A Few Good Men

A Few Good Men, written by Aaron Sorkin, was an acclaimed Broadway play and subsequently a well-received 1992 film drama that tells the story of military lawyers at a court-martial who uncover a high-level conspiracy in the course of defending their clients, United States Marines accused of murder. The film version, directed by Rob Reiner, starred Tom Cruise as LTJG Daniel Kaffee, Jack Nicholson as Col Nathan R. Jessep, Demi Moore as LCDR JoAnne Galloway, Kevin Bacon as CAPT Jack Ross, Kiefer Sutherland as LT Jonathan Kendrick, Kevin Pollak as LT Sam Weinberg, J.T. Walsh as LCOL Matthew Markinson, and Wolfgang Bodison as Lance Cpl Harold W. Dawson. Aaron Sorkin also makes a cameo in the film.

It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Jack Nicholson), Best Film Editing, Best Picture and Best Sound.

The original stage production starred Tom Hulce as Lt. Kaffee and Stephen Lang as Col. Jessep. A stage adaptation of the film starring Rob Lowe in the role of Lt. Daniel Kaffee and Suranne Jones as Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway, opened at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London in late August 2005 for preview showings, followed by a 3 month run in early September 2005. The stage show was directed by David Esbjornson.

Plot synopsis

An inexperienced Navy lawyer, Lt. Daniel Kaffee, son of Lionel Kaffee (who held the positions of Attorney General and Navy Judge Advocate General), leads the defense in the court-martial of two Marines accused of murdering a fellow Marine, PFC Willy Santiago. Kaffee attempts to portray the accused as men following orders — a defense he acknowledges was inappropriate for the Nazis at the Nuremberg Trials and for William Calley after the My Lai Massacre, but that he feels applies to his two young low-ranking charges.

The defense tries to establish that the defendants were acting under the direct orders of their commanding officer, Col. Jessep, a powerful and arrogant Marine officer being considered for the position of Director of Operations for the National Security Council. The two Marines claim that they were ordered to give the victim a "Code Red" -- a form of hazing unofficially sanctioned by higher-ranking officers designed to make soldiers pay attention to orders and rules. Kaffee suspects that he was specifically chosen to defend the Marines due to his history of quickly settling cases, which would remove the cloud of suspicion that could potentially mar the Colonel's chances of advancement.

Over the course of the story, Kaffee progresses from a novice lawyer to an experienced Navy attorney. His relationship with Lt. Cmdr. Galloway evolves as well. There is friction between them the instant they meet. They get on each others' nerves. She thinks that he doesn't care about his clients and that he settles cases quickly because he's afraid to actually argue in court. He thinks she is interfering with his handling of the Santiago case. They come to realize that they both want to learn the truth and give their clients a vigorous defense, and they know that they will have to work together to achieve this. Although there are some flirtatious moments between Galloway and Kaffee, they don't become romantically involved. What is more important is that they learn to cooperate and respect each other.

Kaffee is shown to have a high level of common sense and sharpness, which helps him win the case by proving that Jessep ordered a "Code Red" -- in retaliation for the Marine going outside the chain of command as a whistlebower -- by angering Jessup and getting him to confess the truth in anger. Frustrated overall with the proceedings, Jessep is dismissed from the stand and is ready to depart the courtroom until the judge orders him not to. Jessep is charged with crime stemming from the incident and will be brought to trial. He is floored and charges at Kaffee, realizing that he's been taken down from his mantle and his career possibly destroyed. But Jessep is detained and led out of the room an embittered man. The two Marines are found not guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, but guilty of behavior unbefitting of a Marine, and given a dishonorable discharge from the Marines.

On the level of moral philosophy, the drama examines questions of duty, honor, patriotism, justice, and the rule of law.

Famous quotes

Jessep: You want answers?

Kaffee: I think I'm entitled.

Jessep: You want answers?!

Kaffee: I want the truth!

Jessep: You can't handle the truth! 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 to a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. 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 at post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!

Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red?

Jessep: (quietly) I did the job I was sent to do--

Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red?

Jessep: You're goddamn right I did!!

Kaffee: Please the court, I suggest the members be dismissed, so that we can move to an immediate article 39A session. The witness has rights.

Judge: Captain Ross?

Kaffee: Jack?

Ross: head

Judge: The court members will retire to an ante room until further instructed. All Rise!

Jessup: What is this? I did my job, I'd do it again. I'm gonna get in a plane and go back to my base.

Judge: You're not going anywhere, Colonel. MP's, guard the Colonel.

MP: Yes, sir!

Judge: Captain Ross.

Ross: Colonel Jessup, you have the right to remain silent--

Jessup: What is this? I'm being charged with a crime? Is that what this is? This is funny. That's what this is. This is-- towards Kaffee, MP's restrain him I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head, and piss in your dead skull! You fucked with the wrong Marine!

Ross: Colonel Jessup, do you understand these rights as I have just read them to you?

Jessep: You fuckin' 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: 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. The witness is excused.

Lt. Kendrick: "I have two books at my bedside, Lieutenant: the Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the King James Bible. The only proper authorities I am aware of are my commanding officer, Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, and the Lord our God."

Jessep: What do you want to discuss now? My favorite color?

Kaffee: Really gotta hand it to those Federal Marshalls.

Spoofs

In an episode of The Simpsons called "Sideshow Bob Roberts", Bart and Sideshow Bob are in a courtroom and Bart says, "I want the truth!" Sideshow Bob responds, "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth! No truth-handler are you! Bah! I deride your truth-handling abilities!"

In a promo for WrestleMania 21, John Cena played the Lt. Kaffee part and JBL played the Col. Jessup part to promote their match. This was a part of a series of promos the WWE made for WrestleMania 21 (which was held in Los Angeles that year) that were parodies of movies.

A machinima, using the Source Engine, titled "A Few Good G-Men" (^*), portrays the famous scene and quote, as well as showing Source's lip-syncing and emotion display ability.

In the film The Big Hit, Cisco berates Melvin for his relationship troubles, telling him that he doesn't see the women he is involved with for what they truly are. Melvin exclaims that he wants the truth, and Crunch interupts them to shout "You can't handle the truth" in an obvious quote of A Few Good Men. Cisco impatiently tells Crunch to "Shut the fuck up".

In his stand-up show I'm Swiss, comedian Bill Maher referred to the dishonesty in government by spoofing the famous line: "You want the truth? I can't remember the truth!"

In an episode of Spin City the mayor quotes A Few Good Men in the press room.

External links

Gourt Home::Gourt :: A Few Good Men

Plot synopsis

Famous quotes

Spoofs

External links