A Few Good Men - Review

"You follow the orders or people die"

- Col. Nathan Jessep, A Few Good Men

What do you do when your boss asks you to do something that you don't agree to? This is the topic of the famous Milgram Experiment. In our normal desk jobs, you can disagree with our bosses and perhaps have your way, but in the armed forces, you simply don't have a choice. There is no time or leeway to discuss the course of action with your superiors. You just follow the orders - whether you like it or not.

What do you do when your parents have had an illustrious career and you are in the same line? In many cases, the children remain in the shadow of their parents. They are forever trying to do what their parents would have done, trying to be them rather than being themselves.

What do you do when both the parties are right? Many a times in life, there is no right or wrong, there are no heroes and villains, there are simply humans doing their job. Who do you favor?

A Few Good Men combines all these themes into one riveting movie. The movie is set in US Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Col. Nathan R. Jessep is in charge of the base and he is very proud of his boys. But one of them, PFC William T. Santiago is not able to keep up with the tough life at the base and wants to get transferred out of the base. He breaks the chain of command and writes to officers above Jessep asking for a transfer. No taking this affront lightly, Col. Jessep orders a Code Red to put Santiago in line. Unfortunately, Santiago dies during this rough up. The marines who followed the order Downey and Dawson are charged with murder. They contend that they were just following the orders. But there is no proof that such orders were given as there is no written record and the other officers in charge have taken the side of Jessep.

Daniel Kaffee is a navy lawyer who has never been inside a courtroom. He is assigned the task of defending Downey and Dawson, aided by Jane Galloway. Daniel is a happy go lucky chap who though talented, lives under the shadow of his illustrious father who was a renowned Attorney General and a contemporary of Jessep. Daniel attempts to come out of the shadow of his father and tries to do what his father would have done in the same situation. Jane helps Daniel discover his own self and make a name for himself.

A must watch movie especially the battle between Kaffee and Jessep in the courtroom in the end.

Ratings -

Overall 8/10
Jack Nicholson as Col Nathan R. Jessep 9/10 - even though he has a little screen time in the movie, he delivers an outstanding performance. Especially the words towards the end - "You can't handle the truth"
Tom Cruise as Daniel Kaffee and Demi Moore as Jane Galloway 8/10 - you won't believe that they are such talented actors when you watch Mission Impossible and Striptease.