by Paul Costello
Before I continue, I’m going do this:
SPOILER WARNING!! GO WATCH THIS FILM BEFORE CONTINUING!!
Aaron Sorkin is one of those rarities in the world of screen-writing, in that he is widely recognised as a name in the popular consciousness. Actors are obviously know, directors are often known, but few writers ever really attain the same kind of instant recognition to those who don’t make it their business to know such things. And with good reason. Sorkin has created some of the best and most well known works of film, TV and theatre of the past few decades, as well as some of the most memorable characters (CJ Cregg anyone?), and picking up awards and plaudits along the way. Back in 1989, the world got the first look at Sorkin’s play about a military trial over the murder of one Marine at the hands of two others, and it was only a few years later that the film adaptation was released to great acclaim. In 1992, we saw Rob Reiner’s film version of A Few Good Men.
Before I continue, I’m going do this:
SPOILER WARNING!! GO WATCH THIS FILM BEFORE CONTINUING!!
Aaron Sorkin is one of those rarities in the world of screen-writing, in that he is widely recognised as a name in the popular consciousness. Actors are obviously know, directors are often known, but few writers ever really attain the same kind of instant recognition to those who don’t make it their business to know such things. And with good reason. Sorkin has created some of the best and most well known works of film, TV and theatre of the past few decades, as well as some of the most memorable characters (CJ Cregg anyone?), and picking up awards and plaudits along the way. Back in 1989, the world got the first look at Sorkin’s play about a military trial over the murder of one Marine at the hands of two others, and it was only a few years later that the film adaptation was released to great acclaim. In 1992, we saw Rob Reiner’s film version of A Few Good Men.
You do have to love the play-off between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson in this film, particularly in this scene. Cruise, here only just over a decade in the business, squaring off against Nicholson, who by this point has two Oscars and decades of movies under his belt. And this translates well into the characters, Cruise burning with his own fiery intensity trying to stare down Nicholson, the man who redefined fiery intensity for the movies. We know the kind of character Nicholson has portrayed before, the kind of man he can be, and it positively bristles underneath the skin of Colonel Jessup, the superior officer who believes in his own superiority, grown so accustomed to his own authority that he has become dismissive of any and all challenges to it.
And this is what this scene boils down to: Kaffee pushing Jessup past the point of his indifference, challenging his dominance and trying to make the colonel crack. And crack he does. In a moment that ended up becoming a meme before memes existed, Jessup can take no more of this young lawyers besmirching his name and code of conduct, launching into an erudite, but vicious defence of his own methods to maintain the peace and safety of the population. There’s not much denying that these words make perfect sense to a man like Jessup, and Nicholson makes damn sure he sounds as convincing as possible when barking them at his inquisitor. It’s almost a plea for understanding, but is really more an incensed tirade against the liberal minds that question his authority, all the while ignorant of the harsh realities with which he is burdened.
Is a courtroom confession ultimately rather unrealistic? Perhaps, but when the drama and performance is this good, I’ve already shifted aside any questions of verisimilitude. Why? Because I don’t want to handle the truth.
Setting the scene: Putting everything on the line to prosecute the case, Kaffee calls Colonel Jessup to the witness stand, knowing he could be court-martialled for doing so. Jessup stands up to questioning in the beginning, but is thrown when Kaffee catches a lie and goes after it. Hounding the high-ranking officer, Jessup finally snaps when Kaffee demands the truth…
Is a courtroom confession ultimately rather unrealistic? Perhaps, but when the drama and performance is this good, I’ve already shifted aside any questions of verisimilitude. Why? Because I don’t want to handle the truth.
Setting the scene: Putting everything on the line to prosecute the case, Kaffee calls Colonel Jessup to the witness stand, knowing he could be court-martialled for doing so. Jessup stands up to questioning in the beginning, but is thrown when Kaffee catches a lie and goes after it. Hounding the high-ranking officer, Jessup finally snaps when Kaffee demands the truth…
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