A Few Good Men
Rent & Buy
When cocky military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee and his co-counsel, Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway, are assigned to a murder case, they uncover a hazing ritual that could implicate high-ranking officials such as shady Col. Nathan Jessep.
What critics thought
A polished, star-driven courtroom thriller that audiences loved far more passionately than most critics did. The performances — Nicholson's in particular — and Rob Reiner's tight pacing drew consistent praise, but a recurring complaint was that Aaron Sorkin's screenplay over-explains itself, robbing viewers of the chance to work anything out on their own. The gap between rapturous audience reception and more measured critical opinion is the defining tension around this film.
“an extraordinarily well-made movie, which wastes no words or images in telling a conventional but compelling story”
Richard Schickel·Time
“In many ways this is a good film, with the potential to be even better than that. The flaws are mostly at the screenplay level; the film doesn't make us work, doesn't allow us to figure out things for ourselves, is afraid we'll miss things if they're not spelled out”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“the surprises of Witness for the Prosecution nor does it probe very deeply into the psyche of men who exercise the power of dictators”
The New York Times
“The same histrionic fireworks that gripped theater audiences will prove even more compelling to filmgoers due to the star power and dramatic screw-tightening.”
Todd McCarthy·Variety
Accolades
Genres
Drama, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Rob ReinerDirector
Tom CruiseLt. Daniel Kaffee
Jack NicholsonCol. Nathan R. Jessep
Demi MooreLt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway
Kevin BaconCapt. Jack Ross
Kiefer SutherlandLt. Jonathan Kendrick
Kevin PollakLt. Sam Weinberg
James MarshallPfc. Louden Downey
J.T. WalshLt. Col. Matthew A. Markinson
Christopher GuestDr. Stone
J.A. PrestonJudge Randolph
Matt CravenLt. Dave Spradling
Wolfgang BodisonLance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson
Marc ShaimanComposer
Aaron SorkinWriter
Robert RichardsonCinematographyA Few Good Men
When cocky military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee and his co-counsel, Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway, are assigned to a murder case, they uncover a hazing ritual that could implicate high-ranking officials such as shady Col. Nathan Jessep.
What critics thought
A polished, star-driven courtroom thriller that audiences loved far more passionately than most critics did. The performances — Nicholson's in particular — and Rob Reiner's tight pacing drew consistent praise, but a recurring complaint was that Aaron Sorkin's screenplay over-explains itself, robbing viewers of the chance to work anything out on their own. The gap between rapturous audience reception and more measured critical opinion is the defining tension around this film.
“an extraordinarily well-made movie, which wastes no words or images in telling a conventional but compelling story”
Richard Schickel·Time
“In many ways this is a good film, with the potential to be even better than that. The flaws are mostly at the screenplay level; the film doesn't make us work, doesn't allow us to figure out things for ourselves, is afraid we'll miss things if they're not spelled out”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“the surprises of Witness for the Prosecution nor does it probe very deeply into the psyche of men who exercise the power of dictators”
The New York Times
“The same histrionic fireworks that gripped theater audiences will prove even more compelling to filmgoers due to the star power and dramatic screw-tightening.”
Todd McCarthy·Variety
Accolades
Genres
Drama, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Rob ReinerDirectorTom CruiseLt. Daniel KaffeeJack NicholsonCol. Nathan R. JessepDemi MooreLt. Cdr. JoAnne GallowayKevin BaconCapt. Jack RossKiefer SutherlandLt. Jonathan KendrickKevin PollakLt. Sam WeinbergJames MarshallPfc. Louden DowneyJ.T. WalshLt. Col. Matthew A. MarkinsonChristopher GuestDr. StoneJ.A. PrestonJudge RandolphMatt CravenLt. Dave SpradlingWolfgang BodisonLance Cpl. Harold W. DawsonMarc ShaimanComposerAaron SorkinWriterRobert RichardsonCinematographyRent & Buy