Original Episode: #112 A Few Good Men (released May 4, 2022)
New Episode: #165 A Few Good Men Revisit (released May 31, 2023)
Guest: Christine Duncan
Cast:
Rob Reiner, Director
Aaron Sorkin, Writer
Tom Cruise as Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee
Jack Nicholson as Colonel Nathan R. Jessup
Demi Moore as Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway
Kevin Bacon as Captain Jack Ross
Kiefer Sutherland as First Lieutenant Jonathan James Kendrick
Kevin Pollak as Lieutenant Sam Weinberg
Wolfgang Bodison as Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson
James Marshall as Private First Class Louden Downey
J. T. Walsh as Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Andrew Markinson
J. A. Preston as Judge (Colonel) Julius Alexander Randolph
Michael DeLorenzo as Private First Class William Santiago
Noah Wyle as Corporal Jeffrey Owen Barnes
Cuba Gooding Jr. as Corporal Carl Edward Hammaker
*Recognition:
A Few Good Men opened on December 11, 1992.
It grossed $15,517,468 in its opening weekend, and was the number-one film at the box office for the next three weeks. Overall, it grossed $141 million in the U.S. and $101.9 million internationally for a total of $243 million.
The film was nominated for Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Nicholson), Film Editing, and Sound Mixing. It lost the first three to Unforgiven.
It has been recognized by the American Film Institute on the following lists:
A Few Good Men currently holds an 84% rating on RT, a 62% rating on Metacritic, and a 3.9/5 on Letterboxd.
Plot Summary: "A Few Good Men" is a riveting legal thriller that delves into the depths of military justice and the clash between honor and truth. Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise), a talented but complacent lawyer, finds himself assigned to defend two Marines charged with murder. As he uncovers a web of secrecy and cover-ups, Kaffee must confront the formidable Colonel Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson), a commanding officer determined to protect his authority at any cost. With compelling performances and sharp dialogue, director Rob Reiner crafts a gripping courtroom drama that examines the price of integrity in the face of overwhelming power.
The Stanley Rubric:
Original Legacy Score: 9.5
New Legacy Score: 9.5
Original Impact/Significance Score: 9
New Impact/Significance Score: 8.5
Original Novelty Score: 8.75
New Novelty Score: 7
Original Classicness Score: 9.25
New Classicness Score: 9.25
Original Rewatchability Score: 8.75
New Rewatchability Score: 9.5
Original Audience Score: 8.95 (90% Google, 89% RT)
New Audience Score: 8.65 (84% Google, 89% RT)
Original Total Score: 54.2
New Total Score: 52.4
In Memorium:
Tina Turner, 83, American Hall of Fame musician ("Proud Mary", "What's Love Gotta Do With It") 180 million albums sold worldwide, 12 Grammy Awards
Ray Stevenson, 58, Northern Irish actor (Rome, Thor, Punisher: War Zone, RRR, Ahsoka).
Marlene Clark, 73, American actor and model (Sanford and Son, Slaughter, The Beast Must Die).
Jim Brown, 87, American Hall of Fame football player (Cleveland Browns), actor (The Dirty Dozen, Mars Attacks!), and civil rights activist.
Remaining Questions:
At what point do you think Kaffee realizes he has Jessup in a logical trap?