charges of Being under the influence of Oregano
Leave it to a signalman to buy a bag of oregano. He should have talked with a torpedo man they always have the best pot.
What I love about the Law, the ability to fight for the weakest among us, to protect their Rights as jealously as if it were our own Freedoms at stake.
What I hate about the Law, the subversion of Justice through the Plea Deal system. A guilty person takes advantage of such Plea Deals so as to never be accountable for the full weight of their crimes, while innocent people are coerced into taking a Plea Deal, seeing a trail as too big a risk to take, and that is EXACTLY how the Plea Deal is SOLD to them, both by the Prosecution and their own Defense Attorneys. IN-Justice either way.
Cant say about the Navy, but in a civilian court. the drugs being fake only saves you from a possession charge, purchasing however is a different matter. because your intention was to buy the real thing.
Is it just me or has Tom Cruise’s acting gotten progressively worse ever since he started doing the Mission Impossible movies? His acting was so damn good during his early days.
Nowadays, he won’t touch a role unless it involves minimal dialogue and jumping off buildings.
Directors back then were very particular with how they wanted scenes shot. They would do it over and over until they got it right. Hollywood right now is in cruise control. No pun intended.
Easy movies, easy scripts, easy money.
Why bother including subtitles if you can't get it right? You're not just a little wrong. You're 'maybe it's dialogue from another movie' wrong.
They make this sound like Tom cruise’s character is a legal wizard for getting his client a reduced offer. His client wasn’t guilty of anything though. Thinking that you are in possession of marijuana or a controlled substance is not a crime(in most jurisdictions at least, and probably in military court). He should have just taken the case to trial.
It would have been "conduct unbecoming" and atleast a reduction in rank most likely.
It's meant to establish that Kaffee likes plea deals, and will even plead down an innocent client to avoid going to court. Which is why he specifically is "Requested by Division" for the case -- they never wanted it to go to trial.
@@lobby-zx2ux "Conduct prejudicial to the good order & discipline of the armed forces" would be the charge - "conduct unbecoming" is an officer charge. It's short for "Conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman." Enlisted people aren't expected to act like gentlemen or women. They're expected to act like, well, "grabasstic pieces of amphibian shit," to quote Gunny Hartman.
you can tell Xander Berkley, a guy who has been on more failed auditions than any other actor in Hollywood really wanted to go to town on Tom's character.
Excellent character actor.
Santiago: I can't breathe!
I love this scene. Georgetown , DC. Best place to live in the world
"I dont know why Im agreeing to this"
Yeah you do, its because the guy had some oregano
Love how the JAG CO just slid his pen over at Kaffee knowing he's not organized & prepared enough to have one on him, & how he chose to ignore his question regarding military time. ("Is that 0600 in the morning, Sir") 😅
I assume Kaffee was joking meaning "I have to get up that early?"
id rather have no subtitles than wrong ones.
They're not wrong. They simply aren't a direct representation of the dialogue spoken. There is a difference.
@@seanwebb605 you just gave the definition of the word "wrong" LOL
@@gradeyundery4939 No I didn't. But by all means remain in ignorance.
The performances in this movie are outstanding, BUT someone should have taught Mr. Cruise how to bat.
Kevin Bacon's character makes note later on about how crappy a softball player Tom is. Tom is actually in character here.
In other words I have no responsibilities here whatsoever. That's my jam right there.
I like how you hear half of his hits go right into the dirt. Very wise to zoom in past the bat. :-)
He was hitting grounders for the infielders
Hitting grounders.
Clearly, Tom doesn’t know how to swing a bat properly
I don't think the law says you get off if you thought you bought drugs but the drugs turned out fake
Technically no law is broken if that’s the case.
wait a second... Kaffee's boss is Red John?
So did Tom Cruise get swiss cheesed by a .50 cal in TAPS?
Absolutely. But at least he was happy while it was happening.
Doesn't this scene ordering Kaffee to Cuba contradict a later scene when Joanne says "you could have gotten that paperwork sent to you, you went to Cuba because you wanted to [stand up to Jack Nicholson]?
Not quite. It was necessary to go to Cuba for several reasons. Joanne says that he could’ve got his hands on said paperwork by simply picking up the phone and calling one of numerous pentagon departments. But that he asked Jessop in person to see his reaction.
The writing and directing in this movie is excellent. I think Rob Reiner has about as much sense as an eggplant but he made an awesome movie here.
With this comment you've insulted every eggplant in existence!!
LOL, it's hilarious he played such a good caricature of a liberal on AitF, and in the real life, he basically IS Mike Stivic....meat head, dead from the neck up. And I don't say that as name calling, I mean his comments are just beyond idiotic and ill informed.@@nyterpfan
@@nyterpfan :)
Good grief, TH-cam's subtitles were more accurate than the burnt in subtitles.
She looks like she has something to say.
Who’s gonna do it? You Lt Weinberg?
It's an incredible movie but based on these scenes I don't believe for a moment that Tom Cruise has ever played baseball.
Kevin Bacon makes a comment not too long after this scene insinuating Tom wasn't good at Softball so Tom was in character here.
@@20thCenturyMan80 If I remember correctly it was the opposite. Cruise's character was going to accuse a senior officer of a crime and Bacon's character warned him that if he did so without evidence there could be severe consequences. Cruise's character that shouts out that Bacon's character is a lousy softball player.
@@seanwebb605 Yeah I remember that. There was a scene before that though where Bacon is introduced in the movie and he said something to the effect that hopefully Cruise practices law better than he is a softball player. So they both made fun of each other's softball skills, lol.
@@seanwebb605 Yeah I remember that. There was a scene before that though where Bacon said something to the effect that hopefully Cruise practices law better than he is a softball player. So they both made fun of each other's softball skills, lol.
...I gotta rewatch this movie...
Two of the actors in this clip both appeared in the miniseries "From The Earth to the Moon".
the boss is the father to john conner in terminator 2. he ends up dying with a sword in his mouth
Most people missed the joke, "was that 0600, in the morning, sir?" Evening would be 1800, but he's just taking a jab at his CO, like he doesn't know the 24hr time. Lol
Most people do get the joke. He's a smart ass.
@@philanthony7349 I can guarantee you most civilians did not get that joke because they think 0600 AM or PM. If you're military like myself of course you will get it.
@@nobytes2i am not military…I know how to use 24 hour time, like most people. Nonetheless it was witty from Daniel.
@@DB-07well duh, most civilians don't, I have about 40 years of experience watching civilians not knowing it, but if you do obviously you'll get the joke.
@@nobytes2 No you can't guarantee that. Civilians had no problem getting the joke.
Even if they thought they had drugs and it turned out to be sugar, the law sees it pretty much the same as if they had the real deal if they made an admission during the arrest.
The same goes for using a fake gun in a robbery - it's still seen as armed robbery, and intent to commit is the same as committing the crime itself. You don't just say my client is a moron because he was too stupid to successfully rob the joint, that's not necessary a defence.
I just noticed the national defense service ribbon is on the right side of the chest. It should be on the left.
*Now that's an outro!*
That's Red John.