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In the past four decades and eight Mission: Impossible films, Tom Cruise has cultivated quite a career for himself. Known for doing his own stunts in the adrenaline-pumping movies, Cruise has earned respect and fan appreciation for his status as an action star. The more the actor doubles down on his reputation, however, the easier it is to forget that his best film premiered over three decades ago.
Before his first Mission: Impossible movie, Cruise starred in Rob Reiner's courtroom drama, A Few Good Men. Written by Aaron Sorkin and adapted from his own stage play, the film is timeless. Now streaming on Tubi, the movie shows that Cruise is more than what his action films make him seem.
Tom Cruise Gave a Masterclass in Acting in A Few Good Men
When considering A Few Good Men, many remember Jack Nicholson's famous line: "You can't handle the truth!" in a film famous for its drama. Nicholson was added to the cast as an anchor for a film that was originally written for the stage. Even so, the film hinges on Tom Cruise's ability to hold space in the film, and he doesn't disappoint.
Cruise stars as Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men, a lawyer for the JAG Corps, only a year out of law school. Known for his plea bargains and never setting foot in a courtroom, Kaffee is assigned a murder trial. Two Marines, Lance Corporal Howard Dawson and Private First Class Louden Downey, are charged with murder when they carried out a code red against Private Santiago. Though only meant as a hazing ritual, Santiago dies after the assault.
A Few Good Men is known for Aaron Sorkin's trademark dialogue and whip-smart characters, but Cruise shines as a lawyer far out of his element. Kaffee is too clever for his own good and only joined the Navy because it is what his father would have wanted. With one foot out the door, he doesn't take Dawson and Downey's case too seriously.
Kaffee's character goes from a fun-loving lawyer to one who becomes more invested in this culture than he thought possible. Cruise carries this character arc not just in dialogue but in what he doesn't say. Extremely expressive, the actor shows clearly how Kaffee changes throughout the course of the film. He holds his own against heavyweights such as Nicholson, using pauses and reactions to convey meaning more than the literal words he says.
The Climactic A Few Good Men Scene is Iconic For a Reason
Tension is necessary for drama, and there is nothing more dramatic than courtroom scenes. When eventually coming face to face with Nicholson's Colonel Nathan Jessup, Kaffee is no longer the meek lawyer who rolled over when the two first met. During their first meeting, Kaffee bows to the weight of the colonel's rank as a Marine officer, allowing the bigger man to bulldoze over him.
Jessup takes pleasure in exerting his power, sexually harassing Joanne Galloway and humiliating Kaffee in the same breath. Kaffee takes his licks, but when it comes to the courtroom, that is a different story. Cruise plays both vulnerability and strength effortlessly, though his true craft comes in this final climactic scene.
In this masterpiece, Cruise covers the entire spectrum of human emotion as he and his counsel subpoena Jessup to take the stand. Though they have no proof, they believe that Jessup ordered the code red that Marines were compelled to follow because they have to follow any order from a commanding officer. Jessup is the one responsible for Santiago's death, and even though Kaffee has no courtroom experience, he still gets his confession.
Cruise exhibits restraint in this Oscar-nominated film as he tries to goad Jessup into confessing. He riles Jessup, knowing the man's pride is in his rank. This restraint helps Kaffee gain the reaction he needs, but he isn't successful at first. When Kaffee fails, the misstep is evident in the way Cruise holds himself and stalls for time. When he gets his second wind, however, his triumph is that much sweeter.
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Kaffee regains strength in a silent moment when he looks at the defendants. These men have put their lives in his hands, and only he can save them from court-martial. They were victims in their own way of an oppressive system, unable to defy an order as a Marine. A Few Good Men works because of Cruise's performance, which isn't about being an action hero.
All of these elements add up until Kaffee traps Jessup into confessing that he is responsible for Santigago's death because he ordered the code red. Cruise demonstrates that Kaffee is almost stunned that he actually got him to confess in a true David vs. Goliath moment. With emotion swimming behind his eyes, Cruise shows the rollercoaster of emotions without saying a word.
This carries until the final moments of the film when Kaffee earns a salute from Dawson, even in light of his court-martial. A Few Good Men set up an impressive career for Cruise that could have gone very differently. His past works are respected, to be sure, but his greatest achievement seems to be spearheading a series of reboot films nowadays. Cruise's talent is showcased spectacularly in A Few Good Men, which remains a classic of cinema.
A Few Good Men
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R
Drama
Release Date December 11, 1992
Runtime 138 minutes
Director Rob Reiner
Cast
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Writers Aaron Sorkin
Producers Andrew Scheinman, David Brown, Rob Reiner
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