A Few Good Men (1992)

Courtroom dramas are a staple in the world of classic films, with popular movies like Anatomy of a Murder, Judgement at Nuremberg, and 12 Angry Men among them. By 1992, the format of these dramas was definitely well-established and familiar to most audiences. But despite the increased risk of slipping into the mediocrity of familiarity, A Few Good Men does the exact opposite and comes through with a script and performances so bombastic that it remains highly memorable almost thirty years after its initial release.

A Few Good Men follows Navy Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee as he's assigned to defend two Marines charged with the murder of a fellow soldier. While it's not disputed that the Marines were responsible for his death, the problem comes down to who exactly wanted him dead. The investigation, however, is met with frequent contradiction, as all Marines involved repeatedly refer to their honor as a Marine to justify any and all actions. Given how often it comes up, it should be no surprise that honor and its roll in the US military is the main theme of the film. But this topic isn't forced or heavy-handed; rather, the thoughtful way in which it's handled makes A Few Good Men much more refreshing than other films of similar caliber. That is, "honor" isn't treated as something that is good by default; instead, it's portrayed in a much more critical manner. Somewhere along the film, honor ceases to be a positive attribute and instead warps into something more manipulative, a way to control others and to excuse your own wrong-doings.

This smart approach, at least in my opinion, is a large reason why A Few Good Men still succeeds today. Nowhere does it ever feel preachy or condescending; rather, Aaron Sorkin's snappy style of dialogue leaves is incredibly engaging, and any snotty attitudes is reserved for the way characters treat each other on screen instead of writer talking down to viewers.

Of course, it's not only the script that creates its success. A large part of the magic of A Few Good Men lies in the cast performances. Personally, I've never been much of a fan of movies adapted from stage plays, but A Few Good Men remains my exception purely because of the cast. Jack Nicholson received a nomination from the Academy for Best Actor in his role as Colonel Jessup, and it's easy to understand why. Jessup continues to be one of his most memorable rolls because of how intimidating and unlikable he is in the role. But this smarmy persona is just what was called for, especially within the larger context of the story. However, if there's one person who I think doesn't quite receive his due respect for his performance, it's Tom Cruise.

After critical successful performances in Rain Man and Born on the Fourth of July, A Few Good Men is definitely his next high, if not his best performance yet. It's a shame that Nicholson got a nomination that should have gone to him as the leading man. Cruise steals the show as Kaffee, so much so that it feels like the role was written with him in mind. Kaffee has all the arrogance (and daddy issues) of previous characters, but this time, he's even more charming and human. Despite a bad first impression, it's sad to watch him go by the time the film ends. If honor is a good thing that goes bad within the arc of the Marines' story, then it's reversed in Kaffee's case as he unlearns his cocky way of cruising through life and makes a stance in the name of justice.

As someone who's admittedly not a fan of courtroom dramas, A Few Good Men is an excellent film It's an enthralling journey from beginning to end, thanks to its wonderfully developed characters and impeccable pacing. Even if these kinds of movies aren't your cup of tea, this isn't one to miss.

Rating: 3.85/5 - March 17, 2020