Gary Botha For so many years this was my favorite movie. The plot, the acting, the scenes are all superb. Tom Cruise may be the lead but every actor brought their A Game for this film. Aaron Sorkin and Reiner rounded out a brilliant ensemble to make this a totally enjoyable experience. Enjoy every moment.

Semisonic When I was just five years old, Aaron Sorkin wrote a play, which would first be produced on Broadway and, a few years later, would be turned into a Hollywood feature film. Now, 26 years after that film's been made, I've got a chance to see it for the first time. And the main thought I got out of this experience, besides the film being totally awesome, is that it's writing that matters the most.Yes, it's the actors who go on stage being the knights in shiny armor and fighting for our entertainment. But it's the writers who put swords in their hands. And whether those swords are razor sharp or are dull duds makes a difference between a truly entertaining flick and a yawnfest.There's one possibly not so obvious similarity between A Few Good Men and Game of Thrones. Both of them are, in fact, court dramas. Yes, dragons may fly and breathe fire while the big men chop off each other's heads and... other parts dangling too conveniently, but it's the Tyrion Lannisters who truly steal our hearts with their speeches, court ones or not. Even with all the visual effects in the world, it's still our imagination that draws the most breathtaking pictures and stirs the deepest emotions, and the words are what fuels that engine of ours.And oh my, doesn't this film have words aplenty! Apparently, even before Sorkin became the genius behind the Fincher masterpieces, he was already good enough to give enough fiery lines to the trio of Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore and the rest of the cast, to produce a truly boiling pot of emotions the cast emanates on screen, clashing and colliding and ultimately transforming something that is supposed to be boring, i.e. a court hearing, into something you watch with your fists clenched and a wild gaze, taking sides, rooting for your favorites and booing the opposite team when they take a stand.You gotta give it to Cruise though. While it's been Nicholson whose acting received the most praise for this film, it's Cruise who is the main ingredient in the magic chemical reaction A Few Good Men is. Without his typical-young-Tom-Cruise "pretty and seemingly carefree prodigy with big boots to fill" agenda, this whole story would not have its main emotional drive, and all the "stuck up and morally twisted patriotism freak" brilliance delivered by Nicholson would just be left there hanging. The look on Cruise's face might be too much of self-adoration and dumbfoundness combined, but his passion is still one of the most genuine things this film can offer. And while writing is the sword in the actor's hands, it's the passion that makes a difference between waving it around helplessly and delivering that swoop both mighty and graceful which would make the spectators gasp in amazement.Even if you're as far from enjoying the details of legal litigation as the other guy, this film will give you the entertainment you seek. As for the substance, well, can't say there's none here, and at least one important general message got reiterated out loud: simply following the rules doesn't grant you the "good guy" badge. But the rest... let's just say that even Tyrion Lannister can't win his war with words alone, and at some points you do need to get outside a court room and swing an actual sword. But when you're tired of the mindless action, come back where true writing belongs - and let your mind have fun again!

Leftbanker I find it curious how "Hollywood" is often used as a pejorative when describing movies, as if every independent movie is some sort of precious gem. Although this movie suffers through a few over-the-top and corny scenes, overall it has moments which display the best American film has to offer. Say what you want about Tom Cruise, but I defy anyone to name another actor who would have done better in this role. On the other hand, I think just about any other actress could have topped Demi Moore's performance. The script has a great balance of light humor and high drama. It's obvious that Rob Reiner was trying to emulate the grand Hollywood tradition of the courtroom drama and he succeeded. Aaron Sorkin is the best "Hollywood" writer out there today.

Matthew_Capitano Let me get started by saying there's no story even resembling reality here. Navy lawyer Kaffee (Tom Snooze) is a little pee-on, yet he decides all on his own to take a sensitive case to court, a maneuver which would have found him stone-walled as soon as the higher echelon discovered he was filing to try the case.Of course, we wouldn't have a movie without writer Aaron 'Copy-n-Paste' Sorkin's silly plot. We also wouldn't get to see Jack Nicholson's fine performance as Colonel Jessup. After all, he makes this his show while concomitantly dwarfing the poor excuses for actors on hand (Tom Snooze, Dummy Moore, and Kevin Haddock). Therefore, let the carnage begin.We are introduced to Kaffee when he is LATE for a meeting showing up without a PEN (he's a lawyer - with a briefcase and everything - but he forgot his pen). Naturally, his commander is understanding. This is where the smart-alek chutzpah begins as Kaffee is proved to be a selfish fool, but all his contemporaries mysteriously still admire him.The next ignorant screw-up by Kaffee happens as he arrives at a superior's office where Kaffee plops down in a chair while munching on an apple. As he sucks the dripping juices off his wrist, the silliness is snapped back to the old 'understanding commander' gag, rather than the more believable (and preferable) event of the superior barbecuing Kaffee for being such an arrogantly clueless putz.As the film drones on, Kaffee has not realized that he should probably go to the nearest five-n-dime store and purchase a package of pens (this running joke was meant to be funny..... it was not). Kaffee's stupidity and total lack of military bearing was more than just Sorkin's failed attempt at comedy. It was also very annoying which resulted in a dislike of Kaffee. What a jerk.When the BIG SCENE materializes (where, in the court room, Kaffee gets Jessup to 'admit' to ordering a forbidden 'Code Red'), we are supposed to believe that Jessup's career is over. This is a half-witted plot point by Sorkin as Jessup could easily appeal and just say that he was angered by the arrogant Kaffee (who truly is an obnoxious little fart). Following Jessup's demise, we see Kaffee stand proud to serve in the Navy, something he's balked at for the preceding 2 hours-plus.As previously stated, this is Nicholson's movie. But added to that, there is no story here, at least if one strives for reality in a film, which is what all involved in movies strive for. When Kaffee (who was specifically chosen by the Navy to plea-bargain this case) decides all by his lonesome to try the soon-to-be-general Jessup in a court of law, the Navy would have escorted Kaffee back to his little cubical and shoved a stale donut in his mouth to shut him up, all of this while they begin to process his foolish butt out of the Navy.Rent, watch, enjoy, but don't forget..... there's no realistic story here.