STORY STUDY - MEDIUM: THEATRE/FILM - “A Few Good Men”
- Jeffrey Tung
- Aug 13, 2018
- 2 min read
When a story breaks out about a hazing gone wrong, it’s assumed to be happening at an irresponsibly-led college fraternity. However, when it happens at a naval base, it’s more embarrassing, but sadly an ongoing ritual much like in a college fraternity.
Written by Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men is about a court-martial against two marines who have “unintentionally” murdered one of their own in a hazing gone very wrong. Two JAG corps lawyers are assigned to their case, and through their investigation, they learn that they weren’t acting on their own; they were ordered to perform a “code red” by a superior.
(L) Jenson Ackles as Dan Kaffee, and (R) Lou Diamond Phillips as Nathan Jessup
The main character, Daniel Kaffee, is a lawyer, and a very good one, who just wants to lay low during the three years that he has to serve. He is known to make plea bargains, and never having to actually go to court. The fact that he is assigned to the defendants who killed their colleague means that someone doesn’t want the case to be in a courtroom.
The story is ultimately about people in power abusing their authority and all in “the name of the greater good”. In this context, it’s about “saving lives”, and if that means “punishing” a fellow marine who is not meeting marine standards, then so be it.
(R) Rob Lowe as Dan Kaffee
The film and the play does a great job with connecting with the characters and the situation, though that is probably because even during then and now, it feels like this kind of situation. Everything is going against the protagonists: not only are the guilty parties protected by their rank, but the defendants are not helping themselves because of a “code” they go by. Even though they plead guilty and serve a shorter incarceration, they will still feel like they dishonored the code, which they’ve been trained to uphold.
I’m only familiar with the film version, and part of the reason I think the film is effective in showing how despicable the antagonist is thanks to Jack Nicholson’s performance. He is ruthless and determined to the point of paranoid, firmly believing that though a “death may be tragic, probably saved lives.” He’s also the reason why “you can’t handle truth” is so quotable.
A Few Good Men is a story about defending the little guy, and that the call to action must be heard no matter how deaf the ears are. And when the action is done, punishment will fall on the guilty party.
Salute, and check it out.
