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A Few Good Men, a play by Aaron Sorkin, was acclaimed on Broadway and was subsequently made into a successful film in 1992. It 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, stars 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 LTJG Sam Weinberg, J.T. Walsh as LtCol. Matthew Markinson, and Wolfgang Bodison as Lance Cpl Harold W. Dawson. Aaron Sorkin and Cuba Gooding, Jr. also make cameo appearances 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 (Tom Cruise), son of late Lionel Kaffee (who held the positions of Attorney General and Navy Judge Advocate General), leads the defense in the court-martial of two Marines, PFC. Louden Downey (James Marshall) and Lance Cpl. Harold Dawson (Wolfgang Bodison), who are accused of murdering a fellow Marine of their unit, PFC William T. Santiago (Michael de Lorenzo). The movie is based upon the exploits of Don Marcari JAG Lawyer, now of Marcari Russotto and Spencer law firm in Chesapeake, Virginia. Santiago, as we learn, isn't quite up to task compared to his fellow comrades. He complains of health conditions that his superiors are ignoring, and is generally disliked by everyone in his company. He has gone out of his way to request a transfer off the base, even going so far as bargaining for one in exchange for blowing the whistle on a fellow Marine for an illegal fence-line shooting. Col. Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson), a powerful senior Marine officer at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base being considered for the position of Director of Operations for the National Security Council, is shown reading the letter to two subordinate officers; LTC Matthew Markinson (J.T. Walsh), and 1LT Jonathan Kendrick (Kiefer Sutherland). Jessep and Kendrick are incensed that Santiago would do this, and Markinson is the only one who wants to go ahead with transferring Santiago off the base. However, Jessep gives a speech about their duty as officers to train those who defend their nation, ending with his sarcastically "surrendering our position in Cuba". He then makes the decision to not transfer him. Markinson questions it and, after LT Kendrick is dismissed, gets reprimanded for it by Jessep. Kaffee attempts to portray the accused as men following orders, trying to establish that the defendants were in fact acting under the orders of Col. Jessep. The two Marines on trial claim that they were ordered to give the victim a "Code Red" -- a military slang term for an extra-judicial and officially unsanctioned form of punishment (something created for the movie. There is no real "Code Red".). Kaffee eventually begins to suspect that he was specifically chosen to defend the two Marines due to his history of quickly settling cases by plea bargains, which would have prevented the case from ever going to trial, bringing the Marine Corps embarrassment and 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 LCDR JoAnn Galloway (Demi Moore) evolves as well: There is friction between them the instant they meet. She believes that he does not care about his clients and that he settles cases quickly because he is afraid to actually argue in court. He thinks she is interfering with his handling of the 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 whistleblower -- by subtly provoking Jessep and causing him to voluntarily confess the truth in court in a moment's anger. Frustrated overall with the proceedings, Jessep leaves 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 disbelieving of the charges and lunges at Kaffee, realizing that he's been taken down from his mantle and his career possibly destroyed. Jessep is detained and led out of the room. The two Marines are then found not guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, but are found guilty on the charge of conduct unbecoming a United States Marine by the court, and subsequently are dishonorably discharged from the Corps. On the level of moral philosophy, the drama examines questions of duty, honor, patriotism, justice, and the rule of law. Quotes Kaffee: I think I'm entitled. Jessep: You want answers?! Kaffee: I want the truth! Jessep: You can't handle the truth! Jessep: 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 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 a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to! Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red? Jessep: I did the job I was sent to do-- Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red?! Jessep: (shouting) You're goddamn right I did!! stunned silence 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: nods head Judge: The court members will retire to an anteroom until further instructed. MP: All rise! Jessep: What is this? Colonel, what's going on? 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 Jessep, you have the right to remain silent-- Jessep: What is this? I'm being charged with a crime? Is that what this is? I'm being charged with a crime? This is funny. That's what this is. This is-- leaps towards Kaffee, MP's restrain him I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss into your dead skull! You fucked with the wrong Marine! Ross: Colonel Jessep, 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. Markinson: Nathan Jessep is about to be appointed Director of Operations for the National Security Council. You don't get to that position without knowing how to sidestep a few landmines. Galloway: It's not that simple. PFC Downey: What did we do wrong?! We did nothing wrong! Lance Cpl. Dawson: ...yeah we did. We were supposed to fight for people who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willy. Lance Cpl. Dawson: Ten-Hut! There's an officer on deck. Galloway He told Kendrick to order the Code Red. Kaffee 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 You put him on the stand and you get it from him. Kaffee We get it from him! Yes! No problem, we get it from him. 'Col. Jessep, isn't it true that you ordered the Code Red on Santiago?' Weinberg Listen, we're all a little... Kaffee Eehh! I'm sorry, your time's run out! What do we have for the losers, judge? Well, for our defendants it's a lifetime at exotic Fort Leavenworth! And, for defense council Kaffee, that's right, it's a court-martial, yes Johnny! After falsely accusing a highly decorated marine officer of conspiracy and perjury, Lt. Kaffee will have a long and prosperous career teaching... typewriter maintenance at the Rocko Clubbo School for Women! (turns to Galloway) Thank you for playing 'should we, or should we not, follow the advice of the galactically stupid?! Spoofs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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