“A Few Good Men”

“A Few Good Men” is a military/courtroom drama that is far superior to other films of this genre. It tells the story of an inferior marine who is dead at the hands of two fellow officers. Was it an accident, Were they following orders,

Viewers who haven’t seen “Judgement at Nuremburg” are missing out on a terrific film since “A Few Good Men” is a fascinating retelling. Both films have soldiers standing trial for following orders. It’s a chilling moral dilemma, made all the more disturbing by Jack Nicholson’s performance as Colonel Jessup. While Nicholson is usually at his best as an over-the-top villain, this performance requires that, and he dominates every scene he’s in, especially the final climax (“You can’t handle the truth”), which is pretty well known to people who haven’t even seen the film. Regardless of how many times this scene may have been parodied, it is one of the most intense climaxes in film history. Jessup’s actions are unacceptable, but he considers himself the ultimate patriot: his decisions saved lives. This is the core of what makes this film terrific.

“A Few Good Men” received several Oscar nominations, including one for Nicholson as well as one for Best Picture. Why the Academy did not see fit to nominate Rob Reiner’s directions or Aaron Sorkin’s script is beyond me. Both are at the top of their game as filmmakers. Considering film adaptations of John Grisham legal novels, this film is a superior courtroom drama.