The film’s strengths reside in Sorkin’s scorching screenplay (it’s based on his play) and the actors who are more than up for the challenge
The depth isn’t there on a grander more ambitious scale but there’s an intelligent battle of two versions of masculinity put on here by cruise and Nicholson
The film is impossible to imagine without the 4 scenes with Oscar nominee for supporting actor Jack Nicholson—he’s more than scene stealing here- he’s movie-stealing and gets the best lines and knocks them out of part. It’s also extremely satisfying to see jack, always anti-establishment, play THE establishment here.
Cruise is superb as well (there’s a very broad edges in the screenplay that let him down like the “galactically stupid” line/rant)- cocky and intelligent—the supporting cast beyond the two leads is superb—its an achievement for moore, bacon, kiefer Sutherland, and JT Walsh amongst others
Sorkin wasn’t nominated for this somehow
Shot by Robert Richardson— wonderful opening with the routine of the marines title sequences
Predictable but entertaining and well executed
Reiner’s achievement is minor which is what keeps it out of the top 10 but the performances and writing make it more than a simple recommend
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