By VINCENT CANBY
The role doesn't have to be big, but if it's good, and if the actor playing
it is great, the results can be magically transforming. Witness
Jack Nicholson's vicious, funny, superbly reptilian turn in Rob Reiner's entertaining "A Few Good Men," adapted
by Aaron Sorkin from his hit Broadway courtroom
drama.
Mr. Nicholson doesn't steal the film, which would mean that he somehow
separates himself from everybody else in it. Rather, in the course of only a
handful of scenes, he seems to suffuse the entire production, giving it a
weight, density and point that might not otherwise be apparent.
The role, beautifully written, is made to Mr. Nicholson's order. It's that
of Col. Nathan R. Jessep of the United States Marine
Corps, a tough, bigoted
He's the commander of the marines stationed at the American naval base on
the southwestern coast of
This geographic fact becomes a central image in the film adaptation, which
gracefully opens up the story of a military court-martial without allowing the
tension to evaporate. There are times when the movie seems to force-feed the
audience essential information, and when the audience might well wonder whether
the emotional crises of the defense lawyers really are of more interest than
the fates of the two men on trial.
Yet such things are built into the structure and nature of the drama, which
is less about the workings of the military than about the mechanics of this
particular inquiry. The story is this: in the course of what appears to be a
hazing incident at
The Marine Corps would like to wrap it up as quickly and efficiently as
possible. To this end, a hot-shot young naval lawyer, Lieut. (j.g.) Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise),
is assigned to the defense with the understanding that he'll persuade the
defendants to accept a plea bargain. Also assigned to the defense is Lieut.
Comdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi
Moore), who acts as Kaffee's conscience, eventually persuading him that there is a strong possibility
that the two enlisted men were, in fact, acting on orders from their officers.
The investigation, initially undertaken by Kaffee
with some reluctance, uncovers the fact that the victim, Pfc. William T.
Santiago (Michael DeLorenzo), had for some time been
trying to transfer out of his unit. Also, that he had ignored both the Marine
Corps code and its chain of command. He had written letters to
As the investigation continues, Kaffee and
Galloway, who clearly never go to the movies, read a book or spend much time
talking to career service personnel, are surprised to discover a kind of
military mind that, to them, seems prehistoric. The two defendants at first
behave like automatons. Pfc. Louden Downey (James
Marshall) is so taciturn that he seems seriously retarded. His co-defendant and
spokesman, Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson (Wolfgang Bodison),
refuses all offers of help. He will stoically accept whatever punishment is
meted out. The two men simply parrot the Marines' code of fidelity to unit,
corps, God and country.
On a fact-finding trip to
"A Few Good Men" doesn't pack the surprises of "Witness for
the Prosecution," nor does it probe very deeply into the psyche of men who
exercise the power of dictators in a society that congratulates itself on its
freedoms. It's no "Full-Metal Jacket." "A Few Good Men"
recalls something of "The Caine Mutiny Court
Martial," though it is most troubling not for the questions it raises, but
for the casual way it finally treats its two lost, utterly bewildered
defendants.
The screenplay is a good one, directed with care and acted, for the most
part, with terrific conviction. Among the supporting players who do exceptional
work are Kiefer Sutherland, as a Marine officer who is a Jessep
in the making; J. T. Walsh, as an officer fatally flawed by conscience; Kevin
Bacon, who appears as the military prosecutor, and Mr. Bodison,
a new young actor whose performance as the more prominent defendant gives the
film its melancholy shock value.
Mr. Cruise, Ms. Moore and Mr. Pollak are perfectly
adequate in less flashy roles, which, unlike the others, appear to have been
constructed to keep the plot moving right along. They have to play it
comparatively straight, which must be maddening when the actors around them are
having such a colorful time.
Mr. Nicholson is in his own league. His Jessep is
both a joy to watch because of the actor's skill, and an explanation of why the
"A Few Good Men," which has been rated R (Under 17 requires
accompanying parent or adult guardian), has a lot of vulgar language and some
violence.
A Few Good Men
Directed by Rob Reiner; written by Aaron Sorkin, based on his play; director of photography, Robert
Richardson; edited by Robert Leighton; music by Marc Shaiman;
production designer, J. Michael Riva; produced by David Brown, Mr. Reiner and Andrew Scheinman;
released by Columbia Pictures and Castle Rock Entertainment. Running
time: 140 minutes. This film is rated R. Lieut. (j.g.)
Daniel Kaffee . . . Tom Cruise Col. Nathan R. Jessep . . . Jack Nicholson Lieut. Comdr. JoAnne Galloway . . . Demi Moore
Capt. Jack Ross . . . Kevin Bacon Lieut. Jonathan Kendrick . . . Kiefer
Sutherland Lieut. Sam Weinberg . . . Kevin Pollak
Pfc. Louden Downey . . . James Marshall Lieut. Col.
Matthew Markinson . . . J. T. Walsh Dr. Stone . . .
Christopher Guest Judge Randolph . . . J. A. Preston Lieut. Dave Spradling . . . Matt Craven Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson
Wolfgang Bodison Pfc. William T. Santiago . . .
Michael DeLorenzo
Return to Main Articles Menu Page or Return to Home