When listing the most influential media outlets in the United States in terms of their impact on films, the two highest-selling and most influential newspapers in the largest cities of the United States, the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, couldn't be ignored. The Hollywood Reporter and Variety were the most professional and authoritative media in the film industry.
Currently, both the Los Angeles Times and The Hollywood Reporter had praised "A Few Good Men", and Variety, which was known for its seriousness and caution, closely followed suit by writing a professional film review and providing a profound analysis of the movie.
"Hugo Lancaster has been involved in the acting profession for ten years from the age of fifteen to twenty-five. In these ten years, he has experienced ups and downs, from youth to rebellion and maturity. Lancaster has completed a process of growth and self-discovery in the world of movies. This has allowed Hugo's once-squandered acting talent to once again shine.
In the movie "Scent of a Woman", there was an innocent yet firm glimpse of Charlie, and in the story of "A Few Good Men", Daniel learned about responsibility, determination, and justice. In those light brown eyes, you can see the youthful vitality and mature charm.
As a courtroom drama, "A Few Good Men" doesn't have many novel elements in its main storyline. It follows a typical pattern of military incidents, involvement in investigations, uncovering hidden truths, facing obstacles, self-improvement, and upholding justice. The ending can be predicted from the beginning of the film.
However, "A Few Good Men" demonstrates a high level of excellence in connecting the story, creating suspense, building up the climax, and developing the characters, particularly in the scenes of courtroom debates. It showcases remarkable dialogue skills and control of pacing, making the movie exceptionally thrilling.
In this regard, the new screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin, has shown profound expertise, and the director, Rob Reiner, demonstrates outstanding overall vision. However, the core factor that connects these brilliant elements is the male lead, Daniel Kaffee. Although the film's portrayal of Kaffee is limited due to the length, it is enough to outline a vivid image: playful and witty, intellectually sharp, yet passionate and talented. Combining such a character with Lancaster's performance, it emits astonishing charm.
In fact, the process of investigating the case is a journey of growth. Initially, Kaffee was like a big boy, unruly but full of intellectual curiosity. Even in the face of difficult cases, he never flinched. His interactions with the criminal suspect were vigorous and straightforward, but also revealed his adherence to principles. Like a child, he remained mischievous but preserved a thread of innocence within.
During the investigation, as Kaffee encountered setbacks, threats, and challenges, his thinking became clearer. His rationality gradually surpassed his emotions, leading to hesitations and a vague fear. This is a stage that must be experienced during personal growth. However, true maturity is not about worldly retreat, but about adhering to principles, finding a balance among various forces, and ultimately achieving the desired outcome. After being confused, Kaffee eventually summoned the courage to challenge the military directly, standing firm in his principles and delivering a significant blow to the hidden powers behind the scenes.
Of course, this is an idealized ending, but we must never overlook the inspiring value of such idealism. Because this inspiring sentiment is the hope of people. It may not be able to make the world a better place, but it acts as a counterforce to prevent the world from becoming worse.
In the process of advancing the story, "A Few Good Men" also incorporates explorations of human nature and personal redemption, giving the story deeper thematic layers beyond inspiration.
Nicholson portrays the proud and arrogant Colonel Jessep in the film. He is in charge of a base on the front lines in Cuba, bearing the responsibility for the safety of the entire nation. Consequently, he boasts about the value of his work and describes how dangerous his situation is, establishing a closed space where he can enforce cruel laws and justify them with so-called justice.
But in fact, this is a typical case of obtaining privileges through fear, just like during the financial crisis, when war breaks out, or when social atmosphere leads to public discontent. There are always forces that emerge to threaten and gain more privileges, often winning the applause of the people. The Rodney King incident became a bargaining chip for the African American community to win equality and rights. National security is already a reason to obtain long-term privileges, and the military is a naturally closed place to maintain privileges. The military emphasizes obedience, which further develops esprit de corps and creates a culture of loyalty and unity.
In the movie, the characters Dawson and Downey represent the typical products of military culture. They have a strong sense of identity and honor as soldiers, and an unimaginable sense of belonging to the team. As they say, the military makes them feel certain, as everything is ordered, and they only need to obey and execute. Just like in the 1987 "Full Metal Jacket", recruits are trained to become machines that accept input and produce results according to commands.
The code red is a typical representation of this process. It targets the underperformers or betrayers who harm team honor, efficiency, and safety. Under the drive of team identity and obedience to orders, punishments are carried out against these underperformers or betrayers, leading to Santiago's accidental death. But Dawson and Downey never believe they are at fault because they were simply following orders.
Colonel Jessep justifies all his actions as being for the sake of the military and national security, but he overlooks the terrifying aspects hidden behind this privilege. Jessep remodels an ordinary soldier according to his own will, even ignoring the danger of the soldier's heart condition. After his plan fails, he uses this privilege to cover up his mistakes and tries to wipe them clean with the noble cause of "guarding the nation".
The movie, through the voice of Kaffee, shows us the essence of this privilege and reveals the hidden dangers within this closed system. Finally, the movie breaks through this closed fortress with the law, giving people hope, but also showcasing the power of reason. Throughout this process, some military personnel are arrested, some can't bear the inner torment and commit suicide, Dawson and Downey feel pain, loss, and confusion as they have to leave the military, while others undergo self-awakening, realizing that their violent actions against their comrades stifle their freedom, human rights, and even life. The combination of this self-renewal and Kaffee's personal growth brings more inspiration and hope to the movie.
Finally, it is necessary to mention the outstanding performances of the actors in the movie. Demi Moore portrays the role of a whipper effectively, Jack Nicholson is, as always, outstanding, and the greatest discovery is the powerful presence of Hugo Lancaster. His performance is controlled and precise, condensing the growth and transformation of a man within a single event. Together with Nicholson, they deliver the most spectacular on-screen confrontation this year.
With a star-studded cast and an excellent screenplay, this outstanding work was thus created."
Variety magazine gave it a rating of 85, joining the chorus of praise for the film, which unprecedentedly garnered tremendous support for "A Few Good Men". The second batch of reviews that followed continued this favorable trend.
Not only that, but even Rolling Stone magazine, which previously gave negative reviews to "Scent of a Woman", gave the film a perfect score, the only one among the twenty-three media outlets. "The brilliant performances under Rob Reiner's lens emit an incredibly charming allure, combining suspense and character to create a fascinating and uplifting masterpiece." The bright hundred-point score truly demonstrated Rolling Stone's unparalleled love for this movie.
The entertainment magazine Entertainment Weekly also gave a positive review, stating, "Like all courtroom dramas, "A Few Good Men" relies on the brilliant performances of the actors. Lancaster and Nicholson's outstanding performances make this work entertaining and sharp, with a classic Hollywood style." A rating of ninety points is also a rare high score.
As for another important media outlet, The New York Times, its review stated, "This film radiates numerous thought-provoking details from its core idea, elevating the work beyond a simple courtroom drama and delving into social culture, prompting reflection." This was clearly a positive review even though The New York Times always appeared to be somewhat demanding in terms of ratings. While a rating of seventy-five points was not low, it was not considered high either.
TV Guide believed that "The final showdown between Kaffee and Jessep compensates for the length and dullness of the entire film." With a rating of sixty points, it barely passed, indicating that they were part of the camp of negative reviews.
The San Francisco Chronicle, which had a notable influence on the West Coast of the United States comparable to the Los Angeles Times, did not like the movie at all. They stated, "The overly contrived arrangement has tarnished the actors' excellent performances, and director Rob Reiner's mediocre abilities have plunged the film into a boring quagmire." With a rating of fifty points, their disgust was evident.
With both praise and criticism flying around, the overall media rating for "A Few Good Men" settled at seventy-eight points. Although it did not reach the threshold of eighty points, praise predominated overall, especially the affirmation of Hugo's acting skills, which could be seen in almost every media outlet. Even if the film's brilliance was denied, no one could deny Hugo's excellent performance as the male lead.
Additionally, it is worth celebrating that the film received a shining 'A' score in CinemaScore, indicating the audience's love for the movie. Perhaps, this was the direct reason for the outstanding box office performance of the film.
Amidst this wave of attention, before the second week's box office decline could even be anticipated, numerous media outlets and programs had extended olive branches to Hugo, because they all knew that the Golden Raspberry Awards and "Hudson Hawk" have become history. With the outstanding performances in "Scent of a Woman" and "A Few Good Men", Hugo had not only emerged from a slump but also positioned himself at the forefront of popularity with an incomparably dominant posture. No one would miss this point.