One of the joys of movies is watching them with friends and discussing them afterward. The 2nd Thursday at the Movies Group (previously known as the 2nd Thursday Flix Fest Group) meets on the second Thursday of each month, offering movies in a comfortable setting with lively discussions.
For November, the featured movie will be “A Few Good Men,” a gripping courtroom drama from 1992. Rob Reiner, both director and producer, skillfully explores the moral and legal boundaries of the Marine Corps code of conduct. The story unfolds when following orders leads to the tragic death of Private William Santiago at the Marine Corps base in Guantanamo Bay during the post-Cold War period.
The opening scenes show Pfc. Santiago being hazed by two unit members as part of a Code Red exercise to instill discipline in him. The rationale behind this action is that weakness could potentially endanger the lives of other platoon members.
Colonel Nathan R. Jessup (Jack Nicholson) orders Lt. Jonathan Kendrick (Keifer Sutherland) to execute the Code Red, instead of granting Santiago a transfer back to the States. Kendrick chooses Lance Corporal Dawson and Private Barnes to perform the hazing in the dead of night, ensuring that no witnesses were present.
Santiago’s unanticipated death prompts Col. Jessup to initiate a cover-up, and simultaneously, Dawson and Barnes are arrested for Santiago’s murder. They are assigned defense counsel from the JAG office, Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise), assisted by Lt. Sam Weinberg (Kevin Pollock) and Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore).
The defense faces a crucial ethical dilemma: accept a plea bargain for two men who blindly followed orders, or defend their innocence by implicating the officers who ordered the Code Red and orchestrated the cover-up. The JAG team must contend with the meticulous work of prosecutor Capt. Jack Ross (Kevin Bacon), who gathered overwhelming evidence to establish the accused’s guilt.
The courtroom confrontation between Tom Cruise (Lt. Kaffee) and Jack Nicholson (Col. Jessup) is considered one of the greatest ever filmed. Kaffee abandons plea bargaining for moral principles when examining Jessup. Jessup believes Santiago’s death ensured Marines’ lives and justified any cover-up. The drama intensifies as Kaffee confronts Jessup, leading to the famous line, “You can’t handle the truth!”
This film is an iconic legal drama, that excels in acting, storytelling, and legal accuracy. Its ethical dilemmas, especially in light of today’s Iran war and Defense Secretary’s policies, remain relevant. The film skillfully combines a tense military thriller with character-driven conflict, exploring truth, morality, duty, and the consequences of blind loyalty. Director Rob Reiner doesn’t miss a beat, getting the most out of his material and actors.
“A Few Good Men” will be screened at the Piedmont Center for the Arts, located at 801 Magnolia Ave., on Thursday, Nov. 12. The doors will open at 12:45 p.m., and the movie is free for anyone aged 18 and above.
Our next movie will be “Waking Ned Devine”, a charming Irish comedy, scheduled for Dec. 10 at 1 p.m.