A Few Good Men | Reaction | First Time Watching

[@davidspellman2566]

As a veteran, I must say that you may not be seeing several things: While it's true that people in the military are obligated to only follow lawful orders (Which is why the two privates are Dishonorably discgarged), it's also true that giving unlawful orders is a much more serious offense. Colonel Jessop ordered the Code Red, which resulted in the death of a U.S. Marine. Therefore, it's his responsibility. It's a REALLY big deal and, since the two privates got off relatively lightly, it's the officers, and specifically Jack Nicholson's Col Jessop that will pay the heaviest price--by far. Jessop is also guilty of perjury because he testified that he was transferring Santiago off the island before admitting that he ordered the Code Red. He is also guilty of Conspiracy because he directed the cover up. (In the last scene, Kevin Bacon's character says that he is going to arrest Keifer Sutherland's character.) And there are numerous other charges, like Conduct Unbecoming an Officer. For Dawson and the other private I think it was better to go through the trial, even though the outcome came out basically the same, because those corrupt officers were willing to throw them and any other U.S. soldier under the bus to save their own asses. (Remember, they were originally looking at anywhere from 12 years to life in prison! The only reason they were offered 6 months is that the military brass was getting nervous about the uncovered skeletons.) They ALL needed to be in Leavenworth. Also, JAG stands for Judge Advocate General, and they represent the US military. I knew several great JAG officers when I was in the army. As usual, GREAT reaction to an All Time GREAT Classic!!!

[@CharlieRogers50]

Well put David. I've watched this movie many, many times as it's one of my wife's favorites, and as a civilian I never quite understood the laws Jessop was breaking...until now. Thank you for your insight.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

good to hear thanks

[@anthonyzarate9807]

I agree with all those charges, however, Jessup most likely will make a deal and have a lot of the charges dropped and get a much lighter sentence than he deserves. I actually belive because of all his years of service, and commendations, and medals, he will not even have to serve any jail time. I do think it is possible that Kendrick is the one who will fall on the sword for this. This is my opinion, but of course there are many possible outcomes. P.S. I've seen a military lawyer, marines, officers, and other military react to this movie. Most of them said they thought Jessup would most likely get a "slap on the wrist".

[@davidspellman2566]

Hard to tell about the plea bargain, and no doubt Jessupp's service record helps him. Still, a Marine died. It would have one thing if he wouldn't have blatantly covered it up, doctored the flight logs, conspired to set up someone else, but he did all those things. I would be surprised if he didn't do any time, but it could surely be at a minimum security prison. As a matter of fact, Leavenworth has both a Maximum AND Minimum security prison.

[@anthonyzarate9807]

@@davidspellman2566 That makes sense too. I think they will go after Kendrick hard and give Jessup some type of break. Someone has to bite the bullet. While today they would try and go after the top dog, 30 years ago they were able to get away with a lot more.

[@Foutainoflife1]

This is a great courtroom drama. You should watch 12 Angry Men (1957). The description reads: "Following the closing arguments in a murder trial, the 12 members of the jury must deliberate, with a guilty verdict meaning death for the accused, an inner-city teen. As the dozen men try to reach a unanimous decision while sequestered in a room, one juror casts considerable doubt on elements of the case. Personal issues soon rise to the surface, and conflict threatens to derail the delicate process that will decide one boy's fate." It is such a good movie.

[@ryanbryce2752]

12 Angry Men is a classic

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Added to my list, thanks for the suggestion.

[@mimig3904]

@@AwesomeUSMovies It stars Henry Fonda, one of the finest actors (& father to Jane Fonda).

[@EricAKATheBelgianGuy]

12 Angry Men is one of the best films of all time, in my opinion. I directed a stage version of it, although I did it as 12 Angry Jurors.

[@mugwump242]

I agree. The 1957 "Twelve Angry Men" is one of my all-time faves. Magnificent filmmaking on a technical level, gripping acting, everything. Just make sure you don't unintentionally screen the 1997 version for your KZbin channel. It's a star-studded cast (otherwise good actors) but, somehow, the '97 movie still came out seeming stilted and kinda like an "empty suit" compared to the original. I don't know why. It's not just me, though. I've heard tons of people say the same thing.

[@cincinnatus230]

Aaron Sorkin is the writer for the film, and a very well known one in Hollywood. He probably showed up so high on your casting list not because of the importance of his small cameo role, but because of his overall contribution to the film and reputation in the industry. Unrelated note: this is one of my top 5 favorite films of all time. 🙂

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Really good courtroom drama!

[@BDogg2023]

Aaron Sorkin has a very long list of great movie and TV credits, writing, directing, and producing, and most are not just worth watching, but are also astute social and political commentaries. Charlie Wilson’s War is a true story starring Tom Hanks that’s as relevant today as the story it was told about 40 years ago. He was responsible for the TV series The West Wing and The Newsroom, as well as the movies The Social Network and Steve Jobs. The American President is a 90s classic rom com. Moneyball is a great sports flick starring Brad Pitt, a true story about how the Oakland As try to put together a championship winning team with no payroll. Another commenter recently suggested Mollys Game, another true story about a poker madam. You really can’t go wrong with anything by Sorkin.

[@tempsitch5632]

Good writer. Got busted carrying mushrooms on a flight to vegas once.

[@zerpblerd5966]

The West Wing is top-notch and I hate politics/government - it is drama-fantasy

[@CinWin516]

@@BDogg2023 Great recommendations! Charlie Wilson's War, The American President and The West Wing are among my favorites!

[@sedawk]

The crime against the Colonel was that he ordered the code red that result in a death; therefore, he has accountability for that death. Also, because of his admission, all the tampering he did (tower logs, lying, etc.) immediately becomes self evident. Hence the arrest.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

love it thanks

[@tomyoung9049]

also probably conduct unbecoming an officer.

[@AutoPilate]

He also committed perjury, if I’m not terribly mistaken. As did Kendrick.

[@tkfaf15]

Very good breakdown of the crimes Jessup committed.

[@zerpblerd5966]

@@AutoPilate yep

[@centuryrox]

James, about the steak knives: When Kaffee first met with Jo at the beginning, Sam explained to her that Kaffee settled 44 cases out of court, to which Kaffee jokingly said "One more and I get a free set of steak knives". Hope that clears it up!

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Oh I missed that part. Sometimes I wish I could just shut up and watch the whole move in silence.

[@MoMoMyPup10]

@@AwesomeUSMovies I'm sure it's a tough line to toe, wanting to input some thoughts and not wanting to step on movie lines. Maybe on dramas it would be helpful if your input is short and to the point? Action movies it hardly makes a difference.

[@KrissyFace]

I’ve watched the movie 20+ times and missed that myself!

[@centuryrox]

@@KrissyFace LOL that's ok. I watched Back to the Future Part 2 numerous times before I realized that Marty's daughter was actually Michael J Fox in drag! I slapped myself in the head for being such a idiot for so long! LOL

[@Sandra-wj4on]

@@AwesomeUSMovies Some reviewers actually stop their video if they feel they have something important to say, then restart once done. Maybe that could be an option?

[@ronluk76]

"You can't handle the truth!" One of the most quoted movie quotes of all time!

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

First time I've heard it

[@pamelahofman1785]

@@AwesomeUSMovies You may have heard it but never noticed because it went over your head. It didn't ring any bells. Now, you'll hear it and get the reference.

[@CinWin516]

@@AwesomeUSMovies And this is what we love about being part of your film-watching journey. 🙂❤

[@dlweiss]

The crime the Colonel is being arrested for is probably assault (or conspiracy to commit assault) and/or manslaughter. Because his confession established that the soldiers wouldn’t have beaten/killed the victim without direct orders from him. So he’s legally culpable.

[@russellward4624]

And lying under oath.

[@Aegolius]

Giving an illegal order that results in the death of a marine, as well as perjury. Both of them 'of course' were arrested.

[@philthemovieguy81]

That and he doctored information and papers to make it fit a different narrative he wanted people to see. So I’m sure that was a legal no-no as well.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Thank you so much for this. It's been bugging me

[@russellward4624]

@@philthemovieguy81 that they would have to prove. At that point it was just an accusation. They had no evidence to prove it.

[@mcfmcf4038]

You should watch "Ghost". Patrick Swayze Demi Moore Whoopi Goldberg It was a huge movie, too. Very iconic.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Added to my list, thanks for the suggestion.

[@answ7211]

Awesome, awesome movie

[@jannathompson2262]

@@AwesomeUSMovies I love ❤ GHOST so much! It was huge back in the day. I think you will enjoy it ...and by the way I think you HATED Titanic 😆

[@davidspellman2566]

By the way, another Epic Courtroom Drama is "A Time To Kill", based on the John Grisham novel. Tough to watch but an all star cast and absolutely brilliant 💖

[@answ7211]

Yesss, it's very hard to watch & Keifer Sutherland's in it too.

[@andystewart581]

My dad, was a smart man. In the 60's he said color t.v. was just a fad. That man went from sweeping floors to VP of a medium sized company. And he said color t.v. was a fad. When he passed, early 2000's he had the most up to date tv and all the channels he could get on cable. He was sheepish when he said, "this is what makes me happy". he earned that.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Thanks for that nice story. loved it

[@normie2716]

My dad said shoes were a fad. Pfft... fuckin showed him. Everyone wears shoes!

[@jerome1lm]

According to Wikipedia: "The Marine Corps has been part of the U.S. Department of the Navy since 30 June 1834 with its sister service, the United States Navy." So I think you're right. They are navy but also marines.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

totally didn't know that. That's crazy!

[@jeffburnham6611]

@@AwesomeUSMovies the Marine Corps is not Navy, but have had a connection with each other since 1775 when they served aboard ships to repel boarders. While the USMC is a department within the Navy academically and administratively, they retain their own identity and command structure with the highest ranking officer being a 4-star General officer, the same as the Army and Navy Admiral.

[@shainewhite2781]

Nominated for 4 Oscars including Best Picture but lost to Unforgiven by Clint Eastwood. It made $230 million dollars at the box office, making it the highest grossing courtroom drama ever.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Really good courtroom drama!

[@73jefft]

Speaking of Unforgiven, that would be an amazing reaction!

[@zerpblerd5966]

@@73jefft it's better to know older other westerns first, Unforgiven is like an homage to the death of westerns

[@EricAKATheBelgianGuy]

@@zerpblerd5966 Good point. I love Unforgiven, and admittedly haven't seen that many Westerns, but from what I have seen, it's definitely one to do later on.

[@michaeleberly7351]

The single ribbon is called the National Defense Ribbon, It is awarded to all military members who are serving in a time of war. I got it twice once for the Gulf War and the second was for the War on Terror. In this case the two LTJGs are wearing the ribbon because of the Gulf War.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Good stuff, thanks for your service!

[@lisaberry862]

Hey there, my friend! I'm Lisa, and I've just started watching your reactions. I've loved all of them, and yes, I've subscribed! For someone who doesn't know a lot about movies you've watched several of my favorites! If you want to watch an AWESOME courtroom drama, watch the movie Primal Fear, starring Richard Gere and Edward Norton. This was Edward Norton's first movie role, and his acting is just amazing! And in terms of points or credits to give movies, have you ever thought about a movie camera or a clapboard? 📽️🎬 Those might be cute. Anyway, you keep reacting and I'll keep watching! Take care, my friend! You are awesome! Lisa

[@jeffburnham6611]

As a veteran of the Marine Corps, I can assure you there is no such thing as a charge of Conduct Unbecoming for enlisted personnel. It's also a bit of a mystery why the JAG Corps would be investigating and not the NIS (Naval Investigative Service). They only investigated the illegal firing of a weapon over the fence line.

[@paulmurphy773]

the NIS did investigate, one their Special Agents was a witness in the court marshal... also of note the movie is based on a actual court marshal that took place at Gitmo with 12 defendants not 2 as the movie had.

[@SeminalDruid]

There’s a really good but dark movie where Kevin Bacon is even more outside expectations. Called ‘Sleepers’

[@renettdavidson]

OR Stir of Echoes

[@jasonmalone9833]

@@renettdavidson you beat me to it lol

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Added to my list, thanks for the suggestion.

[@jasonmalone9833]

@@renettdavidson Kevin Bacon isn't the main character but Mystic River too

[@jaxonsjerseys]

​@@renettdavidson stir of echoes is fantastic! saw it at cinema and several times since

[@jimparker1962]

JAG was one of my favorite TV shows. It showed Navel and Marine lawyers, in the same office, prosecuting and defending sailors and marines. A really good show. Did I hear you right? Did you say that the marines deserved the dishonorable discharge, but Jessep didn't? How can an enlisted man be more guilty for carrying out an order than the officer who gave it? 1. Jessep ordered a Code Red -- that's illegal. 2. This minor crime resulted in a marine losing his life -- crime elevated to major crime. 3. Jessep conspired with his officers to cover-up his crime -- that's an additional major crime. 4. Jessep apparently ordered his officers to perjure themselves -- serious crime subject to proof. 5. Jessep perjured himself on the stand -- serious crime. 6. Jessep deliberately left two innocent marines out to dry -- this has to be against UCMJ, someway. I think Jessep's arrest was justified. However, I'm not so sure about the marines' conviction. I don't know what-all disorderly conduct entails, if there are degrees of disorderly. I do believe that punishing a subordinate for not saying, "No!", to a superior ought to be a very high bar for the prosecution to get over. I don't think they did.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

No, Jessep deserves way worse. I'm just worried he won't get anything but a slap on the wrist based on his rank.

[@highstimulation2497]

Yep. There doesn't seem to be justice in the world.

[@adamcohen9518]

Love watching your reactions. For someone who didn't watch many movies growing up you're great at watching them (focusing on them, understanding them, and appreciating them) compared to many other people.

[@meredith2588]

Twelve Angry Men would be a good courtroom drama to react to, although it really takes place in the jury room. It was made in 1957. Henry Fonda is the star. Another one is Runaway Jury, but since you're a big reader, you've probably already read the Grisham novel it is based on. Stars John Cusack, Rachel Weisz, Dustin Hoffman, and Gene Hackman. ⚖

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Added

[@gregall2178]

@@AwesomeUSMovies If you're adding Grisham, The Rainmaker is very good, also... in my opinion ;-)

[@laudanum669]

Kevin Pollak (Sam Weinberg) is such an underrated actor. He has been in almost 100 movies and always is at the top of his game.

[@zerpblerd5966]

agree, I always love seeing him, shout-outs for: Willow The Whole Nine Yards

[@docbearmb]

And has been a great stand up comedian

[@riada4996]

39:19 The line by Nicholson "You cant handle the truth" is an iconic line.

[@A23457]

“You can’t handle the truth” is one of the most famous quotes in movie history

[@jsharp3165]

Unfortunately, it's been appropriated by people who believe Jessup is the hero of the story.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Never heard it till this video

[@zerpblerd5966]

@@jsharp3165 ohgoodness that makes me ill to think of like people who say that Full Metal Jacket 'explains the need for things to be that way' rather than exposing how horrible it is

[@RoGueNavy]

The single ribbon that Cruise's character is wearing, is the National Defense Medal. At one point, you had to serve during wartime, in order to receive it. Just after Desert Storm, it started being issued to everybody.

[@jerome1lm]

The Colonel did a couple of things. Not only did he give an illegal order that led to the death of one of his soldiers but he also conspired, tempered with evidence and lied under oath among other things. One of the many problems with commiting crimes is that it is oftentimes very difficult to only commit one. People usually have to commit a bunch of secondary offenses to get it done or cover it up. He is probably in trouble.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

great to hear it thanks, I thought he may still get away with it

[@TeslaRangerNY]

The single military ribbon worn by Lieutenant (jg) Daniel Kaffee [Tom Cruise] is the National Defense Service Medal, which is awarded to any member of the United States military who served honorably during a designated time period of which a "national emergency" had been declared. The movie takes place during the time period August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995 for service during the Gulf War.

[@DragonIsNotASlave]

Aaron Sorkin is one of the best and most sought after writers in Hollywood. He wrote the TV Show “The West Wing” which is a fantastic, highly intelligent show about the President of the United States and his day to day work with his staff. He’s known for writing great drama, but also intelligent, witty comedy.

[@kaypirinha1982]

In one of the first J.A.G(the tv series) episodes, the admiral said to Harm (the main character) who is a Tomcat naval aviator who became a military attorney. "Your career is like a mix of Top Gun and a few good men" maybe not exactly in this words (watched it in german)

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

that's funny

[@CDRhammond]

The actor that played that RADM in JAG was also in this movie. He plays the Captain at the start of the movie that says "please leave the room so we can talk about you behind your back"

[@bobdroll6381]

"Born on the Fourth of July" is another great Tom Cruise film, perhaps his best. Check it out...if you haven't already.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Added to my list, thanks for the suggestion.

[@laudanum669]

An old friend of mine was Ron Kovic's assistant/aide for a while in the 90's.

[@CDRhammond]

His best by far has been TOPGUN Mavrick

[@bobdroll6381]

@@laudanum669 Oh, cool!

[@sparky6086]

Colonel Jesup just committed perjury. Murder trial or not, that was a huge offense, especially for an officer.

[@ryant3600]

The single Ribbon that he's wearing is a National Defense ribbon, we called it the Geedunk ribbon. Geedunk is Navy slang for junk or junk food from a vending machine, it's a ribbon that you get just for graduating from boot camp or Officer Candidate school.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Oh man, and all I have is a participation trophy :-(

[@ryant3600]

@@AwesomeUSMovies thats' pretty much all it is ha

[@anthonyzarate9807]

This is in my top 10 all-time movies (possibly even top 5). I have watched it dozens of times, and will watch keep watching at least once year in the future (and all reaction videos on KZbin). It is the same with Silence of the Lambs, Goodfellas, The Breakfast Club, True Romance, Reservoir Dogs, Seven, Pulp Fiction, and Exorcist, and The Thing (1982) Some personal favorites I feel are underrated that I love to watch are Back to the Future, Something About Mary, Memento, Blair Witch (original), ET, Enter the Dragon (Bruce Lee), Signs, Falling Down, Tombstone, and Taxi Driver. I know I left off movies like Godfather, Saving Private Ryan, Forest Gump, Schindler's List, Titanic (I think is most overrated, but still a really good movie), Scarface, Rocky, Dark Knight, Shawshank Redemption, etc... They are all great movies, just not the type that I want to watch more than 1x every few years.

[@JoeCool7835]

Kiefer Sutherland is best known as Jack Bauer in the TV show "24", but my favorite performance from him was in the thriller "Phone Booth" which also stars Colin Farrell. Check that out sometime!

[@russellward4624]

The Lost Boys is probably his most enjoyed film.

[@jaysonkelly4830]

Young Guns too

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Added to my list, thanks for the suggestion.

[@jaxonsjerseys]

love Phonebooth, it's ridiculously underrated

[@paulmurphy773]

also the son of Donald Sutherland...

[@browniewin4121]

I think this is an excellent, iconic drama with a great cast. It was written by Aaron Sorkin. Some excellent legal dramas: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962); The Accused (1998): Philadelphia (1993); The Rainmaker (1997); Erin Brockovich (2000); Just Mercy (2019); Bombshell (2019).

[@Shazzadut1]

Jack Nicholson was paid $5 million for 10 days work on this film. The courtroom scene was worth every cent. When they were filming the courtroom scene, Jack Nicholson was on set even though they were not filming his part. He was there while they were filming Tom Cruises scenes. They usually film 3 times with different angles. Jack was off screen running his lines for Tom so her would have someone to play off. But when he was doing it he was running his lines with the same intensity over and over as the take they used in the film. The director, Rob Reiner took Jack aside and suggested he might want to back off and save some energy for the filming of Jacks scenes. Jack said ‘I’m sorry Rob, I can’t. I just love to act! ‘

[@superfark5914]

One of my favorite scenes in any movie is in this. When Tom is drunk..so powerful

[@porgyt7177]

A Few Good Men is actually a stage play, which was on Broadway (1989-1991). - "Borrowed" Directly from Wiki : " The play is based on events that took place at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in July 1986, though various details were changed for dramatic purposes. Members of Rifle Security Company, Windward Side, 2nd Platoon believed that one of their number, Pfc. William Alvarado, was a malingerer and had informed about a Marine firing across the border into Cuba. In a retaliatory hazing (called a "Code Red"), ten Marines seized Alvarado, blindfolded him, stuffed a rag in his mouth, beat him, and shaved his head. Alvarado was seriously injured, but did not die. Of the ten Marines, seven accepted other than honorable discharges as part of a plea bargain, but three, including David Cox, refused to accept the plea bargain and went to court. Cox was defended by Don Marcari. Cox was found not guilty of aggravated battery but guilty of the misdemeanor charge of simple assault. He was sentenced to time already served in the brig and returned to active duty. Cox was HONORABLY discharged from the Marines in 1989. When he saw the film version of A Few Good Men, he was upset at the liberties taken with the event, most notably that the Marines in the case were dishonorably discharged, and considered suing the filmmakers. Cox disappeared in 1994. He was found murdered, along a riverbank near Medfield, Massachusetts." -YIKES!

[@ZillaMesh]

This is such a phenomenal movie. I've seen it 10+ times & it still never gets old.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Fantastic courtroom drama

[@paulmurphy773]

Kevin Bacons charchter was part of JAG...as were all the lawyers here.... the Marine Corps is part of the Dept. of the Navy...there are both marine and navy staff judge advocates in JAG... the first Judge Advocate General of the Navy was a marine colonel..

[@OldLadyReacts]

Now that you know Kiefer Sutherland, you should watch Lost Boys for Halloween!

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

I guess I do know him. He's from Stand by me.

[@no_rubbernecking]

I saw a UCMJ lawyer's reaction to this where he addressed the use of Navy JAGs for a Marine Corps incident. He said the Navy had jurisdiction because Guantánamo is a naval base at which the Marines are stationed. So in a sense they are guests of the Navy.

[@filipohman7277]

Awesome Work Bro, Thanks 👍👍 Greetings from Helsinki, Finland 🇫🇮🇺🇸🇫🇮🇺🇸🇫🇮🇺🇸

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Thank you

[@eriksmith2514]

Aaron Sorkin ("the man at the bar") wrote the play and the screenplay.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Interesting

[@jackiee13]

This movie inspired me to go into a military program called Young Marines when I was younger. I had the best time going through “boot camp” and wearing a uniform and learning marine corps knowledge. I’m still thinking of enlisting!

[@princeoftonga]

I've always thought they could've still proved the earlier flight existed. Pilot logbooks are filled-out by the crew and are their own record of flights or missions they've flown and contribute to things like pay increases and promotion. So no pilot would EVER allow a flight they piloted to be scrubbed from their logbook. Also aircraft maintenance is scheduled by how many hours that aircraft has flown. NO maintenance chief would allow ANYONE to falsify an aircraft log!

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

man, plot hole Yeah!

[@princeoftonga]

@@AwesomeUSMovies slight plot hole but still a great movie! I enjoy your reactions good stuff.

[@sparky6086]

You should know, that Marines by another name is Naval Infantry. It's not often pointed out in pop culture, but the US Marine Corps is part of the US Navy. Their basic training (boot camp) is separate from the rest of the Navy, but otherwise they are Navy. Look at their military ID cards and they say, "Department of the Navy".

[@acecombatter6620]

Aaron Sorkin is also the AUTHOR of the movie. He is a very highly regarded screen writer and has the clout to get the cameo and credit.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Oh funny.. I just figured he was the guy in the bar.

[@acecombatter6620]

@@AwesomeUSMovies He also created and wrote the TV show The West Wing which is available on HBOMax...

[@leeannmcdermott8313]

“Jack Nichol…something?” 🤣🤣🤣 you kill me! How do you forget that face after “The Shining”!

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

OMG, that is where I know him from!

[@leeannmcdermott8313]

@@AwesomeUSMovies 🤣🤣🤣

[@nrgmanifest]

"Heeey, I'm an Iowa farmboy!" 🤣🤣💀

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Yeah I am!

[@walkerst8785]

You have seen Kiefer Sutherland. He was in "Stand by me". He was Ace, the older blonde guy that played mailbox baseball with his friends.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

You're totally right. I suck at remembering who was in what

[@walkerst8785]

@@AwesomeUSMovies Everyone has his/her talents. I can remember faces and names pretty good, but I would never be a good farmer.

[@jillfromatlanta427]

The judge in the trial....he doesn't put up with any of Jessup's attitude. Love his line " You may address me as Judge or Your Honor. I'm quite sure I'VE earned it." (Not shown in you edited reaction.) Bodison - who was the older of the two defendants - was on Rob Reiner's regular crew as a location scout. They were having difficulty finding an actor for that part, so Rob asked him to audition. The next thing he knew, he was shouting at Tom Cruise on camera!!!

[@CDRhammond]

A Colonel in the USMC/USAF/USA/USSF is equivalent to a USN/USCG Captain. Both are at the pay grade O6 and both wear the silver eagle insignia. The rank is 1 below from the first Admiral/General rank which starts at O7 and ends at O10 with the 4 star Admiral/General rank. I got out of the Navy at the same rank of Lt Col Markingson at O5 wearing Silver Oakleaves.

[@MissTeeFy]

I'm seriously shocked at how many of the really famous actors you've never heard of! Also Aaron Sorkin is a very famous screen writer.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

I have lots to learn! LOL

[@bishop420able]

That one red ribbon on TCs uniform is awarded in bootcamp.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

really? and he still has it?

[@MrsMills-jt1ry]

Keifer Sutherland was in many movies. You'll know him from "Stand By Me "

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Yeah, I did see him in that!

[@zerpblerd5966]

Dark City shout-out

[@xcellent-records]

This movie had an all star cast (some people with small parts in this movie went on to become famous stars). Tom Cruise [Top Gun] and Kevin Bacon [Footloose] (you know them) have a long list of famous movies. You will see them again. Jack Nicholson is an icon and you will see him again [You reacted to him in The Shining]. Demi Moore is very famous and you will see her again (side note... Demi Moore was married to Bruce Willis in 1987 - 2000 and had three daughters together). Kiefer Sutherland is a famous actor, you will see him again (he was in Stand By Me as the leader of the older kids that Gordie threatens to shoot at the end of the movie). The soldier who drove the jeep and was asked where the mess hall was located in the manual... went on to star in the tv series ER. The black soldier questioned on the stand is Cuba Gooding Jr who won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (in another Tom Cruise movie)., You will see him again. A Few Good Men was directed by Rob Reiner (you reacted to other movies he has directed... Stand By Me, Misery, The Princess Bride and you are likely to react to a few more movies that he has directed).

[@2dashville]

Kiefer Sutherlands father is Donald Sutherland.

[@josephkiser8889]

The 1 ribbon on Tom's uniform is the national defense ribbon....pretty much a gimme for everyone

[@lennonmatthew08]

Only during wartime

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

I want one!

[@lynnie6633]

One of the greatest courtroom dramas ever made.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

agreed

[@bjgandalf69]

If you like this movie, you should consider watching the late 90s CBS TV network naval court drama, J.A.G., which happens to be the show that N.C.I.S. was spun off of. Also, the actor who played the officer that told Demi Moore that she couldn't be assigned to the case in this film stars in that series.

[@couch.patati-patata]

You've read John Grisham novels? The Client and The Firm were made into popular movies. Tom Cruise is in The Firm. Demi Moore acts in The Juror, another courtroom drama based on a book by George Dawes Green.. Demi Moore was very good in Ghost. That has Patrick Swayze, the star from Dirty Dancing.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Yeah I've read all those and the rainmaker too. The boys said the movies are basically the books based on my descriptions.

[@TakatofanAgain]

I had never seen this movie but I went and watched it before I watched your review. There was more humor than I thought there'd be.

[@sometimesitsjustmagic]

I didn’t grow up in a military family but definitely had some relatives that would definitely be able to speak to the accuracy of this film. But the acting is still undeniably good regardless

[@CDRhammond]

The ribbon worn by Tom Cruises character is the National defense service ribbon. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defense_Service_Medal during the past 20 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan everyone in the Navy from the most senior of Admirals all the way down to the just joined Seaman Recruit got this medal/ribbon. It was the first one I earned when I went in.

[@KayBeeLPKarsten]

Kiefer Sutherland is one really awesome actor. Love his stuff!

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

I remember him from Stand by me now.

[@KayBeeLPKarsten]

@@AwesomeUSMovies He‘s mostly in great shows and tends to play government people (24, Designated Survivor) - which is kinda funny given he‘s Canadian. A Canadian playing the POTUS. xD Movie recommendation with him if you enjoy the topic of aviation: Ground Control (1999). I bawl everytime at the end. xD

[@jannathompson2262]

I'm not a fan of Kiefer Sutherland but there's a movie with him and Reece Witherspoon back in the 90's where he was a serial killer. It's great👍

[@shallowgal462]

I hope you will enjoy Primal Fear (1996)! Probably, . . . And Justice for All (1979). Both are very compelling, award-winning courtroom dramas. Kendrick would've been charged for the illegal order to give a Code Red and for perjury, as well as probably conduct unbecoming an officer. Jessup would most likely have faced the same charges. In both cases, they may have also been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, at worst, and involuntary manslaughter at least. Also, the Commandant of the Marine Corps reports to the Secretary of the Navy. Both the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps and the Marine Judge Advocates are commissioned officers of their respective services, and attorneys. STEAK KNIVES-- Galloway: Lieutenant, how long have you been in the Navy? Kaffee: Going on nine months now. Galloway: And how long have you been out of law school? Kaffee: A little over a year. Galloway: I see. Kaffee: Have I done something wrong? Galloway: No, it's just that when I petitioned Division to have counsel assigned, I was hoping to be taken seriously. Kaffee: No offense taken, in case you were wondering. Weinberg: Commander, Lieutenant Kaffee is generally considered the best litigator in our office. He's successfully plea-bargained forty-four cases in nine months. Kaffee: One more and I get a set of steak knives.

[@gregall2178]

While he's only in one scene in this, Cuba Gooding, Jr appears with Tom Cruise again in Jerry Maguire... I think you'd enjoy it.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Added

[@GeoffTrowbridge]

As others have mentioned, Aaron Sorkin was the writer, and he is well known for a lot of great political dramas, including the TV series "The West Wing". He originally wrote "A Few Good Men" as a stage play (which, incidentally, I have performed in) and then he did his own film adaptation of the story. TBH, I think the film is superior to the stage play, as he found new ways to amp up the drama and fix some minor plot holes.

[@solbringer2483]

I forget the name of it, but the single medal on Kaffe’s uniform was for being in the armed forces during a time of war. Since the Iraqi War was technically still going on, he would have automatically got one. I was in the military at the same time, and the PX would have a pile of the medals by the register you just picked up for free.

[@ryanaromero]

The dialogue in this film is top notch!

[@fritzkaraldo8452]

Writing these days got more and more lost

[@scottsayre9830]

You also saw the guy who played the Dr. In The Princess Bride, he was the six fingered man, Christopher Guest

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

What??? no way!

[@TheInfo45]

I'm really enjoying watching your first time reaction to all these classic films. I've been watching movies all of my life it is been a love and pastime of my family. When Colonel jessup is being arrested for ordering the code red which is an illegal act in military standing which led to Santiago's death his shock and amazement is even more so than Tom Cruise's character who got him to say it. Continue on with your movie journey I will be happy to go along for the ride

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Thank you so much for watching. I have a huge playlist of birth drama and comedy reactions. You should check it out

[@tomchesley2604]

Director Rob Reiner (meathead from "All In The Family") also directed "The Princess Bride". the doctor in this (Christopher Guest) was the six fingered man in the other. If you don't have "This Is Spinal Tap" on the list....get it on there.

[@rtwbikerider]

Christopher Guest, the doctor in this movie, is a main character in “This is Spinal Tap “. You will not recognize him. You will enjoy his performance in “Spinal Tap”. Enjoy.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Actually a friend of mine just did it. you should check out his channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/imKwiGdsqKpmqMk

[@LordVolkov]

Surprised you didn't recognize Kiefer Sutherland from Stand By Me. For something you will certainly recognize him in - The Lost Boys (1987). Perfect for spooky season.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

I should have

[@pleutron]

You'd like Kevin Bacon in action/comedy "creature feature" called "Tremors". You'd enjoy Jack Nicholson in so many things, but also the comedy/drama movie "As Good As It Gets". You'd like Tom Cruise in another legal drama called "The Firm"... and you might have read the book before. You might enjoy a young Kiefer Sutherland in the vampire movie "The Lost Boys".

[@barowt]

A few of these scenes had me wondering if they were still acting, or really mad.. A must watch for sure for those who haven't watched it yet.

[@mvasqu762]

Love watching movies with you man. You've got a great take on a lot of them. Happy Gilmore was the best one yet😂😂

[@torinojohnson4218]

What an all star studded cast of fantastic characters. Aaron Sorkin is a writer/director who was responsible for the tv The West Wing.

[@AutoPilate]

You’ve often mentioned the fact that you’re a bookworm, which is awesome (I am too 👍🏽). Have you ever read John Grisham? Because Tom Cruise again plays a lawyer in an awesome adaptation of one of his books, The Firm (1993). Also, the witness for the prosecution Dr. Stone was played by the same actor who played the six-fingered man in The Princess Bride.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Yes I've read most of his actually

[@davemurray1684]

Greetings. I served in the Navy for 23 years primarily aboard ships. Col. Jessup could be charged IAW UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) General Article 134 that criminalizes all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces and all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces. There is a excellent movie starring Kevin Bacon titled "Taking Chance" that makes you forget he is not a Marine. You will like it very much as I did. I subscribed to your channel a few days ago and I am liking more and more of what you do. Thank you.

[@ajchad4174]

There's another great KZbin channel called "Legal Eagle." He's a lawyer who breaks down legal movies for accuracy. He's done this with a JAG officer. It's definitely worth watching to get some of the finer details of the legal aspects. He also does My Cousin Vinny too (which is the first video of yours I watched and IMMEDIATELY got hooked on this channel).

[@PatrickStewart316]

Brother. Great reaction. As usual. I won’t inundate you with a wall of text explaining the Colonel’s crime. You have some great comments that you’ve read that cover this. But to simplify, imagine you ordered people at your work place to beat another man which resulted in that persons death. You’re definitely on the hook. 🤷‍♂️

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

I mostly agree with you, I'm just very concerned based on his rank that he's basically just going to get a slap on the wrist.

[@woodedlane]

Such a good movie. Nicholson was nominated. I love anything with Kevin Bacon. Enjoy watching movies with you. You're a farm boy from Iowa? I'm a farm girl from Ohio. lol

[@aligaines8476]

There are judge advocates in every branch. Demi Moore is known for a few movies, maybe the most popular, Ghost with Patrick Swayze (RIP).

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Added to my list, thanks for the suggestion.

[@highfive7405]

loved your reaction (subscribing) and definitely loved reading the comments under your post, lots of clarification and explanations on certain matters that I also had questions about when I first watched it.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Thanks for subbing!

[@rodneyarndt163]

There seems to be a little confusion about the Navy and the Marines. Below is from an article that explains a little why the Marine Corp falls under the Department of the Navy. If you ever visit a Navy base you will usually see Marines all over the place. As a former sailor most of us had very little training with rifles or side arms. Our duties fell more into ship weapons like missiles, rockets, large support guns for shelling ground assaults. A lot of training into the ships operations like navigation, mechanical ops, weapons ops, propulsion ops, maintenance, etc. The Marines handled the ground assaults. Until 1834, the Marines were an independent service. President Andrew Jackson wanted to make the Corps part of the Army. However, the Marine Corps commandant at the time, Archibald Henderson, had proven that Marines were important in landing party operations, not just ship-to-ship battles, so Congress decided to put the Navy and Marine Corps into one department, forever linking these two "sister services."

[@TomCat777]

The guy who plays Weinberg does an awesome Captain Kirk impersonation

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Oh nice

[@nooneofconsequence1251]

As John Slay pointed out, Sorkin is not known for being an actor. He is one of the most well-known and highly regarded writers working in Hollywood, though. He wrote A Few Good Men as an off-Broadway play, originally, and then it was adapted into a movie which made his career in Hollywood. He's known mostly for his extremely tight, fluid, rapid-fire, and very witty dialogue. If you liked the script of this movie and want to check out more... some other great Sorkin-scripted movies include: Charlie Wilson's War (about a US senator who secured funding for the Mujahadeen fighting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; starring Tom Hanks) The Social Network (about the creation of Facebook; about 10x more fascinating than you'd think, but I'm sure a big part of that is Sorkin's script and another part is the amazing soundtrack scored by Nine Inch Nail's Trent Reznor) Moneyball (about some number-crunching nerds who changed the way baseball scouting is done, and perhaps led to the Red Sox's improbable World Series win though that happens off-screen; starring Brad Pitt and also significantly more interesting than the description makes it sound) Steve Jobs (the one starring Michael Fassbender, one of about 5 different biopics about the man, probably the best one) and The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix exclusive) He's also very well known and regarded for his work on television, including most notably The West Wing and Newsroom. Though... I will always cringe so hard when people send around that obnoxious opening scene from Newsroom where the guy from Dumb and Dumber is waxing philosophical about how great the US used to be and how much it currently sucks... so much hokey nostalgic bullshit, a combination of heavily rose-tinted glasses about the past and a bunch of very misleading, sometimes straight-up fabricated, statistics about the present. And they play it as if criticizing the US is a brave or original thing to do... which is also nonsense. One of the worst things Sorkin has ever written but the clip went viral and got sent around Facebook for years. But in general everything he has written has been great. He only started directing the last several years.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Added to my list, thanks for the suggestion.

[@jillfromatlanta427]

At the time it was written, all of the statistics in Jeff Daniels' Newsroom speech were not "fabricated" - they were accurate. It was a brilliant monologue....

[@nooneofconsequence1251]

@@jillfromatlanta427 no they were not. Some were not even close to being accurate. Like, laughably inaccurate. I forget which ones, I think one was infant mortality? The ranking Dumb and Dumber guy cites was closer to where Somalia is than where the US is. Nothing brilliant about it.

[@unclebounce1495]

You bring up a very good point. What's the crime? They'll arrest Jessop but it won't stick He's more likely to get censured for ignoring the directive of the DoD to not do code red (essentially defying an order). In the end, this isn't even accidental manslaughter. It's an act of god - he had a medical condition. The doctor really should be in the biggest trouble for repeatedly passing him even thought repeatedly reporting patient complaints and chronic debilitating symptoms and doing nothing to look further into that. Gagging someone and shaving their head is not even reckless to the point of endangering life. That's like saying someone who gives a person a noogie (knuckle-rubbing their head) who later dies from a brain aneurysm should have foreseen the lethal potential of the noogie. Nonsense. Obstruction of justice/investigation and defying order/directive are his worst crimes. Not much to stick on a decorated colonel. And the whole BS on "following orders is not a defense" is BS and nuremberg f'ed us over with that BS precedent. Enlisted have no authority to defy an order, and they shouldn't. they're ignorant and clueless. Secondly, especially in wartime scenarios, every enlisted has defense for any ordered followed: self defense. When defying an order comes with the risk of physical punishment up to and possibly/likely including death, then self defense should be just cause to follow any order under such a threat. in peace times this is less justified, but still NCO is the first rank which really has any authority to "question" or be entitled to extra information regarding orders, reasons for orders, strategies, tactics, and all the stuff that's kept "need to know," with commissioned officers being given the full authority to question and be appropriately informed. If you know nothing you cannot make informed decisions, which is why enlisted should not be making decisions like that and just follow orders.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

This is my concern. Nothing will happen to him

[@stevenmotchan2048]

I like how you compared this to My Cousin Vinny. I think this movie had many inaccuracies while the silly comedy Cousin Vinny was very accurate in regards to procedures of law.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Good to know thanks

[@MingoWayama]

Aaron Sorkin also wrote the Broadway play, which I was privileged to see. Among his other credits is the critically acclaimed West Wing tv series.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Oh, I know a tiny bit about that show.

[@joydawg]

@@AwesomeUSMovies Aaron Sorkin also wrote The American President (another great movie). West Wing was one of the best shows of all time and came out of The American President. You should check that one out. He wrote two other great shows Sports Night and The Newsroom. Another show was Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, but it didn’t do well.

[@meanmax9663]

The United States Marine Corps does not have its own department within the Department of Defense. There is a Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army and a Department of the Navy etc. for the different branches of the Armed Services. However, the Marine Corps operates under the Department of the Navy and therefore Navy/Marine Corps administration is often shared. That doesn't mean that the Navy & Marine Corps are one, there is a huge presence of sibling rivalry between the two. As a U.S. Marine veteran myself, I sure as hell never referred to myself as a member of the Navy. OOH-RAH Marine Corps! Semper Fidelis!

[@EastPeakSlim]

Recommendation: the Spielberg/Hanks series "Band of Brothers." You cannot find a better miniseries.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Just watching movies on this channel sorry

[@jowbloe3673]

Another good courtroom drama is *Primal Fear* with Richard Gere (another big name actor for you to add to your list) and Edward Norton (The Incredible Hulk) in his first role.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Added

[@yankeesfan3961]

It's amazing how many first time movie reaction channels are now on KZbin. Good luck to you sir.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Thank you very much! I've been doing this for over a year now. Lots of growth ahead!

[@hanssolo8795]

If your interested in other military movies and series.The opening c.o.with the mustache is in the series JAG. That is the precursor to NCIS.Demi Moore is also in a movie called GI Jane.

[@jamesalexander5623]

"Military Justice is to Justice what Military Music is to Music". Georges Clemenceau.

[@cog4life]

He was an accessory in the death of Santiago.

[@Salta0monte]

Dude, you've definitely seen Jack Nicholson in a movie, but maybe your brain just wants to block it out - remember The Shining?

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

OMG, the Shining... that's where I know him from.

[@charlesnewton6956]

If you want to see Kevin Bacon in another unexpected role, you should check out "Taking Chance". He plays another military character in a very different way. That's all I'm going to say about it except to have Kleenex at the ready

[@bobapjok4241]

One of the best movies of all time. I mean "You cant handle the truth" is worth watching in and of itself

[@tempsitch5632]

@33:07 This kid is James Marshall. He was going to be big once. Don’t know where he went. He starred in a pretty decent boxing movie called Gladiator.

[@AwesomeUSMovies]

Added to my list, thanks for the suggestion.

[@tempsitch5632]

@@AwesomeUSMovies I’d prefer one of a hundred comedies I could think of. It’s a decent movie. Brian Denehey is mean as heck in it, but it would be a run-of-the-mill reaction. But, it’s a boxing underdog story if you ever run out of underdog stories (The Replacements, Necessary Roughness, Wildcats, Major League, etc.)