MOVIE REVIEW: "A FEW GOOD MEN"

This film will be a great influence for us, challenges us to live a life of integrity and evaluates what kind of personality, character we have.

A Few Good Men is a 1992 American courtroom drama film directed by Rob Reiner and starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore, with Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak, James Marshall, J. T. Walsh, and Kiefer Sutherland in supporting roles. It was adapted for the screen by Aaron Sorkin from his play of the same name. The film revolves around the court martial of two U.S. Marines charged with the murder of a fellow Marine and the tribulations of their lawyers as they prepare a case to defend their clients.

SUMMARY:

The film centers the court-martial of two U.S. Marines, Lance Corporal Dawson (Wolfgang Bodison),  and Pfc. Louden Downey (James Marshall), who killed a fellow Marine, Pfc. William Santiago (Michael de Lorenzo), at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Santiago compared unfavorably to his fellow Marines, had poor relations with them, and failed to respect the chain of command in attempts at being transferred to another base. An argument evolves between base commander Colonel Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson) and his officers: while Jessup's executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Markinson (J.T. Walsh), advocates that Santiago be transferred immediately, Col. Jessup pushes not to transfer and orders Santiago's commanding officer, Lieutenant Jonathan Kendrick (Kiefer Sutherland)., to train Pfc. Santiago into a better Marine.

When Dawson and Downey are later arrested for Santiago's murder, naval investigator and lawyer Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore) suspects that they carried out a "code red" order, a violent extrajudicial punishment. Galloway asks to defend them, but instead the case is given to Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise), an inexperienced and unenthusiastic U.S. Navy lawyer. Kaffee tries to have a plea bargain agreement with the prosecutor Captain Jack Ross but Dawson and Downey refuse to agree. They insist that they were ordered by Lieutenant Kendrick to shave Santiago's head, minutes after Kendrick publicly ordered the platoon not to touch the would-be victim, and did not intend their victim to die.

In the course of the trial, the defense manages to establish the existence of "code red" orders at Guantanamo and that Dawson specifically had learned not to disobey any order, The defense also suffers setbacks when a cross-examination reveals that Private Downey wasn't actually present when he and Dawson supposedly received the "code red" order. Eventually, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Markinson reveals to Lt. Kaffee that Col. Jessup never intended to transfer Santiago off the base but commits suicide rather than testify in court.

Without Markinson's testimony, Kaffee believes the case lost and closes having come to regret that he fought the case instead of arranging a plea bargain. Galloway, however, convinces Kaffee to call Colonel Jessup as a witness despite the risk of being court-martialled for smearing a high-ranking officer. Jessup initially outsmarts Kaffee's questioning but is frightened when the lawyer points out a contradiction in his testimony; Col. Jessup had stated that he wanted to transfer Santiago off the base for his own safety but if he ordered his men to leave Santiago alone and if Marines always obey orders, Santiago would have been in no danger. Under heavy pressure from Lt. Kaffee and frightened by being caught in one of his own lies, Col. Jessup finally snaps, extols his own importance to national security and ultimately confesses ordering the "code red" in front of the court. As he angrily justifies his actions, Col. Jessup is arrested. Lt. Daniel Kaffee won the case.

Afterwards, Dawson and Downey are cleared of the murder charge but found guilty of "conduct unbecoming a United States Marine" and dishonorably discharged. Dawson accepts the verdict but Downey does not understand what they had done wrong. Dawson explains that they had failed to stand up for those too weak to fight for themselves, like Santiago.

This film challenges me how to stand and handle the truth even though the truth is blurred. The truth always stand for itself we cannot hide the truth forever. That’s why iIt is a reminder to us to live with integrity especially the society we are in. Not all people can fight and stand for the truth because there are few good men who are willing to sacrifice to stand for the truth and for God. I hope you are one of the few good men in this corrupt society.

“BE THE LIGHT and MAKE A DIFFERENCE”