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"A FEW GOOD MEN" (1992) (Tom Cruise, Demi Moore) (R) QUICK TAKE: Drama: A relatively inexperienced naval lawyer who's never argued a case inside a courtroom is assigned the case of two Guantanamo Bay-based Marines accused of killing a third. PLOT: Fresh out of law school and fresh into the Navy, Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (TOM CRUISE) has coasted along on negotiating plea bargains, 44 so far that have not required extensive time in a courtroom. It's for that reason that he's assigned a case that would seem to have the same outcome, that of two Marines -- Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson (WOLFGANG BODISON) and Private Louden Downey (JAMES MARSHALL) -- stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who roughly woke up a fellow Marine, stuffed a rag into his mouth and taped over it, and tied his hands and feet with the same tape. A plea bargain in this case, and no further trouble. That seems to be the consensus. It's the brick wall Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway (DEMI MOORE) faces when she asks Captain West of JAG Corps to assign her as lead counsel for the defense on the case. West believes her not to be experienced enough to take this on. Enter Kaffee and enter initial conflict, as the two sides assess each other and don't like what they find. Galloway doesn't like how Kaffee coasts along, not making enough of an effort in his casework. Kaffee doesn't like Galloway stepping in front of him to attend to certain matters, when he is the one in charge of the case, despite Galloway being his superior officer in this case. But there is bigger conflict for the two of them, and Kaffee's assistant and friend Lieutenant Sam Weinberg (KEVIN POLLAK), when a visit to Guantanamo Bay introduces them to Colonel Nathan Jessep (JACK NICHOLSON), head of operations on the base. He claims everything a lesser attorney might want to hear in order for the case to be closed quickly: Nothing out of the ordinary happened and move along, please. But the murdered Marine had asked repeatedly in letters to various persons of rank to be transferred off the base, knowing that he couldn't handle what was required in training exercises, yet Jessep ignored those pleas. A transfer? No. Not when Washington beckons with a possible high-ranking position in the National Security Council. Something's amiss here, these two men could not have acted on their own, and that becomes the centerpiece of the case. Kaffee also struggles with his own identity, as his late father was the attorney general of the United States at the time of the civil rights movement, and apparently a major trial lawyer in his own right. So what should he do? Be a bigger man, or be as he has always been, ratcheting up another plea bargain for his clients and moving on silently rather than contend with the prickly Colonel Nathan R. Jessep (JACK NICHOLSON), the head of the Marine base at Guantanamo. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Those possibly familiar with past efforts of writer Aaron Sorkin and director Rob Reiner will want to see this if they haven't already. Those with an interest in various facets of the military will certainly want to as well, as will fans of Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and anyone else in the cast. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: TOM CRUISE plays Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, a Navy lawyer with a burdensome last name, because of his prominent, late father, who served as the attorney general of the United States during the civil rights movement, and was a major trial lawyer as well. He spends his days in the Navy as a lawyer himself, racking up plea bargain after plea bargain at such a fast clip that he jokes to newly-met Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway, "One more and I get a set of steak knives." The murder case at hand is what tests him not only as a lawyer, but also as a man. Can he be a better lawyer, a more thorough one, especially as one who's never been in a courtroom before this? And can he extract himself from his father's large shadow and become his own man? He uses strong profanity, drinks, and appears drunk at length in one scene. DEMI MOORE plays Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway, who learns of the Marine murder case and wants to be made lead counsel for the defense on the case, but is turned down by a superior officer because of perceived inexperience, which only the viewer knows. She's not happy to meet Kaffee, not only because of being turned down, and Kaffee being the one assigned as lead counsel, but also because of his record with the plea bargains. She worries that this case will be handled like all the others he's plea-bargained away, which is not what she wants since she believes there's a lot more to this case than what is known already. She challenges Kaffee in a few different ways to be more than he is. She drinks once. JACK NICHOLSON plays Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, the head of the Marine base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and a tough-minded Marine himself, who believes that anything is game as long as a crack Marine platoon is maintained to continually face down the Cuban soldiers stationed across from their base. In other words, to him, freedom cannot be strong if those defending it are weak. He's also looked upon with respect in Washington, expected to be named to the National Security Council at the time that the case opens up to a forthcoming trial. On Kaffee's visit to Cuba, he tries to intimidate the young lawyer, and lets on about his sexual belief regarding women of higher rank, with JoAnne present. With Kaffee and Galloway digging into this case, they get closer to the ultimate truth regarding Jessep, and what may soon be helpful to their case, if risky. Jessep smokes a cigar a few times and uses strong profanity. KEVIN POLLAK plays Lieutenant Sam Weinberg, Kaffee's friend, assigned to his case as an "administrative assistant," to take care of logistics on certain matters, but he's the one that tries to keep the peace when things get very testy between Kaffee and Galloway, and also to prop Kaffee up when he needs it. KEVIN BACON plays Captain Jack Ross, the prosecutor for this Marine murder case, who has an easy rapport with Kaffee outside of the courtroom, but inside it, he's tough about what he wants, particularly since he represents the U.S. government in this case. KIEFER SUTHERLAND plays Lieutenant Jonathan Kendrick, the man who seems to be in charge of keeping watch on the men at Guantanamo Bay. He believes that the Marine in question was murdered because he "had no honor. And God was watching." He fiercely adheres to the code that all Marines believes in, that of, in this ranking order, "Unit, corps, God, country," as also explained by one of the accused. Whether he was involved in the murder as well is investigated. J.T. WALSH plays Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Markinson, who, in a scene known only to the viewer and not the lawyers, believes that the endangered Marine should be transferred off the base, but Colonel Jessep dismisses that notion, deciding instead that the Marine should remain on the base and be trained enough to rise to the level of his fellow Marines. As we learn, that means something entirely different than simply training. Markinson doesn't take to this development very well, and becomes the leading light in this case, though in secret. WOLFGANG BODISON plays Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson, one of the men accused of murdering the Marine, who hews so closely to the Marine code of "Unit, corps, God, country," that he is willing to go to prison for it. A dishonorable discharge sounds worse to him and he admits certain things that set the investigation in motion. JAMES MARSHALL plays Private Louden Downey, Dawson's accomplice in the murder, who remains silent through most of the film. It is said that he worships Dawson enough to do whatever Dawson might decide to do in this case. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 12 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually-related dialogue is present as well. Violence consists of the assault of a Marine and an off-screen suicide. Many bad attitudes are present, and some behavior may be tempting to imitate. One character smokes cigars in several scenes. A few drink, and one character appears drunk at length. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE A man named Dave shouts for Kaffee, and Kaffee replies, "Dave, you seem distraught." Dave, ticked, replies, "We were supposed to meet in your office 15 minutes ago to talk about the McDermott case, you're stalling on this thing. Now we either get it done, and I mean now, or no kidding Kaffee: I'm gonna hang your boy from a f*cking yardarm." After Kaffee confirms with his catching partner Sherby that the Navy doesn't hang people from yardarms anymore, Dave says, "I'm gonna charge him with possession and being under the influence while on duty; you plead guilty, I'll recommend 30 days in the brig with loss of rank and pay." Kaffee replies, "It was oregano, Dave, it was $10 worth of oregano." Dave answers, "Yeah, well, your client thought it was marijuana." Kaffee replies, "My client's a moron. That's not against the law." Dave answers, "Kaffee, I got people to answer to just like you do. I'm gonna charge him." Kaffee replies, "With what, possession of a condiment?" Dave says, "Kaffee..." but is cut off by Kaffee saying, "Dave, I tried to help you out of this, but if you ask for jail time, I'm gonna file a motion to dismiss." Dave replies, "You won't get it." Kaffee answers, "I will get it And if the M.T.D. is denied, I'll file a motion (unintelligible) seeking to obtain an evidentiary ruling in advance. And after that, I'm gonna file against pretrial confinement. And you're gonna spend the next three months going blind on paperwork because a signalman second-class bought and smoked a dime bag of oregano." Kaffee asks Galloway, "Any luck getting me replaced?" Galloway replies, "Is there anyone in this command that you don't either drink or play softball with?" Sam says to Kaffee, "Don't forget to wear the whites. Very hot down there." Kaffee replies, "I don't like the whites." Sam answers, "Nobody likes the whites. But we're going to Cuba. You got Dramamine?" Kaffee asks, "Dramamine keeps you cool?" Sam answers, "No, Dramamine keeps you from throwing up; you get sick when you fly." Kaffee replies, "I get sick when I fly 'cause I'm afraid of crashing into a large mountain. I don't think Dramamine will help." Sam jokingly answers, "I got some oregano, I hear that works pretty good." At a bar, a man talks to a woman, and we see a nearly-empty tall glass in front of him, and a half-filled glass in front of the woman. Near the man, we see two men with glasses in front of them: A full glass with a straw in it, and a half-full glass. We see Kaffee's hand put down his glass after he's taken a drink off-camera. The man with the woman asks the offscreen bartender for two more drinks. On Kaffee and Galloway's table at a seafood restaurant, there's a pitcher of beer, and one full glass seen from afar. Galloway says to Kaffee, "My third case was a drunk and disorderly; it lasted nine weeks. I rounded up 31 people from the bar that night." Later, Galloway drinks from her beer mug. Ross drinks from a glass of beer in a smoke-filled bar where a few filled glasses are seen at the bar. After Kaffee sits down, we see a bottle on the table. As Kaffee is explaining to Ross that the transfer order is phony, Ross drinks from his glass again. A waitress asks Kaffee, "Can I get you something?" and he replies, "I'd like a beer, please." The waitress comes to the table with Kaffee's beer and a glass. Kaffee drinks as Ross says to him, "You got bullied into that courtroom, Danny. By everyone. By Dawson, by Galloway. Sh*t, I practically dared you. You got bullied into that courtroom by the memory of a dead lawyer." Ross walks away and Kaffee gets up with his beer bottle, trying to fire back at Ross for that, but merely shouts, "You're a lousy f*cking softball player, Jack!" A woman in the background, seen as Kaffee shouts at Ross, holds a glass. In court, Kaffee asks Lieutenant Kendrick in court, "Do you recall an incident involving a P.F.C. Curtis Bell who had been found stealing liquor from the officers' club?" Kendrick replies, "Yes, I do." Kaffee takes a Jack Daniels bottle out of his pocket, and Galloway asks him, "Are you drunk?" He replies, "Pretty much. Yeah." Galloway answers, "I'll put on a pot of coffee. We've got a long night's work ahead." After she goes to the kitchen, Kaffee says to Sam, "She's going to make coffee. That's nice." Kaffee, impressed by how Markinson killed himself, says to Galloway and Kaffee, after he explains how Markinson did it, "Anyway, since we seem to be out of witnesses, I thought I'd drink a little. He puts the bottle up to his mouth, and the next shot is Galloway, who says to him, "I still think we can win." The next shot is Kaffee, taking the bottle from his mouth, and he replies, "Maybe you should drink a little." After his verbal rage at Galloway, and after she's left, Kaffee picks up the bottle of Jack Daniels and asks Sam, "You want a drink?" Sam replies, "Yeah," as Kaffee drinks from the bottle. Sam walks over, takes the bottle from Kaffee, drinks, and sits down. Galloway says to Sam about Jessep's impending testimony, "I say we hit Jessep with the phony transfer order." Sam replies, "What's a transfer order without a witness?" Kaffee cuts in with, "We have a witness." Sam replies, "A dead witness." Kaffee answers, "And in the hands of a lesser attorney, that'd be a problem." Sam replies, "Oh, look at this. Last night, he's swimming in Jack Daniels, and now he can leap tall buildings in a single bound." BLOOD/GROSS STUFF Kaffee asks Private Downey if there was any poison on the rag and Downey says, "No, sir." Kaffee asks, "Silver polish, turpentine, antifreeze?" Downey replies, "No sir, we were just gonna shave his head, sir." Kaffee answers, "When, all of a sudden..." and Downey says, "We saw blood dripping down his mouth, and, we pulled the tape off and there was blood all down his face, sir." As Kaffee walks into Santiago's room and looks around, we see blood at the top of a bed sheet, as well a puddle of blood on the floor, with spots and a shoeprint around it. Galloway turns down the bed sheet and we see blood on the pillow, a big spot toward the bottom, and various spots around it and above it. In his opening statement to the court, Captain Ross, representing the government, says, "On midnight of September 6, the accused entered the barracks room of their platoon mate, P.F.C. William Santiago. They woke him up, tied his arms and legs with tape, and forced a rag into his throat. A few minutes later, a chemical reaction called "lactic acidosis" caused his lungs to begin bleeding. He drowned in his own blood and was pronounced dead at 37 minutes past midnight." Ross asks Dr. Stone on the witness stand what lactic acidosis is, and Dr. Stone answers, "If the muscles, and other cells in the body burn sugar, instead of oxygen, lactic acid is produced. That lactic acid is what caused Santiago's lungs to bleed." As Colonel Jessep is being read his rights, he tries to lunge at Kaffee, but is held back by two M.Ps, and shouts at him, "I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss in your dead skull! DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Lance Corporal Harold Dawson and Private Louden Downey obviously have bad attitudes for going into their platoon mate Santiago's barracks room and killing him, but the case becomes more complicated than that. Captain West says to Galloway, "...why don't you get yourself a cup of coffee?" Galloway replies, "Thank you, sir, I'm fine." West answers, "Commander, I'd like you to leave the room so we can talk about you behind your back." Galloway replies, "Certainly, sir." Captain West confers with Commander Lawrence and another man named Jerry about whether Galloway is suitable for handling the defense side of the case. Jerry doesn't believe so, and Captain West decides not to assign her to handle the case, with the remark, "All passion, no street smarts." Captain West tells Jerry to "bring her back in." Captain West informs Galloway that "we're gonna have the defendants moved up here in the morning. We'll have Division assign them counsel." Galloway replies, "But not me." Captain West answers, "Well, from what I understand from your colleagues, you're much too valuable in your present assignment to be wasted in what I'm sure will boil down to a five-minute plea bargain and a week's worth of paperwork." Galloway expresses her belief that there might be more to the case than that, and Captain West replies, "Don't worry about it. I promise you Division will assign the right man for the job." Whether this is seen as sexist is up to an individual viewer's interpretation. A man named Dave shouts for Kaffee, and Kaffee replies, "Dave, you seem distraught." Dave, ticked, replies, "We were supposed to meet in your office 15 minutes ago to talk about the McDermott case, you're stalling on this thing. Now we either get it done, and I mean now, or no kidding Kaffee: I'm gonna hang your boy from a f*cking yardarm." After finding out that Kaffee is fresh out of law school and fresh into the Navy, Galloway says, "It's just that when I petition Division to have counsel assigned, I was hoping I'd be taken seriously." Kaffee answers casually, "No offense taken, in case you were wondering." In a letter addressed to a higher rank, P.F.C. William Santiago, in narration, recounts his troubles with his unit, including "feeling dizzy and nauseated" on exercise runs with his unit. "But on May 18, I'd fallen back about 20 or 30 yards, going down a rocky unstable hill. My sergeant grabbed me and pushed me down the hill. Then I saw all black, and the last thing I remembered is hitting the deck. I was brought to the hospital where I was told I just had heat exhaustion. I ask you to help me. Please, sir, I just need to be transferred out of R.S.C." In a shot during that piece of narration, we see Santiago eating alone. Kendrick says to Colonel Jessep that he can handle the situation, and Matthew interjects with, "The same way you handled the Curtis Bell incident?" Kendrick tries to answer, "Sir, my methods...", but Matthew barks at him, "Don't interrupt me, Lieutenant! I'm still your superior officer." Jessep decides that Santiago stays where he is, and believes that Santiago merely needs to be trained. He says to Lieutenant Kendrick, "John, you're in charge. Santiago doesn't make 4-6-4-6 on his next proficiency and conduct report, and I'm going to blame you. Then I'm going to kill you." Jessep asks Colonel Markinson what he thinks of Kendrick. Markinson replies, "Nathan, I don't think my opinion of Kendrick has anything whatsoever..." and Jessep interrupts with, "I think he's pretty much of a weasel myself, but he's an awfully good officer." He says to Markinson that they go back a ways together, and that he's been promoted "with greater speed and success than you have. Now, if that's a source of tension or embarrassment for you, I don't give a sh*t. We're in the business of saving lives, Lieutenant Colonel Markinson. Don't ever question my orders in front of another officer." After Galloway verbally profiles him and determines why he works the way he does in JAG Corps, Kaffee replies, "Wow! I'm sexually aroused, Commander." Kaffee asks what a "garden-variety" Code Red is, and Dawson says, "Sir, a Marine refuses to bathe on a regular basis, the men in his squad will give him a G.I. shower." Kaffee asks, "What's that?" and Dawson replies, "Scrub brushes, brillo pads, steel wool." Galloway tells Kaffee that she got the comic books Downey asked for, and Kaffee replies, "Jo, if you ever speak to a client of mine again without my permission, I'll have you disbarred. Friends?" After Galloway says to Kaffee that she had authorization from Downey's aunt Ginny, Kaffee replies sarcastically, "Does Aunt Ginny have a barn? We could hold the trial there, I can sew the costumes; maybe his Uncle Goober can be the judge." Corporal Barnes says to Kaffee, Sam, and Galloway, "We'll just hop on the ferry, we'll be there in no time." Kaffee replies, "Whoa, hold it, we gotta take a boat?" Barnes answers, "Yes, sir. To get to the other side of the bay." Kaffee replies, "Nobody said anything about a boat." Barnes answers, "Is there a problem, sir?" Kaffee replies, "No, no problem. I'm just not that crazy about boats, that's all." Galloway interjects, "Jesus Christ, Kaffee, you're in the Navy for crying out loud." Kaffee says to Barnes, "Nobody likes her very much." Barnes replies, "Yes, sir." In order to surreptitiously foster conflict between Kendrick and Kaffee, and perhaps intimidate Kaffee, Jessep says to Kendrick about Kaffee's father, "John, this man's dad once made a lot of enemies down in your neck of the woods. Jefferson versus Madison County School District. Folks down there said a little black girl couldn't go to an all-white school. Lionel Kaffee said, "Well, we'll just see about that." Galloway asks Lieutenant Kendrick if he thinks Santiago was murdered, and Kendrick replies, "Commander, I believe in God and his son, Jesus Christ, and because I do I can say this: Private Santiago is dead, and that is a tragedy. But he is dead because he had no code. He is dead because he had no honor, and God was watching." Despite what we had seen Colonel Jessep say to Colonel Markinson and Lieutenant Kendrick that Santiago would not be transferred, Jessep lies to Kaffee and says, "We agreed that for his own safety, Santiago should be transferred off the base." Kaffee answers, "Santiago was set to be transferred." Jessep continues, "On the first available flight to the States-0600 the next morning. Five hours too late as it turned out." Kaffee gets up, believing that all that needs to be answered has been answered, but Galloway states that she has a few questions. Kaffee tries to cut her off from asking them. Jessep explains to Galloway that he had received the memo she asked about, stating that whomever wrote it had no actual experience, and that he gave it its due attention anyway with it having come from someone high up in the ranks. Then he asks her what her point is. Kaffee interrupts, "She has no point. She often has no point, Sir, it's part of her charm." After Kaffee says to Galloway that Jessep doesn't have to answer the question she's posing, Jessep says to Kaffee, "You know, it just hit me. She outranks you, Danny. I wanna tell you something and listen up, 'cause I really mean this: You're the luckiest man in the world. There is nothing on this earth sexier-believe me, gentlemen-than a woman that you have to salute in the morning. Promote 'em all, I say, 'cause this is true: If you haven't gotten a blowjob from a superior officer, well, you're just letting the best in life pass you by." As Galloway tries to continue her questioning, Jessep interrupts with, "Of course, my problem is I'm a colonel, so I'll just have to go on taking cold showers until they elect some gal president." Galloway continues, "I need an answer to my question, sir." Jessep answers, "Take caution in your tone, Commander. I'm a fair guy but this, f*cking heat is making me absolutely crazy. You want to ask me about Code Reds, on the record I tell you I discourage the practice in accordance with the commander's directive; but off the record, I tell you it is an invaluable part of close-infantry training, and if it happens to go on without my knowledge, so be it. I run my unit how I run my unit. You want to investigate me, roll the dice and take your chances. I eat breakfast 300 yards from 4,000 Cubans who are trained to kill me; so don't think for one second that you can come down here, flash a badge, and make me nervous." After Kaffee asks for Santiago's transfer order, Jessep agrees to let him have it (even though one was never made up because there was never any decision made to transfer him), "but you have to ask me nicely." Kaffee says, "I beg your pardon?" Jessep replies, "You have to ask me nicely. You see, Danny, I can deal with the bullets and the bombs and the blood; I don't want money, and I don't want medals. What I do want is for you to stand there in that faggoty white uniform and with your Harvard mouth extend me some f*cking courtesy. You got to ask me nicely." Galloway informs Kaffee that Colonel Markinson has gone missing, and Kaffee replies, "I'll try to find him in the morning." Galloway answers, "I've already tried." Kaffee replies, "You tried? JoAnne, you're coming dangerously close to the textbook definition of interfering with a government investigation." Galloway replies, "I'm Louden Downey's attorney. Aunt Ginny, she said she feels like she's known me for years; so I suggested she might feel more comfortable if I were directly involved with the case. She had Louden sign the papers about an hour ago." Kaffee answers, "I suppose it's way too much to hope that you're making this up just to bother me." Galloway replies, "Don't worry, I'm not gonna make a motion for separation; you're still lead counsel." Kaffee sarcastically answers, "Splendid." Kaffee learns from Downey and then Dawson that Kendrick ordered them to do a Code Red on Santiago despite telling the other men in the platoon not to touch Santiago. He asks the two, "You mind telling me why the hell you never mentioned this before?" Dawson answers, "You didn't ask us, sir." Kaffee replies, "...(unintelligible) not gonna win a place in my heart, Corporal, I get paid no matter how much time you spend in jail." Downey answers darkly, "Yes, sir, I know you do, sir." Kaffee shouts, "F*ck you, Harold!" Dawson refuses the deal put forth by Kaffee from the government, and says, "We did nothing wrong, sir. We did our job and if that has consequences, then I'll accept them. But I won't say that I'm guilty, sir." Kaffee asks, loudly, turning toward Galloway and then back to Dawson, "Did you-did she put you up to this?" Galloway answers, "No." Dawson replies, "We have a code, sir." Kaffee answers, "Oh, well, zip-a-dee-doo-dah; you and your code plead not guilty, you'll be in jail for the rest of your life. Do what I'm telling you, you'll be home in six months." Kaffee says to Downey and Dawson to do what he's saying. Dawson says, "Permission to..." and Kaffee snaps, "Speak! Jesus!" Kaffee explains to Dawson that Downey worships him and is going to do whatever he (Dawson) chooses to do. He asks, "Are you really gonna let this happen to him because of a code, Harold?" Dawson asks Kaffee, "Do you think we were right?" Kaffee replies, "It doesn't matter..." and Dawson cuts him off with, "Do you think we were right?!" Kaffee replies, "I think you'd lose." Dawson answers, "You're such a coward. I can't believe they let you wear a uniform." Kaffee replies, "I'm not gonna feel responsible for this, Harold, I did everything I could. You're going to Leavenworth, for the better part of your life, and you know what? I don't give a sh*t." At the door of the interrogation room, he asks Dawson, "What happened to saluting an officer when he leaves the room?" Dawson stands up and puts his hands in his pockets. As Kaffee walks away after stating that he'll get the men a new attorney at the arraignment in the morning, Galloway asks, "Why are you so afraid to be a lawyer? Were Daddy's expectations really that high?" Kaffee replies, "Oh please, spare me the psychobabble father bullsh*t!" Kaffee says to Galloway that Dawson and Downey "will have their day in court but they'll have it with another lawyer." Galloway replies, "Another lawyer won't be good enough. They need you. You know how to win. You know they have a case, and you know how to win; if you walk away from this now, you've sealed their fate." Kaffee replies, "Their fate was sealed the moment Santiago died." Galloway asks, "Do you believe they have a case?" Kaffee answers, incredulous, "You and Dawson, you both live in the same dream world. It doesn't matter what I believe. It only matters what I can prove. So please, don't tell me what I know and don't know, I know the law!" Galloway walks away, then turns around and says, "You know nothing about the law. You're a used car salesman, Daniel. You're an ambulance chaser with a rank. You're nothing. Live with that." After receiving an answer about what a Code Red is, Kaffee asks Corporal Barnes if he ever received one and Barnes explains, "We were doing seven-man assault drills, and my weapon slipped. It was just 'cause it was over a hundred degrees and my palms were sweaty. And I'd forgotten to use the resin like we were taught." Kaffee asks, "What happened?" and Barnes answers, "That night the guys in my squad threw a blanket over me, took turns punching me in the arm for five minutes. And then they poured glue on my hands. And it worked too, 'cause I ain't never dropped my weapon since." Ross says to Kaffee, "I have an obligation to tell you that if you accuse Kendrick or Jessep of any crime without proper evidence, you're going to be subject to a court-martial for professional misconduct, and that's something that's gonna be stapled to every job application you ever fill out. Markinson's not going to hold up. He's a crazy man. I'm not saying this to intimidate you, I'm being your lawyer here." Kaffee replies, "Oh, thanks Jack. And I wanna tell you that I think the f*cking bunch of you are certifiably insane; this code of honor of yours makes me want to beat the sh*t out of somebody." Ross, offended, replies, "Don't you dare lump me in with Jessep and Kendrick just because we wear the same uniform. I'm your friend and I'm telling you: I don't think your clients belong in jail, but I don't get to make that decision. I represent the government of the United States without passion or prejudice. My client has a case." The waitress comes to the table with Kaffee's beer and a glass. Kaffee drinks as Ross says to him, "You got bullied into that courtroom, Danny. By everyone. By Dawson, by Galloway. Sh*t, I practically dared you. You got bullied into that courtroom by the memory of a dead lawyer." Ross walks away and Kaffee gets up with his beer bottle, trying to fire back at Ross for that, but merely shouts, "You're a lousy f*cking softball player, Jack!" After Markinson answers his door, Kaffee walks in, saying angrily, "There was no flight at 11 o'clock, what the f*ck are you trying to pull?!" He slams down the Guantanamo Bay tower log on a table. Galloway says to Kaffee, "Look, we'll go to Randolph in the morning, and we'll make a motion for a continuance, 24 hours." Kaffee asks, "Why would we wanna do that?" and Galloway replies, "To subpoena Colonel Jessep." Kaffee asks, "What?" and Galloway says, "Listen for a second..." and is vocally stopped by Kaffee, who says, "I won't listen, and I won't hear you out. Your passion is compelling, Jo, it's also useless. Louden Downey needed a trial lawyer today." Galloway replies, "You chicken-sh*t. You're gonna use what happened today as an excuse to give up." Kaffee turns around and says, "It's...over." Kaffee asks Galloway, "What possible good could come from putting Jessep on the stand?" Galloway answers, "He told Kendrick to order the Code Red." Kaffee replies, sarcastically, "He did? That's great! Why didn't you say so? And of course, you have proof of that. Oh, I'm sorry, I keep forgetting-you were sick the day they taught law at law school." Galloway replies, "You put him on the stand and you get it from him." Kaffee answers, still sarcastically, "Oh, we get it from him! Yes! No problem, we get it from him: Colonel Jessep, isn't it true that you ordered the Code Red on Santiago?" Sam tries to quell the situation, saying, "Listen, we're all a little..," but Kaffee interrupts with a buzzer sound and says, "I'm sorry. Your time's run out. What do we have for the losers, Judge? Well, for our defendants, it's a lifetime in exotic Fort Leavenworth. And, for Defense Counsel Kaffee, that's right, it's a court-martial! Yes, Johnny, after falsely accusing a highly-decorated Marine officer of conspiracy and perjury, Lieutenant Kaffee will have a long and prosperous career teaching typewriter maintenance at the Rocco Clubo School for Women. Thank you for playing, 'Should we or should we not follow the advice of the galactically stupid'." After shouting that at Galloway, he angrily pushes papers off a table and kicks a chair. Jessep demands to Judge Randolph that Kaffee addresses him as "colonel" or "sir." "I believe I've earned it," he says. Randolph states, "Defense counsel will address the witness as "colonel" or "sir," Kaffee says to Randolph, "I don't know what the hell kind of unit you're running here." Randolph replies, "And the witness will address this court as "judge" or "your honor." I'm quite certain I've earned it. Take your seat, Colonel." After he's seated, Jessep says sarcastically to Kaffee, "What do you want to discuss now-my favorite color?" After Judge Randolph allows the testimony from two men working at Andrews Air Force Base at 2 a.m., Jessep says, "This is ridiculous." Kaffee starts a question, but Jessep interrupts him with, "Check the tower logs, for Christ's sake." Kaffee throws everything he has at Jessep, claiming Jessep doctored the logbook, among other things, and he asks loudly, "Colonel Jessep, did you order the Code Red?!" Judge Randolph says to Jessep that he doesn't have to answer the question and Jessep replies, "I'll answer the question." Jessep says to Kaffee, "You want answers?" Kaffee replies, "I think I'm entitled." Jessep asks, "You want answers?!" Kaffee shouts, "I want the truth!" Jessep shouts back, "You can't handle the truth!" He continues, "Son, we live in a world that has walls and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know-that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives! You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!" Kaffee asks him, "Did you order the Code Red?" Jessep answers, "I did the job..." and Kaffee shouts, "Did you order the Code Red?!" Jessep shouts, "You're g*ddamned right I did!" As Colonel Jessep is being read his rights, he tries to get at Kaffee, but is held back by two M.Ps, and shouts at Kaffee, "I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss in your dead skull! You f*cked with the wrong Marine!" After Captain Ross asks Jessep if he understands the rights as they have been read to him, he collects himself, and says, "You f*ckin' people. You have no idea how to defend a nation. All you did was weaken a country today, Kaffee. That's all you did. You put people's lives in danger. Sweet dreams, son." Kaffee replies, "Don't call me son. I'm a lawyer, and an officer in the United States Navy, and you're under arrest you son of a bitch." FRIGHTENING SCENES Two soldiers enter the barracks room of a fellow soldier. One stuffs a red rag in the soldier's mouth, then places silver heavy-duty tape over his mouth. The assaulted soldier struggles to break free of the grip of the two soldiers, but one of the soldiers forces him back to his bed, and ties his feet together with the tape. GUNS/WEAPONS Markinson, in full Marine dress, takes out a shining handgun, cocks it, puts it in his mouth, and we hear a gunshot. Soldiers engage in a precise marching exercise with their rifles. As Kaffee's jeep turns into the Windward Marine barracks, a unit jogs with their rifles at hand in a training exercise. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Don't I feel like the f*ckin' asshole," "F*ck you," "I'm gonna hang your boy from a f*cking yardarm," "Extend me some f*cking courtesy," I wanna tell you that I think the f*cking bunch of you are certifiably insane," "What the f*ck are you trying to pull?" "You're a lousy f*cking softball player," "You f*cked with the wrong Marine!" "You f*ckin' people," "Sh*t," "I don't give a sh*t," "Oh please, spare me the psychobabble father bullsh*t," "You sure hustled the sh*t out of him," "You know sh*t," "You chicken-sh*t," "Bullsh*t," "Balls" (testicles), "Ah, what the hell," "You mind telling me why the hell you never mentioned this before?" "You're a good man, Charlie Brown," "We're going to get creamed," "Should we or should we not follow the advice of the galactically stupid?" "You snotty little bastard," "You can't handle the truth!" and "I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss in your dead skull!" The military rifle exercises may be tempting to imitate. After receiving an answer about what a Code Red is, Kaffee asks Corporal Barnes if he ever received one and Barnes explains, "We were doing seven-man assault drills, and my weapon slipped. It was just 'cause it was over a hundred degrees and my palms were sweaty. And I'd forgotten to use the resin like we were taught." Kaffee asks, "What happened?" and Barnes answers, "That night the guys in my squad threw a blanket over me, took turns punching me in the arm for five minutes. And then they poured glue on my hands. And it worked too, 'cause I ain't never dropped my weapon since." Kaffee throws small, orange foam balls at a small basketball hoop inside his apartment. Explaining that Jessep most likely wants to reveal that he gave the order for the Code Red, Kaffee imitates Jessep: "He eats breakfast 300 yards away from 4,000 Cubans that are trained to kill him." JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A heavy amount of dramatic music occurs in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 12 "f" words, 14 "s" words, 7 damns, 7 hells, 4 asses (1 used with "hole"), 1 S.O.B, 2 uses each of "Christ" and "G*ddamn," and 1 uses each of "For Christ's sake," "Jesus," "Jesus Christ," "Oh for Christ's sake" and "Oh, Jesus Christ." SEX/NUDITY After Galloway verbally profiles him and determines why he works the way he does in JAG Corps, Kaffee replies, "Wow! I'm sexually aroused, Commander." After Kaffee says to Galloway that Jessep doesn't have to answer the question she's posing, Jessep says to Kaffee, "You know, it just hit me. She outranks you, Danny. I wanna tell you something and listen up, 'cause I really mean this: You're the luckiest man in the world. There is nothing on this earth sexier-believe me, gentlemen-than a woman that you have to salute in the morning. Promote 'em all, I say, 'cause this is true: If you haven't gotten a blowjob from a superior officer, well, you're just letting the best in life pass you by." As Galloway tries to continue her questioning, Jessep interrupts with, "Of course, my problem is I'm a colonel, so I'll just have to go on taking cold showers until they elect some gal president." Outside an indoor basketball court, Ross says to Galloway, "And even though he's got me by the balls out here, Danny knows that in a courtroom, he loses this case." During his explanation of how far it is to get from Post 39 back to the Windward barracks, Downey answers affirmatively Ross's question of whether he's ever had to walk it, and says, "The pickup private-that's like what we call the guy who drops us off at our post and picks us up, also because he can get girls in New York City." As Kaffee goes to the other room to get his bat because he says he thinks better with it, Sam asks Galloway, "He thinks better with his bat?" Galloway jokingly replies, "I can understand that." SMOKING Colonel Jessep smokes a cigar at least five times. Kaffee begins gathering his things and says to Dawson and Downey, "You guys need anything-books, papers, cigarettes, a ham sandwich?" Ross drinks from a glass of beer in a smoke-filled bar. TENSE FAMILY SCENES None. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The military justice system in contrast to the civilian justice system. Colonel Markinson suggests that Private Santiago be transferred off the base, but Colonel Jessep refuses, believing that Santiago just needs to be trained. Code Reds and how they're used by Marines against fellow Marines as a tool to keep them on track when they slip. It is said that Colonel Jessep is a rising star in Washington, soon expected to be named director of operations for the National Security Council. Lance Corporal Dawson refuses to admit guilt, because he believes it would shear him of his honor of being a Marine. Captain Ross and Lieutenant Kaffee, as prosecutor and defense. The passions that emerge from each. Kaffee being pushed to be more than he is, held back by the large memory of a famed trial lawyer father. Colonel Jessep's sexist attitude toward female superiors in the military. The various proceedings in the courtroom. VIOLENCE Two soldiers enter the barracks room of a fellow soldier. One stuffs a red rag in the soldier's mouth, then places silver heavy-duty tape over his mouth. The assaulted soldier struggles to break free of the grip of the two soldiers, but one of the soldiers forces him back to his bed, and ties his feet together with the tape. Markinson, in full Marine dress, takes out a shining handgun, cocks it, puts it in his mouth, and we hear a gunshot. Kaffee angrily pushes papers off a table and kicks a chair. As Captain Ross recites Colonel Jessep's rights, Jessep tries to lunge at Kaffee, but is held back by two M.Ps. Reviewed off DVD / Posted August 27, 2010