THE REWATCHABLES · August 10, 2017
A 1992 legal / drama directed by Rob Reiner, covered in the complete Rewatchables archive.
ON THIS EPISODE
FROM THE CONVERSATION
WHY IT WORKS
WHAT DID NOT WORK
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
The movie is set up immediately as a classic with the opening courtroom audio and praise.
Opening minutesDiscussed as a sneaky favorite because it slowly turns into a great confrontation.
Opening minutesCruise’s beer-ordering and the 'lousy softball player' exchange are highlighted as very funny.
Opening minutesBacon abruptly leaves the court to join the courtroom action, which the hosts find hilarious and memorable.
About 16 minUsed as a setup for Jessup’s contempt and later speechifying.
About 8 min · medium confidenceThe climactic interrogation is treated as the film’s peak and main rewatchable payoff.
About 48 minWHERE THEY DISAGREED
Bill SimmonsLeans toward the lunch in Guantanamo Bay, while acknowledging the ending may be the best.
Chris RyanAlso values the beer scene and the ending, with the beer scene as a standout interaction.
Amanda DobbinsSays the final scene is the best, but the Gitmo lunch is a sneaky favorite.
Bill SimmonsMostly critical and later says she set back the women's movement jokingly.
Chris RyanArgues she actually has useful investigative instincts and is not fully to blame.
Amanda DobbinsDefends her with a long list of reasons she is competent, while admitting the performance is weak.
Bill SimmonsUltimately leans Nicholson in the last stretch, despite loving Cruise.
Chris RyanChooses Cruise as the movie’s overall winner.
Amanda DobbinsAlso lands on Nicholson winning the scene, while saying Cruise wins the movie in part.
Bill SimmonsSays no, but admits the argument gets more persuasive on repeated viewings.
Chris RyanAllows that chain of command and military discipline complicate the moral picture.
Amanda DobbinsRejects the idea that Santiago deserved death.
Calls it a masterpiece and the first true classic of the 90s.
Opening minutesArgues Sorkin’s jargon and speed make the movie thrilling.
Opening minutesSays the Gitmo lunch scene is a top candidate for most rewatchable scene.
Opening minutesDeclares Cruise her number one all-time star and a major reason she loves the movie.
Opening minutesLikes that the film makes courtroom procedure feel like a modern, exciting kind of action movie.
Opening minutesRanks the beer scene and other Cruise moments among the film’s most rewatchable bits.
Opening minutesStrongly likes Bacon’s supporting performance and considers it a possible apex.
About 24 minUltimately argues Nicholson wins the final showdown through quiet, controlled power.
About 48 minTreats Nicholson’s final speech as one of the greatest exchange moments in the movie.
About 48 minArgues Cruise is the movie’s winner because he carries every emotional mode and much of the plot.
About 48 minThe hosts admire how specialized legal jargon is made legible and exciting.
Opening minutesThe movie is framed as a showcase for Cruise and Nicholson, with Bacon and others in strong support roles.
About 8 minThe story’s moral conflict is about obedience, military hierarchy, and who gets to exercise power.
About 40 minThe courtroom climax is treated as a battle of acting, bluffing, and controlled emotion.
About 48 minSorkin reportedly wrote the script on bar napkins and then on an early Macintosh shared with roommates.
About 32 minJason Alexander was originally supposed to play Sam Weinberg, but Seinfeld season two got picked up.
About 32 minJack Nicholson supposedly did 40 to 50 takes of the code-red speech.
About 16 minKiefer Sutherland reportedly hit a couple Marines while driving the Jeep on set.
About 16 min · medium confidenceThe film cost about $30 million and made about $230 million.
About 32 minThe hosts say the movie’s cable-TV edit is fairly easy because only a few lines need trimming.
Opening minutes · medium confidenceAn alleged deleted ending had Cruise ask Joe Galloway out on a date.
About 48 min · medium confidenceRob Reiner reportedly wanted people to simply point the camera at the movie stars and make a good movie.
About 32 min · medium confidenceUsed as part of Amanda’s Sorkin rewatch list.
Opening minutesNamed as another favorite Sorkin work.
Opening minutesMentioned as an early theatrical experience and sneaky great rom-com.
Opening minutesUsed as a comparison for courtroom drama quality.
Opening minutesListed among the 90s law-movie run.
Opening minutesAnother law movie used as an era reference.
Opening minutesReferenced as a comparison in the Grisham/Turow law-movie wave.
Opening minutesMentioned as a cable channel that aired the movie in edited form.
Opening minutesMentioned alongside TNT in cable rewatch talk.
Opening minutesUsed as a humorous comparison for courtroom reaction shots and shouting.
About 16 min · medium confidenceReferenced as an example of production chaos that did not happen here.
About 32 min · medium confidenceReferenced in the discussion of Cruise’s voice and early performances.
About 48 minUsed as a benchmark for Cruise scenes and star power.
About 40 min · medium confidenceMentioned in a broader Nicholson career comparison.
About 48 min · medium confidenceReferenced in a joke about steak knives.
About 56 min · medium confidenceThe hosts joke about owning the movie on multiple formats and watching it constantly on cable.
Opening minutesRepeated laughter over Bacon leaving pickup basketball to join the courtroom drama.
About 16 minThey repeatedly quote and riff on Jessup’s contemptuous monologues.
About 48 minThey joke about Cruise’s vocal register and his surprisingly effective courtroom movement.
About 48 min · medium confidenceThey laugh about the movie listing 'Wolfgang Boateson' first on Amazon.
About 16 min · medium confidence“A few good men is a masterpiece”Opening minutes
“It's a verbal action movie.”Opening minutes
“You can't handle the truth!”About 48 min
“You have to ask me nicely.”About 56 min
“You're a lousy fucking softball player”About 8 min
MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Three movies to watch before A Few Good Men, and three to watch next.
ON THE MIC
Bill SimmonsThe Rewatchables
Chris RyanThe Rewatchables
Amanda DobbinsThe RewatchablesREWATCH FAVS
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