I was OBSESSED with this movie when I was a kid! My dad was a Navy officer, so I used to dress up in his old uniform and pretend to be Demi Moore. Ten bucks says I can still quote all her lines with 85+% accuracy 👩✈️👩⚖️
Not sure if you recognized the Doctor on the stand, but that's none other than "Nigel Tuffnel Lead guitar!" from This is Spinal Tap, and also The Six-Fingered Man from The Princess Bride, played by the ever so talented Christopher Guest.
For anyone who enjoys this type of "courtroom drama" movie, there's a great TV show from the 90s called The Practice. It ran for many seasons, it's really good.
Tom Cruise deserved a nomination for his performance here.. But that year WAS pretty crowded... Denzel as Malcolm X, Pacino in Scent of a Woman, etc. I still think he deserved a spot tho.
Good Job, Shanelle!👍 "This is the movie with, "You can't handle the Truth!"?" Yup, this reaction did have you as a Bloomin' Onion. Now I wanna go to Outback! See you next time. Love from Texas.❤
At the beginning of the video when you said you were having a bad hair day. Don't worry you always look great with a super smile. I enjoyed watching you enjoy the movie. It was a great one. I very much enjoy your channel and your reactions. You're the greatest. Much love to you and all the best. ❤👍🙂
For a courtroom drama that acting and story carried the day along with a few laughs - try From the Hip with Judd Nelson, Elizabeth Perkins and John Hurt from 1987. Absolutely my favorite courtroom drama with A few good men being my second.
Ciao Shanelle, I’m new here and just had to subscribe subito. Love your commentary and overall review. So, you are a Cruise super fan? Well, then I must tell you that my cousin had the opportunity to spend the day with him in Italia, just last week. He works in entertainment there and says that Tom was a lot of fun and not what he had been told by colleagues. Anyway, can’t wait to catch up here. Buona sera from D.C., 😉👋🏼
It is nice to see the classics, especially the black and whites, getting their appreciation. It is one of the disappointing things about the reaction folks.
Love watching people discover this movie for the first time. Your "This is the YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH movie???," made me laugh out loud. Great reaction.
This was originally a play Sorkin wrote. In the top corner of the stage would be an actual Marine standing still at attention throughout the entire play and at the end he would turn around and salute.
Nobody ever includes Rob Reiner on any list of best directors, but he's quietly responsible for so many legendary films -- Stand By Me, A Few Good Men, Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, This is Spinal Tap, Misery
Agreed. When these movies were releasing back in real time, my best friend and fellow cinema nut actually had Reiner up there in the same level of esteem and importance as Scorsese, Spielberg, De Palma, Leone, Woody Allen. He was must-see first show matinee opening day, no question. He had an unbroken run I would put up against anybody's peak stretch and he's in the conversation. His first film is Spinal Tap. That's his first. He basically not only created an instant classic, but invented the mockumentary genre. His follow up is a forgotten to time, but not to us and was like cinematic opium to my bestie and I in high school which was The Sure Thing starring a very young John Cusack and Daphne Z from Spaceballs as the young opposites attract potential soulmates of the film we follow their first year away at college. It is a perfect coming of age movie. The attention to detail is so on the money and miraculous. Every little character, even one's with one line are memorable and quotable. It also is very 80's, has an amazing go for broke comic relief performance from Goose himself Anthony Edwards as Cusack's best friend whose not quite the man of substance Cusack's budding romantic is and is still two years away from Top Gun. This film was not promoted and didn't do well at the box office, but did recoup on the new thriving home video market. But, make no mistake, this is a stone cold classic. I love this more than Say Anything ... and Cameron Crowe is God. Trust me. Reiner at this point is a solid two for two. Immediately, he follows this up with the poignant Stephen King adaption Stand By Me which puts River Phoenix, Will Weadon, Corey Feldman and Jerry O Connell on the map. This is a masterpiece. Kiefer Sutherland is insanely spooky as the unhinged antagonist and Richard Dryfass is the greatest actor of his generation as grown up Will Weadon. Bam. Three for three. Reiner streak out the gate is three universally loved films and all classics. His fourth: a little film called The Princess Bride. Ba-Bam. Instant beloved classic. Four! Four for four, baby. How does he follow up this almost unparalleled win streak? By following in the footsteps of Kubrick and sliding into the horror genre by adapting another King story, but this time not side stepping the horror, but going all in. His fifth film is Misery. Instantly iconic. His first unabashed box office breakthrough smash and directs Kathy Bates to a best actress win. Five for five and Misery marks Reiner owning the back half of the 80's and entering the 90's undeterred without missing a beat. Next movie: A Few Good Men. This also marks the first screenplay by Arron Sorkan. Long story short: Six for six. Not just six hits. Six classics. And the least known one is my personal favorite along with my childhood chum The Sure Thing. This is where the steak ends. And like some supernatural curse, it doesn't just end, it crashes and burns hard. Almost like now the law of averages was he had to make horrible films to bring balance to the Force. His next movie was the infamous train wreck legendary on the list of all time worse motion pictures ever made North. The shipwreck would never right itself. It's like overnight he lost his talent. However, he still put out a legendary run of his first six movies all being all time classics and recognized as such. Do yourselves a favor: see The Sure Thing as fast as you can. The movie that dares to ask the immortal question: who invented liquid soap ... and WHY??
When Shanelle first mentioned "unobtrusive filmmaking" on another video, I thought of him. He doesn't have standout "signatures" like slowmo or lens flare. What stands out is that the movie is just GOOD. You get sucked in, and nothing gets in the way of your immersion. You finish and just go, "Holy crap that was a MOVIE."
One of my favorite courtroom dramas of all time, the script is tight, the actors are all giving their A game, and the antagonist pretty much seals his own fate by arrogance alone WHICH IS SUCH A SATOSFYING RESOLUTION and actually kind of funny when you think about how many real people beleive their "untouchable" because of their positions or privelege. Jessup got what he deserved, and Jack Nicholson played this character so well. I remember Kevin Pollack talking about what it was like on set with Nicholson, and between takes he'd be laughing and happy and Pollack asked him "You could probably be doing anything else, why do our little courtroom drama movie?" He just grinned that signature grin of his, leaned over to me and said "I love acting, man! I just love it!"
Wow, I'm shocked that the trivia section didn't mention the thing that is most famous about it: the shooting of Jack Nicholson's part, and specifically the courtroom scene. You can look up at least two hilarious interviews with Kevin Pollock talking about as well Kevin Bacon, Noah Wyle, Kiefer Sutherland and Rob Reiner. Noah Wyle talks about the read through, which is hilarious. Kevin Pollock has two interviews on Rich Eisen, both telling different stories. Highly recommend checking those out, they're hilarious.
Fun fact....Lance Corporal Dawson was played by Rob Reiner's assistant. Also, according to Aaron Sorkin he was inspired by his sister who was a JAG lawyer and assigned to defend a marine accused of murdering another marine. Reportedly, it was her observation that the powers that be seemed to be going out of their way to give the case to an inexperienced lawyer
I saw this in the theater and walked out afterwards saying "wow, what a great movie!" Was shocked at the lack of Oscar wins. Another really good court room drama from same era is a lesser known film "Class Action" with Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Riveting court scenes.
Ah, so no wins then? I can never remember Oscar wins that much. I saw in the trivia section there were 4 nominations but now that you say that I'm shocked too. Class Action! Oh man, hadn't heard about that one in a long time!
A "Code Red" in the Navy was called a "Blanket Party". Tom Cruise has played being in the Navy in 3 Movies (This one, "Top Gun" and "Top Gun: Maverick"). In Both Roles he plays a Member of the Navy but doesn't like Water! I love how they show the "Sibling Rivalry" between the Branches... Totally Realistic!
Now that you mention it, I just realized Cruise played a lot of characters who were military... Taps (Air Force Cadet), Born On The Fourth of July (Marine), The Last Samurai (Cavalry), Valkyrie (German Army), Jack Reacher (Army) , Edge of Tomorrow (whatever that was)
I saw this movie in 93, on a plane. I was 12, so still a bit young to appreciate it. A slightly older cousin enjoyed it so much that she convinced me to give another try a year later, and oh boy, I ended up loving it, but had no idea who Sorkin was. Cut to a few years later when I become obsessed with Sports Night and then The West Wing, and find out those shows were from the guy who wrote A Few Good Men. I was in full Sorkin mania in the early 2000s.
A REALLY REALLY GOOD courtroom drama is A Time To Kill. I would love to see you react to that if you haven't seen it yet. Excellent drama with influences outside the courtroom
Along w/ Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs & David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, this film made 1992 a great year for dialogue on the big screen. Two other movies w/ courtroom aspects that year were My Cousin Vinny & Scent of a Woman.
The tragedy of Rob Reiner is as follows, when he adapts another's work he's considered a great collaborator but not a great creator since he's adapting the best (because the best want to work with him, or they are his friends) , but you only need to look at people like King, Sorkin, and Ephron and their attempts to direct their own work and you can see how desperately in need of a collaborator they really are. It is precisely Rob Reiner's ability to reign in the excesses of a writer like Sorkin that make something like this movie really work, but the myth of the singular genius that surrounds some writers makes it seem like anyone can point a camera at their work and it will just be good. Movies are collaborations for a reason, and a director that knows what to cut is just as good as a director who knows what to add, but the former never get called truly great. (It's probably not fair to include Ephron on this list since she was a very competent director of her own work, but i just can't shake the feeling that When Harry Met Sally is considered the best for a reason... Sorkin's attempts are execrable though, I do stand by that)
Tom Cruise is basically playing the same character here as in Top Gun. A cocky and reckless naval officer who is extremely talented but has to live up to the massive expectations of his father.
@@battleaxe8252 I’ve been meaning to watch Born on the Forth of July. Glad to hear it’s among his better more different performances. I can’t believe I forgot to mention Interview with a Vampire above, but you’re right it is a VERY different performance of his. 👍
The scene where Markenson is in the back of the car the startled jump by Tom Cruise is real. In the script the car was supposed to stop at a light and Markenson was to hop in. But to get a more real reaction the director tried one with the other actor already in the car. Despite the jumpscare Cruise stayed in character and that was the take they used.
40:18 add The American President (1995) to your watch list. It’s also Rob Reiner and Aaron Sorkin and the blueprint for what would become The West Wing.
Shanelle you are always looking good. This is one of my all time favorite movies. Tom Cruise had an outstanding performance in this film. I'll always think of Rob Reiner as 'meathead' from All in the Family. The cast is outstanding... like top grade.
Tom Cruise goading Jack Nicholson into saying he ordered the code red is illegal, it would have been stricken from the record, and Cruise would have been sanctioned for doing so while Jack would have gone free.
No military officer would ever have been allowed to get away with his insubordinate behavior…she would have had him on charges from their first meeting.
Wolfgang Bodison (Lance CPL. Harold W. Dawson) was working as an assistant to Rob Reiner on Misery and this movie as a Location Manager, and Rob pretty much threw him into the role on a whim because he hadn't been able to find anybody to fit the role. Bodison had no experience acting prior to AFGM. I think it's fair to say that he did a stellar job in this role.
Awesome movie. Rob Reiner is amazing at directing different genre movies. Comedy, drama, fantasy, thriller/horror. And Kevin Pollak is really great in this film (it really is an All-Star cast).
This is a nice treat. Shocked you never saw it and shocked you never watched it on your channel yet. But, I for one, will proclaim before it starts, that this is sooooo up your alley. This should be fun. Ok, lets watch, Shanelle 😀
I was 19 in 1992, and saw the film twice in theaters. When it went to home video, I re-watched Jack's big speech so many times that I inadvertently memorized the entire thing. I can still recite it today, it's like muscle memory. Sometimes I try reciting it at high-speed, but I can't get through the whole thing without taking a breath. The Oscar nominees for "Adapted Screenplay" that year: Three came from novels, one from a short story and one was a remake of an Italian film. Since then, Sorkin has been nominated for four screenplays, and won for "The Social Network". Director Rob Reiner was on quite a run here; he made "Stand By Me", "The Princess Bride", "When Harry Met Sally", "Misery" and "A Few Good Men" back to back. Those are all very well-regarded movies! Keifer Sutherland and Kevin Bacon had co-starred in "Flatliners" two years earlier with Julia Roberts. Of course, Tom and Cuba would be "Jerry Maguire" costars a few years after this. You mentioned seeing Aaron Sorkin in a bar scene...which one?
Boy, reacting to The West Wing would be a tremendous slog because it was a successful series that ran for years. But it’s Sorkin at his best, with a cast that never quits. If you haven’t seen it, please consider taking a look. Loved your reaction to this one. Peace …
I saw this back when it came out, great movie. The ending is amazing, love the energy between Cruise and Nicholson. The Firm, is another lawyer type movie that stared Tom Cruise and Gene Hackman. Not as good as this one but still entertaining.
Something I think you'd find fascinating, as I did: Look up Rob Reiner's, Kevin Bacon's, Kevin Pollack's and Noah Wylie's appearances on The Rich Eisen show. They're each asked to give their perspectives of what it was like being in the courtroom when Jack is giving the "You can't handle the truth" soliloquy. Very eye opening on the kind of professional that Jack Nicholson is. And Pollack's interview is hilarious as well.
Tom Cruise might be nuts, but he's no doubt a fine actor, not to mention the balls to do all the stunts he does. But even beside the stunts, I've never saw him give a bad performance. One of the greats for me.
Kevin Pollak has some great stories from working on this film. The interview he did with Rich Eisen had me in stitches. Christian Slater had a small part in this. When asked if he was nervous working with Nicholson, he said he was terrified. But instead of hiding, he showed no fear. Walked straight up to Nicholson on his first day and said "I hear you talk like me." Nicholson would walk onto set in the morning and say with a sigh "Another day, another ten grand." 😎
Is there a genre Jack Nicholson not been in? He has even done a Rock Opera. Also,we know some where the is a portrait of Tom Cruise getting older while he does not age.
Great reaction Shanelle. Apparently the Harold W. Dawson character was cast with a different person in mind but Rob Reiner saw one of crew members and thought he fit the role better so he did a screen test and transferred from the crew to cast.
To a lesser degree this movie was and is the To Kill a Mockingbird of our time. One of the all time notable performances and screenplays. This was Tom Cruise when he had something to prove...before all the Mission Impossibles. This was Jack Nicholson in his second incarnation as one of the Greatest Actors of our time and this was Demi Moore right before her acting career went ballistic. Great performances all around and which show why the 90s is one of the greatest eras in film making. Cant believe its 30 years old.
One of my favorite bits in this movie is when Tom Cruise does a Jack Nicholson impression. Christopher Guest looks so different in the various roles he plays. Great reaction, Shan.
This was the film that proved TC was not just a pretty, action-only name. The triumvirate (TC, Demi and Jack) were so well supported, but definitely it was TC's to lose. One of the best Courtroom dramas of all time. I can't believe it's been a favourite for 30 years! Oh, and you still look good on a "bad hair day".
@@la_beatrice Yep. He's been in a lot of great films. The fact of the matter is that Cruise is an underrated dramatic actor. But he's found his calling with action movies. It seems he loves that stuff more than being a serious dramatic actor. I can't blame him. He's the best.
I get what your saying but, by the this point TC had already put in brilliant proper acting performances in "rain man" and "born on the 4th of july". Any one that thought TC was just a pretty face for action roles in 1992 had been living under a rock. TC was very well respected for his acting in "the colour of money" and "cocktail". Always considered a pretty boy yes. But people knew he could really act.
@@scratchpenny - The way I see it is that TC is arguably *the* "movie star" of his generation - he clearly loves doing stunts and is very much enamoured of the process of movie making as well. Every so often though, he'll take a project that demonstrates he's a very good actor. Of course, if your role involves a couple of scenes in which you go toe-to-toe with Jack Nicholson, you'd better bring your "A" game!
Great Reaction, thanks. (Rob Lowe played "Kaffee" in the play in London.) Will you watch Coppola's "The Outsiders"? I think you'll find that classic to be a BRILLIANT movie. Waiting for it...
Isn't this universally accepted? Starting with Taps it was a very long time before he released a movie I didn't like. I think MI II was the first one I didn't enjoy.
One thing I miss from the play is that Kaffee throws Jessup's big courtroom monologue back at him in short order, pointing out that Jessup is so determined to run the base at Guantanimo Base _his way_ that no one and nothing, not even the Constitution of the United States, could get him to change his methods. It's a great moment, and shows how much of Jessup's absolutely basass speech ( _especially_ the way Jack Nicholson performs it, my god!) is built on self-serving ego.
Contextually, Tom Cruise didn't get like, huge accolades for his acting back then, because while he wasn't thought of as bad, he was basically always playing the same guy. Skilled, but arrogant. Needs to be taken down a peg in some fashion to reach his potential. Top Gun, Cocktail, Rain Man to a degree. Days of Thunder (which is Top Gun with NASCAR), The Firm, This. He had a great wheelhouse but he kind of a rep for it, too. It's still the character archetype he does best, but over the years he's shown he's got more there acting wise.
Another top class movie with fantastic performances and dialogue, coincidentally from the same year as "A Few Good Men", is "Glengarry Glen Ross". Based on the play by David Mamet, it has a stellar cast all at the top of their game. And if you are looking for sharp, incisive and rapid dialogue, this is the movie for you.
Fun! No matter how many times I see this I still have the same emotional reaction to Dawson’s “we were supposed to protect Willie” then his change of heart from having no respect for Kaffee at the beginning to his honourable “there’s an officer on deck” salute at the end. Acting gold!
Don't forget, the look on Weinberg's face after Dawson has uttered those words. You know how much Weinberg disliked Dawson for being a bully. But on hearing those words from Dawson, Weinberg looks at him like he just had an epiphany - that Dawson is really a good man.
@jmo... Such a horseshit moment. That is one of the worst (of many) parts of the movie. They (Col/1stLt) gave the kid a 'code red' (movie term) because they thought Pvt Santiago was lazy slacker, not that they thought or knew he had a probably un-diagnosed (medical malpractice?) heart condition. Cpl Dawson and LCpl Downey were following orders, not bullying some kid because 'he couldn't run fast' or whatever LT Wienberg says. So, in your mind, when Cpl Dawson was given the order by 1stLt Kendrick to 'code red' Pvt Santiago, he was supposed to refuse that order and 'stand up for Santiago' to his Platoon Leader? A commissioned officer. That just wouldn't happen, nor should it. And how were they to know that the 'doctor' mis-diagnosed his probable heart condition? They couldn't, so they thought he was malingering to get out of unit training and PT. Plus, after Pvt Santiago did the only thing he could in his mind to survive, writing the letter to NCIS, now they'd have extra motivation to 'train' him not to go outside their unit. Again, this isn't bullying. You probably also missed the fact that NOTHING HAPPENED to the 'doctor' who committed malpractice by sending a Marine back to his unit with a probable heart condition. Say this 'code red' never happened and he goes on another full-gear/pack run, collapses, and dies. Now what happens to the 'doctor' when they see in his annual physical notes "shortness of breath, fatigue, etc" See the logic? Why wasn't the 'doctor' put up on a medical board review and had his license suspended, pending investigation, after this incident? Because it's inconvenient to the plot, that's why. The 'doctor' is the only one in this whole chain who escapes COMPLETELY UNTOUCHED but is the most responsible for ALL OF IT.
@@fredgrimley8883 'nor should it' Uhm. I agree with most of what you say (especially about the doctor) but this had me go full breaks, nope. If his Co had told them to chase Santiago around a field until he puked - no problem at all with it. Sneaking into his room and using very non military methods of punishment like a tape over his mouth? Unless they train to be, I don't know, torturers officially and that is in the Code of Conduct somehow (which it is NOT), they had to know that what they were ordered to do - in a secure environment, not under fire - was illegal, no matter who ordered them. The argument of being ordered to torture someone so it's ok has been famously last used by Nazis after WW2 and there the Genevra Convention makes it very clear that a soldier can refuse an order he thinks is morally wrong with the caveat that the soldier has to be able to justify his refusal and has to be ready to bear the consequences. Following an order to torture someone does not make you a good soldier, it makes you a monster.
"Here's Johnny" is from the tonight show when Ed McMahon would introduce Johnny Carson. Nicholson's character from The Shining was named Jack Torrence. Remember when he typed, "All work and no play make Jack a dull boy" thousands of times while he was pretending to be writing his novel?
Since WWII and the Nazi's used the excuse "I was just following orders" The American's have instilled into the Uniform Code of Military Justice that orders are to be DISOBEYED if they are unlawful, unethical, or immoral. This is taught at every basic training/boot camp for each service. It was taught when my father joined in 1955, when my brother joined in 1975, and when I joined in 1987, and is still the policy when I taught Air Force ROTC at Mizzou in 2010. The code red was an unlawful order that should have been disobeyed.
When you mentioned you wanted to be on a jury it reminded me of my jury duty service many years ago right after I had just finished my service in the Air Force. It was actually a case that had never been tried before. An oil tanker off the coast of California had run over it's own anchor and many of the beach counties had to close their beaches for weeks for oil clean-up. The counties were suing the shipping company for lost use of the public beaches (which are free to use by the public). The counties conducted around 20 studies to try to determine what people would pay to go to the beach, the outcome ranging from a few dollars up to aproximately $20. The trial was filled with an immense amount of technical data, sea depth charts, etc. and lasted over 3 months! When it came time for deliberations many of the other jurors were not really sure what to do and I suggested that we add up the total of all the surveys and then divide that total by the number of surveys to get an average amount of what people would pay to go to the beach, which was then multiplied by the estimated number of people that would have used those beaches during the time of closures. This amount was submitted to the judge and was approved as a fair and reasonable amount. I really felt like I had made a true impact on helping to decide the outcome of that case. We were not there to determine guilt, that was a separate trial that had already been settled. Well I just wanted to share that with you it really was something I will never forget.
Have you seen witness for the prosecution, 1957 by Billy Wilder. It was written by Agatha Christie, starring Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. You would like it.
Fun Fact. The USMC silent drill platoon in the opening is NOT made up of Marines. They are NOT United States Marines at all. None of them were. They are all former members of the Texas A&M University Fish Drill Team. A University ROTC team that has won dozens of National Drill Championships since the late 1960s. While active, the team is made up entirely of freshman cadets that train all year just for a single national competition. Older cadets are not allowed to join or perform. The team seen in this movie is made up of former members of this team, so they were much older than 18-19. They are wearing USMC Dress Uniforms, but they are not using the same rifles as the Marines would nor are they doing the same drill movements that the USMC Silent Drill Platoon does and none of the performers were active duty marines. Maybe they were unavailable or maybe the director wanted different drill movements, I don't know I've heard different things. The scene is meant to look like the USMC drill platoon, but those that know... know.
At the final charge -- which by the way is not in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, as noted in the Legal Eagle episode on this movie wherein an actual member of the Marine Judge Advocate General advised Devin on the nuances; Rob Reiner and Aaron Sorkin invented it to make a point -- _that_ is why they brought up Nuremburg. Dawson and Downey had a responsibility to recognize an illegal order, in their eyes, and refuse it. Since they didn't, it's no joke what actually happened to them; the wrestler Randy Orton seems to have legitimately gotten _pissed_ at people on Twitter talking about how he was dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps (for going AWOL in the attempt to get dismissed, ironically enough), because he wasn't. It was a _bad conduct_ discharge. And as several people chimed in (with a few family members who served, I may have been one of them), the difference is that a BCD says you're a bad Marine. A dishonorable discharge means, symbolically, you were never a Marine at all.
They were comparing it to Nuremberg because that is one of the few halmark legal examples where a soldier should have disobeyed direct order. My Lai was another example that occured in Vietnam that Sam brought up of a similar circumstance. The concept is simple: A soldier has a duty to disobey orders which are illegal, and unconstitutional. In practicality, it is something very difficult for a soldier to do without consequences. BTW, one of the best court room dramas ever. Now you need to watch "To Kill a Mockingbird"
So i am NOT a lawyer…. But I do remember discussing this movie with someone who was a lawyer and who had served in the military ….. and he told me the conviction on conduct unbecoming could not have happened….. because the conduct implied that was unbecoming (NOT refusing the illegal order to conduct a code red ) was never part of the prosecutor’s case. the Prosecutor’s case was that the two of them IGNORED the order NOT to touch Santiago …. You cannot prosecute the marines based on the argument they ignored a legitimate order and then convict based on them obeying an illegal order.
I was, briefly, a squid. My best friend was and is a Marine officer. The culture and the standard they set themselves is very much as portrayed in this film. Sometimes it was frightening but, ultimately, it was also comforting knowing they are "on our side". The jarheads portrayed in this film are complex characters. They usually have good motivations. Sometimes these motivations come into conflict with each other and that leads to trouble. Again, this is much like life. Nicholson's character was not very likeable but, ultimately, his depiction is true. His true crime is the lie and cover up. That was a major ethical violation. The remedial measures taken were wrong but would have been understandable had he owned them. They would have and should have damaged his career but they were not fatal. When he put the fates of two of his marines in jeopardy to save himself, he gave up any claim of honor or understanding. The crazy this is that everything that Nicholson (Jessup) said in his little speech was true. Crazier still, he was the one who betrayed the code.
So true. Jessup wasn’t evil or anything. The real tragedy was that santiago shouldn’t have been there in the first place because of the medical condition that was missed. If he didn’t have that condition, he never would’ve needed the code red. None of those marines would’ve hazed him if that was known. They would’ve just allowed him to transfer or be discharged. But everything jessup was saying was true, it was just that he was saying it to save his own ass instead of his marines. If it wasn’t for that, I would totally want him ‘on that wall.’ Lol.
@rev... This movie completely misses the medical malpractice of the navy doc who gave Santiago a 'clean bill of health'. If the doc properly diagnosed Santiago's heart condition, he would've never been in this position nor would he have died. And, in the end, the lawyers all get what they wanted in sequence. Probably because it was directed by a flaming shit-lib, Rob Reiner, who we know is a card-carrying DNC Hollywood assclown. @20:19, this is the whole sequence that should've put this trial onto a medical review board for this 'doctor'. But, as we see, the problem with this or any other review/reaction is that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING happens to the so-called 'doctor'. Santiago's 'clean bill of health' shot down in court, that Santiago had every symptom listed for a possible heart condition but he was given an essentially rubber stamped 'clean bill of health'. No follow up, no extra blood work, chest x-rays, nothing. Essentially the 'doctor' is saying, you're faking it, get back to your unit and train... or he didn't take HIS OWN NOTES seriously. Tom Cruise's character then says: "I have no more questions your honor" and nothing ever happens, nor do we ever see the doc again after he leaves that day. @33:33, this is where the lawyers each get what they wanted, in sequence. Commit murder charge (tom cruise): not guilty; conspiracy to commit murder (demi moore): not guilty; conduct unbecoming (kevin pollack): guilty. This is Rob Reiner preaching bullshit of the highest order. They should've also been not guilt on the 'conduct unbecoming' because they were following orders. That would follow with the 'logic' of the movie up to that point. Are Marines allowed to disobey orders? If yes, then 'conduct unbecoming' guilty. If no, then it can't be 'conduct unbecoming'. Make sense? @34:05, where LCpl Dawson says: "we were supposed to fight for santiago" bullshit. This is more of Reiner's anti-bullying garbage that goes with Pollack's character. Yet if the doc had originally diagnosed his heart condition, he would've been med-down, treated (if possible), and then returned to his unit. The 'code red', as is mentioned in this movie, is not a bullying tool (except for Rob Reiner), it's a motivational tool to prevent Marines from being lazy shit-birds that don't want to PT or train properly. That's what this movie gets completely wrong and that's why the final verdict is absolute Hollywood horseshit. 🤣😂😅😆😃😁
Another awesome military court room drama is: "Rules of Engagement" starring Samuel L Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones. Hope you get a chance to react to it.
I was about to list a load of courtroom drama recommendations, but i'll limit myself to one: 12 Angry Men. Technically speaking it's not even in the courtroom I guess, as it lets you see the jury side of it, but it's an all time great.
Respect is earned, not a right. Human decency does not always include respect. Tom Cruise is treating Demi Moore character as a regular Joe, he is not calling her names, he is just not treating her with admiration. She had not earned his respect at The the beginning of the film. In today’s culture everyone believes that they should be treated with respect with out earning it, that’s changing. We have grown tired of the trophies for all culture.
This is a Perry Mason court room drama. By that I mean the lawyer got a witness to stumble during court room examination. Almost every episode of that TV series resolved itself in the third act that way. In reality, almost no trial turns on such an event. It simply doesn’t happen. Nevertheless it's a good movie.
If you like courtroom movies you should watch my cousin Vinny. Even though it’s a comedy it has an incredible script and excellent acting. The movie is actually still used in law schools as a perfect example of proper courtroom procedures
Apparently Demi Moore demanded the biggest trailer on the set. When Jack Nicholson was asked about this he said " I was paid twice as much as her, but, yeah, she had the biggest trailer"
Serving on a jury is not fun. However, it's so important. Half the time it feels like the judge and lawyers are explaining the law to you. It was a good experience and it tought me a lot and how important our constitution is.
Jack Nicholson is great in his role. I also thought the actor who played Dawson was real good. Cruise did a good job. I thought Demi Moore was not on a par with Nicholson and Cruise but did didn't hurt the film.
I don’t know if any man would ever be able to tell when women have what they call “a bad hair day”. You’re too adorable to worry about little things like that. And you’re good at this, too. 😊
I was OBSESSED with this movie when I was a kid! My dad was a Navy officer, so I used to dress up in his old uniform and pretend to be Demi Moore. Ten bucks says I can still quote all her lines with 85+% accuracy 👩✈️👩⚖️
Nothing’s going to hurt you tonight; not on my watch.
Wow, even that ‘path of least resistance,’ speech?? Badass! I still can’t get it without stumbling. Lol. Well done
I also used to dress up and pretend to be Demi Moore, but only when Mum was out.
"Don't look now Danny, but you're making an argument"
@@andrewgrant6516 Who wouldn’t? Demi was ultra diva! Love her.
Not sure if you recognized the Doctor on the stand, but that's none other than "Nigel Tuffnel Lead guitar!" from This is Spinal Tap, and also The Six-Fingered Man from The Princess Bride, played by the ever so talented Christopher Guest.
For anyone who enjoys this type of "courtroom drama" movie, there's a great TV show from the 90s called The Practice. It ran for many seasons, it's really good.
0:30 I think it's pronounced "dead panda livers"... ;)
scnr, great movie, great reaction!
Tom Cruise deserved a nomination for his performance here.. But that year WAS pretty crowded... Denzel as Malcolm X, Pacino in Scent of a Woman, etc.
I still think he deserved a spot tho.
No officer would allow a junior officer to talk to them like that.
Misery is a great horror film directed by Rob Reiner. He has a cameo too, true.
What kind of poison, would be a question. It would be in his blood. His esophagus would also show signs.
Good Job, Shanelle!👍
"This is the movie with, "You can't handle the Truth!"?"
Yup, this reaction did have you as a Bloomin' Onion.
Now I wanna go to Outback!
See you next time.
Love from Texas.❤
At the beginning of the video when you said you were having a bad hair day. Don't worry you always look great with a super smile. I enjoyed watching you enjoy the movie. It was a great one. I very much enjoy your channel and your reactions. You're the greatest. Much love to you and all the best. ❤👍🙂
For a courtroom drama that acting and story carried the day along with a few laughs - try From the Hip with Judd Nelson, Elizabeth Perkins and John Hurt from 1987. Absolutely my favorite courtroom drama with A few good men being my second.
Ciao Shanelle, I’m new here and just had to subscribe subito. Love your commentary and overall review. So, you are a Cruise super fan? Well, then I must tell you that my cousin had the opportunity to spend the day with him in Italia, just last week. He works in entertainment there and says that Tom was a lot of fun and not what he had been told by colleagues. Anyway, can’t wait to catch up here. Buona sera from D.C., 😉👋🏼
Hey Shanelle! You should watch "Lucky Number Slevin" it's got an awesome story, plot twists, and a star studded cast!
Sir, a Code Red is a cherry flavored Mountain Dew, Sir!
The sheer volume of great actors, even in the smallest of roles in this movie, is absolutely astounding.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High had like 19 young unknown actors who went on to huge fame.
I was just thinking the same thing. Nearly every person in this movie later became a Hollywood star.
It’s a terrific movie for playing Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon!
You can say that again.
@@Y_.R Yeah, this one and JFK.
This was *"12 Angry Men 1957"* level of intensity. I loved it. I love courtroom drama's.
Interesting, 12 Angry Men is starting to make the rounds among the reacting community. It's nice to see.
It is nice to see the classics, especially the black and whites, getting their appreciation. It is one of the disappointing things about the reaction folks.
No. This is The Caine Motiny 1992 version.
Love watching people discover this movie for the first time. Your "This is the YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH movie???," made me laugh out loud. Great reaction.
That line became iconic but that entire speech is exquisite
This was originally a play Sorkin wrote. In the top corner of the stage would be an actual Marine standing still at attention throughout the entire play and at the end he would turn around and salute.
I saw it, but I forgot about that!
Nobody ever includes Rob Reiner on any list of best directors, but he's quietly responsible for so many legendary films -- Stand By Me, A Few Good Men, Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, This is Spinal Tap, Misery
Agreed. When these movies were releasing back in real time, my best friend and fellow cinema nut actually had Reiner up there in the same level of esteem and importance as Scorsese, Spielberg, De Palma, Leone, Woody Allen. He was must-see first show matinee opening day, no question. He had an unbroken run I would put up against anybody's peak stretch and he's in the conversation. His first film is Spinal Tap. That's his first. He basically not only created an instant classic, but invented the mockumentary genre. His follow up is a forgotten to time, but not to us and was like cinematic opium to my bestie and I in high school which was The Sure Thing starring a very young John Cusack and Daphne Z from Spaceballs as the young opposites attract potential soulmates of the film we follow their first year away at college. It is a perfect coming of age movie. The attention to detail is so on the money and miraculous. Every little character, even one's with one line are memorable and quotable. It also is very 80's, has an amazing go for broke comic relief performance from Goose himself Anthony Edwards as Cusack's best friend whose not quite the man of substance Cusack's budding romantic is and is still two years away from Top Gun. This film was not promoted and didn't do well at the box office, but did recoup on the new thriving home video market. But, make no mistake, this is a stone cold classic. I love this more than Say Anything ... and Cameron Crowe is God. Trust me. Reiner at this point is a solid two for two. Immediately, he follows this up with the poignant Stephen King adaption Stand By Me which puts River Phoenix, Will Weadon, Corey Feldman and Jerry O Connell on the map. This is a masterpiece. Kiefer Sutherland is insanely spooky as the unhinged antagonist and Richard Dryfass is the greatest actor of his generation as grown up Will Weadon. Bam. Three for three. Reiner streak out the gate is three universally loved films and all classics. His fourth: a little film called The Princess Bride. Ba-Bam. Instant beloved classic. Four! Four for four, baby. How does he follow up this almost unparalleled win streak? By following in the footsteps of Kubrick and sliding into the horror genre by adapting another King story, but this time not side stepping the horror, but going all in. His fifth film is Misery. Instantly iconic. His first unabashed box office breakthrough smash and directs Kathy Bates to a best actress win. Five for five and Misery marks Reiner owning the back half of the 80's and entering the 90's undeterred without missing a beat. Next movie: A Few Good Men. This also marks the first screenplay by Arron Sorkan. Long story short: Six for six. Not just six hits. Six classics. And the least known one is my personal favorite along with my childhood chum The Sure Thing. This is where the steak ends. And like some supernatural curse, it doesn't just end, it crashes and burns hard. Almost like now the law of averages was he had to make horrible films to bring balance to the Force. His next movie was the infamous train wreck legendary on the list of all time worse motion pictures ever made North. The shipwreck would never right itself. It's like overnight he lost his talent. However, he still put out a legendary run of his first six movies all being all time classics and recognized as such. Do yourselves a favor: see The Sure Thing as fast as you can.
The movie that dares to ask the immortal question: who invented liquid soap ... and WHY??
When Shanelle first mentioned "unobtrusive filmmaking" on another video, I thought of him.
He doesn't have standout "signatures" like slowmo or lens flare. What stands out is that the movie is just GOOD. You get sucked in, and nothing gets in the way of your immersion.
You finish and just go, "Holy crap that was a MOVIE."
Yeah, Meathead is an A-list director for sure!
Aw Geez, Not Bad for a Meathead!
No one ever included Shawshank Redemption in their lists of Rob Whiner films, but it's not half bad.
One of my favorite courtroom dramas of all time, the script is tight, the actors are all giving their A game, and the antagonist pretty much seals his own fate by arrogance alone WHICH IS SUCH A SATOSFYING RESOLUTION and actually kind of funny when you think about how many real people beleive their "untouchable" because of their positions or privelege. Jessup got what he deserved, and Jack Nicholson played this character so well. I remember Kevin Pollack talking about what it was like on set with Nicholson, and between takes he'd be laughing and happy and Pollack asked him "You could probably be doing anything else, why do our little courtroom drama movie?" He just grinned that signature grin of his, leaned over to me and said "I love acting, man! I just love it!"
great facts! specially the second one, thanks.
Wow, I'm shocked that the trivia section didn't mention the thing that is most famous about it: the shooting of Jack Nicholson's part, and specifically the courtroom scene. You can look up at least two hilarious interviews with Kevin Pollock talking about as well Kevin Bacon, Noah Wyle, Kiefer Sutherland and Rob Reiner. Noah Wyle talks about the read through, which is hilarious. Kevin Pollock has two interviews on Rich Eisen, both telling different stories. Highly recommend checking those out, they're hilarious.
This. Great stories, and they show the power of Nicholson as an actor, even in a part with relatively little screen time.
Definitely find those Kevin Pollack videos. They are great views into behind the scenes of filmmaking and acting.
And funny.
One of Rob Reiner's Masterpieces Ever Made, Cool Reaction As Always Shanelle, You Have A Nice Day Sweetie 🥰❤️
Fun fact....Lance Corporal Dawson was played by Rob Reiner's assistant. Also, according to Aaron Sorkin he was inspired by his sister who was a JAG lawyer and assigned to defend a marine accused of murdering another marine. Reportedly, it was her observation that the powers that be seemed to be going out of their way to give the case to an inexperienced lawyer
I saw this in the theater and walked out afterwards saying "wow, what a great movie!" Was shocked at the lack of Oscar wins. Another really good court room drama from same era is a lesser known film "Class Action" with Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Riveting court scenes.
Ah, so no wins then? I can never remember Oscar wins that much. I saw in the trivia section there were 4 nominations but now that you say that I'm shocked too. Class Action! Oh man, hadn't heard about that one in a long time!
And Hackman received Oscar for The Unforgiven, beating out Jack Nicholson's performance in AFGM. Hackman's performance was not near as rivets.
A "Code Red" in the Navy was called a "Blanket Party".
Tom Cruise has played being in the Navy in 3 Movies (This one, "Top Gun" and "Top Gun: Maverick"). In Both Roles he plays a Member of the Navy but doesn't like Water!
I love how they show the "Sibling Rivalry" between the Branches... Totally Realistic!
The Marine Corps is the men's department of the US Navy.
Now that you mention it, I just realized Cruise played a lot of characters who were military... Taps (Air Force Cadet), Born On The Fourth of July (Marine), The Last Samurai (Cavalry), Valkyrie (German Army), Jack Reacher (Army) , Edge of Tomorrow (whatever that was)
I saw this movie in 93, on a plane. I was 12, so still a bit young to appreciate it. A slightly older cousin enjoyed it so much that she convinced me to give another try a year later, and oh boy, I ended up loving it, but had no idea who Sorkin was. Cut to a few years later when I become obsessed with Sports Night and then The West Wing, and find out those shows were from the guy who wrote A Few Good Men. I was in full Sorkin mania in the early 2000s.
I totally missed out on the sports night thing. Heard it was really good. But I LOVE this man’s writing too.
A REALLY REALLY GOOD courtroom drama is A Time To Kill. I would love to see you react to that if you haven't seen it yet. Excellent drama with influences outside the courtroom
Along w/ Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs & David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, this film made 1992 a great year for dialogue on the big screen. Two other movies w/ courtroom aspects that year were My Cousin Vinny & Scent of a Woman.
The tragedy of Rob Reiner is as follows, when he adapts another's work he's considered a great collaborator but not a great creator since he's adapting the best (because the best want to work with him, or they are his friends) , but you only need to look at people like King, Sorkin, and Ephron and their attempts to direct their own work and you can see how desperately in need of a collaborator they really are. It is precisely Rob Reiner's ability to reign in the excesses of a writer like Sorkin that make something like this movie really work, but the myth of the singular genius that surrounds some writers makes it seem like anyone can point a camera at their work and it will just be good. Movies are collaborations for a reason, and a director that knows what to cut is just as good as a director who knows what to add, but the former never get called truly great. (It's probably not fair to include Ephron on this list since she was a very competent director of her own work, but i just can't shake the feeling that When Harry Met Sally is considered the best for a reason... Sorkin's attempts are execrable though, I do stand by that)
Tom Cruise is basically playing the same character here as in Top Gun. A cocky and reckless naval officer who is extremely talented but has to live up to the massive expectations of his father.
Cruise tends to play varying degrees of the same character except Collateral, Tropic Thunder, and maybe a few others.
Watch Born on the 4th of July if you want to see a really good Tom Cruise performance. Or check out Interview with the vampire.
Tom Cruise is not very versatile in his roles. He is like Johnny Depp. He has a sweet spot that he could hit, and misses on every other role.
@@battleaxe8252 I’ve been meaning to watch Born on the Forth of July. Glad to hear it’s among his better more different performances. I can’t believe I forgot to mention Interview with a Vampire above, but you’re right it is a VERY different performance of his. 👍
@@R.J.Godzilla81 OK, dude, in Tropic Thunder he's 360° from that character template. 🤨
The scene where Markenson is in the back of the car the startled jump by Tom Cruise is real. In the script the car was supposed to stop at a light and Markenson was to hop in. But to get a more real reaction the director tried one with the other actor already in the car. Despite the jumpscare Cruise stayed in character and that was the take they used.
40:18 add The American President (1995) to your watch list. It’s also Rob Reiner and Aaron Sorkin and the blueprint for what would become The West Wing.
Shanelle you are always looking good.
This is one of my all time favorite movies. Tom Cruise had an outstanding performance in this film.
I'll always think of Rob Reiner as 'meathead' from All in the Family.
The cast is outstanding... like top grade.
Tom Cruise goading Jack Nicholson into saying he ordered the code red is illegal, it would have been stricken from the record, and Cruise would have been sanctioned for doing so while Jack would have gone free.
No military officer would ever have been allowed to get away with his insubordinate behavior…she would have had him on charges from their first meeting.
I love this movie. I saw it in the theater back in the day. If you love Sorkin you need to watch “The American President” (if you haven’t already).
Yes! Great film!
Wolfgang Bodison (Lance CPL. Harold W. Dawson) was working as an assistant to Rob Reiner on Misery and this movie as a Location Manager, and Rob pretty much threw him into the role on a whim because he hadn't been able to find anybody to fit the role. Bodison had no experience acting prior to AFGM. I think it's fair to say that he did a stellar job in this role.
So right! Bodison did a terrific job, nose to nose with Cruise. The actor playing the judge was excellent, too - "I'm quite sure I'VE earned it".
He's absolutely spectacular! I've always been so very sorry that he never did any more roles. To my knowledge.
Awesome movie. Rob Reiner is amazing at directing different genre movies. Comedy, drama, fantasy, thriller/horror. And Kevin Pollak is really great in this film (it really is an All-Star cast).
Kevin Pollak always gives a great performance (even in cameos like Wayne's World 2 😉)
Great Director, but a crappy human being!
Maybe my favorite TC movie (though, in all honesty, I am not a big TC person in the same way Shan-Shan is not a fan of the Affleckster).
This is a nice treat. Shocked you never saw it and shocked you never watched it on your channel yet. But, I for one, will proclaim before it starts, that this is sooooo up your alley. This should be fun. Ok, lets watch, Shanelle 😀
*Bingo*
Knew you'd like it. You'd probably also like Mr. Cruise in "Knight and Day" with Cameron Diaz. A slightly different role for him.
I was 19 in 1992, and saw the film twice in theaters. When it went to home video, I re-watched Jack's big speech so many times that I inadvertently memorized the entire thing. I can still recite it today, it's like muscle memory. Sometimes I try reciting it at high-speed, but I can't get through the whole thing without taking a breath.
The Oscar nominees for "Adapted Screenplay" that year: Three came from novels, one from a short story and one was a remake of an Italian film. Since then, Sorkin has been nominated for four screenplays, and won for "The Social Network".
Director Rob Reiner was on quite a run here; he made "Stand By Me", "The Princess Bride", "When Harry Met Sally", "Misery" and "A Few Good Men" back to back. Those are all very well-regarded movies!
Keifer Sutherland and Kevin Bacon had co-starred in "Flatliners" two years earlier with Julia Roberts. Of course, Tom and Cuba would be "Jerry Maguire" costars a few years after this.
You mentioned seeing Aaron Sorkin in a bar scene...which one?
Oh dude, you're right! I totally forgot about Flatliners! What a banger of a movie that was!
At the 1630 mark, Sorkin is the one talking.
@@mattjones7226 Pretty difficult to see him here! Guess I'll have to watch the movie again, thanks.
I was 24 😊
Santiago would have been packed. Santiago would have been packed!
❤
Boy, reacting to The West Wing would be a tremendous slog because it was a successful series that ran for years. But it’s Sorkin at his best, with a cast that never quits. If you haven’t seen it, please consider taking a look. Loved your reaction to this one. Peace …
I saw this back when it came out, great movie. The ending is amazing, love the energy between Cruise and Nicholson. The Firm, is another lawyer type movie that stared Tom Cruise and Gene Hackman. Not as good as this one but still entertaining.
The Firm was going to be my recommendation as well. Good film!
True! And that one also has an all-star cast to die for.
RIP to J.T. Walsh, one the finest character actors to ever live.
Could't agree more.
Something I think you'd find fascinating, as I did: Look up Rob Reiner's, Kevin Bacon's, Kevin Pollack's and Noah Wylie's appearances on The Rich Eisen show. They're each asked to give their perspectives of what it was like being in the courtroom when Jack is giving the "You can't handle the truth" soliloquy. Very eye opening on the kind of professional that Jack Nicholson is. And Pollack's interview is hilarious as well.
Tom Cruise might be nuts, but he's no doubt a fine actor, not to mention the balls to do all the stunts he does. But even beside the stunts, I've never saw him give a bad performance. One of the greats for me.
From what I understand, Nicholson's first scene is meant to be a flashback. I can see your confusion given where it was placed.
This is just one of those rare perfect films with a perfect combo of writing/directing/acting. The audience for this film: everyone.
I literally watched this earlier today, one of my favourite films. The screenplay is one of the best ever👏🏻 “Nobody likes her very much!”😂😂
Also, Jack Nicholson is magnificent
This is where I was first exposed to Aaron Sorkin’s writing. Tremendous writer.
Kevin Pollak has some great stories from working on this film. The interview he did with Rich Eisen had me in stitches.
Christian Slater had a small part in this. When asked if he was nervous working with Nicholson, he said he was terrified. But instead of hiding, he showed no fear. Walked straight up to Nicholson on his first day and said "I hear you talk like me."
Nicholson would walk onto set in the morning and say with a sigh "Another day, another ten grand." 😎
He made $5 million for ten days work. That's $500,000/day.
Is there a genre Jack Nicholson not been in? He has even done a Rock Opera. Also,we know some where the is a portrait of Tom Cruise getting older while he does not age.
Great reaction Shanelle. Apparently the Harold W. Dawson character was cast with a different person in mind but Rob Reiner saw one of crew members and thought he fit the role better so he did a screen test and transferred from the crew to cast.
To a lesser degree this movie was and is the To Kill a Mockingbird of our time. One of the all time notable performances and screenplays. This was Tom Cruise when he had something to prove...before all the Mission Impossibles. This was Jack Nicholson in his second incarnation as one of the Greatest Actors of our time and this was Demi Moore right before her acting career went ballistic. Great performances all around and which show why the 90s is one of the greatest eras in film making. Cant believe its 30 years old.
A great reactor digging into one of the greatest movies of all-time. Yeah, I’m in! “One for the books!”
One of my favorite bits in this movie is when Tom Cruise does a Jack Nicholson impression. Christopher Guest looks so different in the various roles he plays. Great reaction, Shan.
This was the film that proved TC was not just a pretty, action-only name. The triumvirate (TC, Demi and Jack) were so well supported, but definitely it was TC's to lose. One of the best Courtroom dramas of all time. I can't believe it's been a favourite for 30 years! Oh, and you still look good on a "bad hair day".
I'm still more impressed with Tom Cruise's acting in 1989's Born on the Fourth of July, but I guess this one solidified it.
@@la_beatrice Yep. He's been in a lot of great films. The fact of the matter is that Cruise is an underrated dramatic actor. But he's found his calling with action movies. It seems he loves that stuff more than being a serious dramatic actor. I can't blame him. He's the best.
I get what your saying but, by the this point TC had already put in brilliant proper acting performances in "rain man" and "born on the 4th of july". Any one that thought TC was just a pretty face for action roles in 1992 had been living under a rock.
TC was very well respected for his acting in "the colour of money" and "cocktail".
Always considered a pretty boy yes.
But people knew he could really act.
@@scratchpenny - The way I see it is that TC is arguably *the* "movie star" of his generation - he clearly loves doing stunts and is very much enamoured of the process of movie making as well. Every so often though, he'll take a project that demonstrates he's a very good actor. Of course, if your role involves a couple of scenes in which you go toe-to-toe with Jack Nicholson, you'd better bring your "A" game!
@@NeilLewis77 Rainman...now *THERE'S* a good showcase of his dramatic acting right there! And not to mention Dustin Hoffman's.
I WANT THE TRUTH!
YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH!
Great Reaction, thanks. (Rob Lowe played "Kaffee" in the play in London.) Will you watch Coppola's "The Outsiders"? I think you'll find that classic to be a BRILLIANT movie. Waiting for it...
I second The Outsiders.
I don't care what anyone says. Tom Cruise movies are dope.
It's not that a lot of his movies aren't great, it's that he's become an insufferable person...😏
Isn't this universally accepted? Starting with Taps it was a very long time before he released a movie I didn't like. I think MI II was the first one I didn't enjoy.
Jack Nicholson is sooooo damn good in this.
One thing I miss from the play is that Kaffee throws Jessup's big courtroom monologue back at him in short order, pointing out that Jessup is so determined to run the base at Guantanimo Base _his way_ that no one and nothing, not even the Constitution of the United States, could get him to change his methods. It's a great moment, and shows how much of Jessup's absolutely basass speech ( _especially_ the way Jack Nicholson performs it, my god!) is built on self-serving ego.
Contextually, Tom Cruise didn't get like, huge accolades for his acting back then, because while he wasn't thought of as bad, he was basically always playing the same guy. Skilled, but arrogant. Needs to be taken down a peg in some fashion to reach his potential. Top Gun, Cocktail, Rain Man to a degree. Days of Thunder (which is Top Gun with NASCAR), The Firm, This. He had a great wheelhouse but he kind of a rep for it, too. It's still the character archetype he does best, but over the years he's shown he's got more there acting wise.
"Top Gun with NASCAR" LOL! That's the single best description I ever heard for Days Of Thunder! 🤣🤣🤣
Another top class movie with fantastic performances and dialogue, coincidentally from the same year as "A Few Good Men", is "Glengarry Glen Ross". Based on the play by David Mamet, it has a stellar cast all at the top of their game. And if you are looking for sharp, incisive and rapid dialogue, this is the movie for you.
Coffee's for closers.
Fun! No matter how many times I see this I still have the same emotional reaction to Dawson’s “we were supposed to protect Willie” then his change of heart from having no respect for Kaffee at the beginning to his honourable “there’s an officer on deck” salute at the end. Acting gold!
Don't forget, the look on Weinberg's face after Dawson has uttered those words. You know how much Weinberg disliked Dawson for being a bully. But on hearing those words from Dawson, Weinberg looks at him like he just had an epiphany - that Dawson is really a good man.
@jmo... Such a horseshit moment. That is one of the worst (of many) parts of the movie. They (Col/1stLt) gave the kid a 'code red' (movie term) because they thought Pvt Santiago was lazy slacker, not that they thought or knew he had a probably un-diagnosed (medical malpractice?) heart condition. Cpl Dawson and LCpl Downey were following orders, not bullying some kid because 'he couldn't run fast' or whatever LT Wienberg says.
So, in your mind, when Cpl Dawson was given the order by 1stLt Kendrick to 'code red' Pvt Santiago, he was supposed to refuse that order and 'stand up for Santiago' to his Platoon Leader? A commissioned officer. That just wouldn't happen, nor should it. And how were they to know that the 'doctor' mis-diagnosed his probable heart condition? They couldn't, so they thought he was malingering to get out of unit training and PT. Plus, after Pvt Santiago did the only thing he could in his mind to survive, writing the letter to NCIS, now they'd have extra motivation to 'train' him not to go outside their unit. Again, this isn't bullying.
You probably also missed the fact that NOTHING HAPPENED to the 'doctor' who committed malpractice by sending a Marine back to his unit with a probable heart condition. Say this 'code red' never happened and he goes on another full-gear/pack run, collapses, and dies. Now what happens to the 'doctor' when they see in his annual physical notes "shortness of breath, fatigue, etc" See the logic? Why wasn't the 'doctor' put up on a medical board review and had his license suspended, pending investigation, after this incident? Because it's inconvenient to the plot, that's why.
The 'doctor' is the only one in this whole chain who escapes COMPLETELY UNTOUCHED but is the most responsible for ALL OF IT.
@@fredgrimley8883 'nor should it' Uhm. I agree with most of what you say (especially about the doctor) but this had me go full breaks, nope. If his Co had told them to chase Santiago around a field until he puked - no problem at all with it. Sneaking into his room and using very non military methods of punishment like a tape over his mouth? Unless they train to be, I don't know, torturers officially and that is in the Code of Conduct somehow (which it is NOT), they had to know that what they were ordered to do - in a secure environment, not under fire - was illegal, no matter who ordered them. The argument of being ordered to torture someone so it's ok has been famously last used by Nazis after WW2 and there the Genevra Convention makes it very clear that a soldier can refuse an order he thinks is morally wrong with the caveat that the soldier has to be able to justify his refusal and has to be ready to bear the consequences. Following an order to torture someone does not make you a good soldier, it makes you a monster.
"Here's Johnny" is from the tonight show when Ed McMahon would introduce Johnny Carson. Nicholson's character from The Shining was named Jack Torrence. Remember when he typed, "All work and no play make Jack a dull boy" thousands of times while he was pretending to be writing his novel?
Since WWII and the Nazi's used the excuse "I was just following orders" The American's have instilled into the Uniform Code of Military Justice that orders are to be DISOBEYED if they are unlawful, unethical, or immoral. This is taught at every basic training/boot camp for each service. It was taught when my father joined in 1955, when my brother joined in 1975, and when I joined in 1987, and is still the policy when I taught Air Force ROTC at Mizzou in 2010. The code red was an unlawful order that should have been disobeyed.
When you mentioned you wanted to be on a jury it reminded me of my jury duty service many years ago right after I had just finished my service in the Air Force. It was actually a case that had never been tried before. An oil tanker off the coast of California had run over it's own anchor and many of the beach counties had to close their beaches for weeks for oil clean-up. The counties were suing the shipping company for lost use of the public beaches (which are free to use by the public). The counties conducted around 20 studies to try to determine what people would pay to go to the beach, the outcome ranging from a few dollars up to aproximately $20. The trial was filled with an immense amount of technical data, sea depth charts, etc. and lasted over 3 months! When it came time for deliberations many of the other jurors were not really sure what to do and I suggested that we add up the total of all the surveys and then divide that total by the number of surveys to get an average amount of what people would pay to go to the beach, which was then multiplied by the estimated number of people that would have used those beaches during the time of closures. This amount was submitted to the judge and was approved as a fair and reasonable amount. I really felt like I had made a true impact on helping to decide the outcome of that case. We were not there to determine guilt, that was a separate trial that had already been settled. Well I just wanted to share that with you it really was something I will never forget.
Semper Fi. As a Marine I’ve always loved this movie. Love your reactions. ❤
Have you seen witness for the prosecution, 1957 by Billy Wilder. It was written by Agatha Christie, starring Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. You would like it.
The “Here's Johnny!” Is a catchphrase used by Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Nicholson was imitating.
Fun Fact. The USMC silent drill platoon in the opening is NOT made up of Marines. They are NOT United States Marines at all. None of them were.
They are all former members of the Texas A&M University Fish Drill Team. A University ROTC team that has won dozens of National Drill Championships since the late 1960s. While active, the team is made up entirely of freshman cadets that train all year just for a single national competition. Older cadets are not allowed to join or perform. The team seen in this movie is made up of former members of this team, so they were much older than 18-19. They are wearing USMC Dress Uniforms, but they are not using the same rifles as the Marines would nor are they doing the same drill movements that the USMC Silent Drill Platoon does and none of the performers were active duty marines. Maybe they were unavailable or maybe the director wanted different drill movements, I don't know I've heard different things.
The scene is meant to look like the USMC drill platoon, but those that know... know.
At the final charge -- which by the way is not in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, as noted in the Legal Eagle episode on this movie wherein an actual member of the Marine Judge Advocate General advised Devin on the nuances; Rob Reiner and Aaron Sorkin invented it to make a point -- _that_ is why they brought up Nuremburg. Dawson and Downey had a responsibility to recognize an illegal order, in their eyes, and refuse it. Since they didn't, it's no joke what actually happened to them; the wrestler Randy Orton seems to have legitimately gotten _pissed_ at people on Twitter talking about how he was dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps (for going AWOL in the attempt to get dismissed, ironically enough), because he wasn't. It was a _bad conduct_ discharge. And as several people chimed in (with a few family members who served, I may have been one of them), the difference is that a BCD says you're a bad Marine. A dishonorable discharge means, symbolically, you were never a Marine at all.
Have you seen Magnolia. Tom Cruise's best work. Your right about Sorkin's dialogue and this is the perfect example. The script is on fire!
Christopher Guest was in another Rob Reiner movie (that you've reacted to). Who?
This Is Spinal Tap and The Princess Bride
They were comparing it to Nuremberg because that is one of the few halmark legal examples where a soldier should have disobeyed direct order. My Lai was another example that occured in Vietnam that Sam brought up of a similar circumstance. The concept is simple: A soldier has a duty to disobey orders which are illegal, and unconstitutional. In practicality, it is something very difficult for a soldier to do without consequences.
BTW, one of the best court room dramas ever. Now you need to watch "To Kill a Mockingbird"
So i am NOT a lawyer…. But I do remember discussing this movie with someone who was a lawyer and who had served in the military ….. and he told me the conviction on conduct unbecoming could not have happened….. because the conduct implied that was unbecoming (NOT refusing the illegal order to conduct a code red ) was never part of the prosecutor’s case.
the Prosecutor’s case was that the two of them IGNORED the order NOT to touch Santiago ….
You cannot prosecute the marines based on the argument they ignored a legitimate order and then convict based on them obeying an illegal order.
I'll recommend that you react to 12 Angry Men (1957). You said you might want to be on a jury someday, and that's the focus of the movie.
Jo, short for Joanne. That said, I might have just written Joanne. But the “Jo” does capture the realism of conversational nicknames.
I was, briefly, a squid. My best friend was and is a Marine officer. The culture and the standard they set themselves is very much as portrayed in this film. Sometimes it was frightening but, ultimately, it was also comforting knowing they are "on our side". The jarheads portrayed in this film are complex characters. They usually have good motivations. Sometimes these motivations come into conflict with each other and that leads to trouble. Again, this is much like life. Nicholson's character was not very likeable but, ultimately, his depiction is true. His true crime is the lie and cover up. That was a major ethical violation. The remedial measures taken were wrong but would have been understandable had he owned them. They would have and should have damaged his career but they were not fatal. When he put the fates of two of his marines in jeopardy to save himself, he gave up any claim of honor or understanding. The crazy this is that everything that Nicholson (Jessup) said in his little speech was true. Crazier still, he was the one who betrayed the code.
So true. Jessup wasn’t evil or anything. The real tragedy was that santiago shouldn’t have been there in the first place because of the medical condition that was missed. If he didn’t have that condition, he never would’ve needed the code red. None of those marines would’ve hazed him if that was known. They would’ve just allowed him to transfer or be discharged. But everything jessup was saying was true, it was just that he was saying it to save his own ass instead of his marines. If it wasn’t for that, I would totally want him ‘on that wall.’ Lol.
@rev...
This movie completely misses the medical malpractice of the navy doc who gave Santiago a 'clean bill of health'. If the doc properly diagnosed Santiago's heart condition, he would've never been in this position nor would he have died. And, in the end, the lawyers all get what they wanted in sequence. Probably because it was directed by a flaming shit-lib, Rob Reiner, who we know is a card-carrying DNC Hollywood assclown.
@20:19, this is the whole sequence that should've put this trial onto a medical review board for this 'doctor'.
But, as we see, the problem with this or any other review/reaction is that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING happens to the so-called 'doctor'. Santiago's 'clean bill of health' shot down in court, that Santiago had every symptom listed for a possible heart condition but he was given an essentially rubber stamped 'clean bill of health'. No follow up, no extra blood work, chest x-rays, nothing. Essentially the 'doctor' is saying, you're faking it, get back to your unit and train... or he didn't take HIS OWN NOTES seriously.
Tom Cruise's character then says: "I have no more questions your honor" and nothing ever happens, nor do we ever see the doc again after he leaves that day.
@33:33, this is where the lawyers each get what they wanted, in sequence. Commit murder charge (tom cruise): not guilty; conspiracy to commit murder (demi moore): not guilty; conduct unbecoming (kevin pollack): guilty. This is Rob Reiner preaching bullshit of the highest order. They should've also been not guilt on the 'conduct unbecoming' because they were following orders. That would follow with the 'logic' of the movie up to that point. Are Marines allowed to disobey orders? If yes, then 'conduct unbecoming' guilty. If no, then it can't be 'conduct unbecoming'. Make sense?
@34:05, where LCpl Dawson says: "we were supposed to fight for santiago" bullshit. This is more of Reiner's anti-bullying garbage that goes with Pollack's character.
Yet if the doc had originally diagnosed his heart condition, he would've been med-down, treated (if possible), and then returned to his unit.
The 'code red', as is mentioned in this movie, is not a bullying tool (except for Rob Reiner), it's a motivational tool to prevent Marines from being lazy shit-birds that don't want to PT or train properly. That's what this movie gets completely wrong and that's why the final verdict is absolute Hollywood horseshit. 🤣😂😅😆😃😁
Got check out “Collateral “ with Tom Cruise and Jamie Fox. An action thriller. Believe you would enjoy it.
Another awesome military court room drama is: "Rules of Engagement" starring Samuel L Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones. Hope you get a chance to react to it.
You should check out Men Of Honor next with Cuba Gooding Jr.
I second, third and two-hundred-and-forty-fifth that!😃
I was about to list a load of courtroom drama recommendations, but i'll limit myself to one: 12 Angry Men. Technically speaking it's not even in the courtroom I guess, as it lets you see the jury side of it, but it's an all time great.
I'm torn. I love watching your reactions, but I'm allergic to little Tommy Cruise. What to do? 😂
Respect is earned, not a right. Human decency does not always include respect. Tom Cruise is treating Demi Moore character as a regular Joe, he is not calling her names, he is just not treating her with admiration. She had not earned his respect at The the beginning of the film. In today’s culture everyone believes that they should be treated with respect with out earning it, that’s changing. We have grown tired of the trophies for all culture.
This is a Perry Mason court room drama. By that I mean the lawyer got a witness to stumble during court room examination. Almost every episode of that TV series resolved itself in the third act that way. In reality, almost no trial turns on such an event. It simply doesn’t happen. Nevertheless it's a good movie.
If you like courtroom movies you should watch my cousin Vinny. Even though it’s a comedy it has an incredible script and excellent acting. The movie is actually still used in law schools as a perfect example of proper courtroom procedures
Apparently Demi Moore demanded the biggest trailer on the set. When Jack Nicholson was asked about this he said " I was paid twice as much as her, but, yeah, she had the biggest trailer"
Jack Nicholson just eats the screen up when he's on. But in the end, I agree that they did wrong...some orders are illegal and can/should be refused.
A Witness for the Prosecution with Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton is an excellent courtroom drama.
Tom Cruise truly has one of the most impeccable filmography. That's why he is the biggest moviestar of all time. Hope you see vanilla sky of him
Serving on a jury is not fun. However, it's so important. Half the time it feels like the judge and lawyers are explaining the law to you. It was a good experience and it tought me a lot and how important our constitution is.
Jack Nicholson is great in his role. I also thought the actor who played Dawson was real good. Cruise did a good job. I thought Demi Moore was not on a par with Nicholson and Cruise but did didn't hurt the film.
Yep. Seen this movie several times and I've never heard of Aaron Sorkin. Aaron, or Alan? LOL, good call on that one Shanelle.
A good patriot would argue that Jack Nicholson was the good guy in this movie, not Tom Cruise.
Yes I did saw this in theater 👍👍👍👍
I don’t know if any man would ever be able to tell when women have what they call “a bad hair day”. You’re too adorable to worry about little things like that. And you’re good at this, too. 😊
Another great play court drama is 12 angry men. I would recommend checking that out at some point!