A FEW GOOD MEN

Directed by Rob Reiner

Written by Aaron Sorkin

Back in 2017 when I first watched “A Few Good Men”, I got drowsy and fell asleep not
even halfway through the movie. I managed to finish the movie the second time around but
without quite understanding the different issues surrounding it. Recently, I watched it again and I
got a fresh take on the movie.

Tom Cruise plays a young lawyer known as Lieut. Daniel Kaffee. Alongside him is Demi
Moore as Lieut. Comdr. JoAnne Galloway. The main antagonist of the movie would be Jack
Nicholson as Col. Nathan Jessup. Other supporting actors who made the movie more interesting
are Kiefer Sutherland, J.T. Walsh, and Kevin Bacon.

The court-martial drama revolves around a hazing incident at Guantanamo Bay. A

Marine private has died because of the alleged poison on the rag stuffed into his throat. Two
young Marines are, then, charged with the murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and conduct
unbecoming a US Marine. The abuse of power that occurs within the military is given much
attention in this movie.

Kaffee and Galloway are assigned to the defense. The latter having much experience in
the court tries to manage the former, being a rookie in the field. Kaffee has had more
engagements in plea bargaining. It seemed that he was partly intimidated and pressured since a
case of murder was suddenly assigned to him. Sam Weinberg, played by Kevin Pollack, also
joins the team in uncovering the truth behind the incident.

As they searched for the truth, various elements of corruption and abuse within the
military are revealed. Capt. Jack Ross, portrayed by Kevin Bacon, is the prosecutor who seems
to have already known the truth behind everything. Even so, he chooses to do his job and pin the
murder to the two Marines who were just following an order. The Marine corps motto or code is
said to be “Unit, Corps, God, Country”.

Santiago, the Marine private who died, was allegedly punished because he broke the
chain of command. The letters he wrote to various people stated that he wanted to be transferred
out of his unit due to his poor physical state. In exchange for such transfer, he was willing to rat
out the person responsible for the illegal fence line shooting. So, a “Code Red” was ordered
which, unfortunately, resulted in his death.

As the case progresses, Kaffee cannot escape the thought that he will never measure up to
his prominent father who was a former Navy Judge Advocate and a US Attorney General.
Nevertheless, he strives to do his job more carefully and effectively.

The film features the superb scene where Col. Jessup is confronted by Kaffee about the
ordering of the “Code Red”. It was an intense moment where Jessup stood his ground that he
must do whatever is necessary to hold back the enemy. This includes punishments, such as Code
Red, for the weak who gets out of line. The superiority within the military is clearly way out of
moral bounds. The other side of this shows that the real measure of an individual is towards his
moral conscience.

The court found the two marines not guilty on the charge of murder and conspiracy to
commit murder. However, they were guilty as charged on conduct unbecoming a US Marine.
They were ordered to be dishonorably discharged from the US Marine Corps. It is sad to think
that their life in the Marines was all about honor and code but in the end, they were discharged
because of their undying obedience to such values.

The conflicting values in the movie are not only present in the military but in society, as
well. There is nothing wrong with setting a few sets of values to be followed. But what’s given
weight is the individual’s inner battle between what is morally right or wrong. It is true that we
must have respect and honor towards people in authority. However, there is a difference between
doing what you’re supposed to do and doing the thing that follows your moral conviction. We
must have a deep belief and understanding in discerning what is conscientiously right.