A FEW GOOD MEN-MY RE VIEW

For anyone who likes a movie with a high drama and smart lines "A few good men" is a treat.And the cool performances come as a bonus.Thats why the movie fascinates me, even after some twenty years of its release. A few good men tells the story of the court martial of two american marines( PFC Louden Downey and LC Harold Dawson) for the murder of a fellow marine(PFC William Santiago).

You can find the synopsis of the movie here:-

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104257/synopsis

It is one of the most succesful courtroom dramas ever made, both critically and commercially and in the list of AFIs top ten of everytime.The movie is an adaptation of the play "A Few Good Men" by Aaron Sorkin.Director Rob Reiner was succesful in retaining the dramatic quotient of the play in the movie adaptation,but without losing the cinematic aesthetics.

I first saw the famous "You cant handle the truth" scene (link below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hGvQtumNAY

I was really really amazed by the intensity and energy of Jack Nicholson's Colnel Jessup. One of the first thing I did next day is to get a dvd to watch the movie. From then on I have seen the movie a lot of times.

Every charater in the movie can stand on his own.And the performances are top notch.Among these colone Jessup stands as number one.Jack Nicholson as Jessup has a very limited screen space and the character has only one dimension- that of a highly egoic and highly capable military boss. However with his superior dialogue delivery and exceptional acting skills Jack Nicholson makes Jessup one of the most memorable characters in the world cinema. He got anoscar nomination but didnt win it-A patch on the arm is not always needed for the honour. Tom Cruise as Leuitenant Caffe is a perfect match for Jack- He holds on his own in front of a superlative performance.Demi Moore,Kevin Bacon,Kevin Pollock,Wolfgang Bodison-All are in top form.

The movie is full of interesting one liners. You cant handle the truth in maly lists of world's best quotations.But that is only tip of the iceberg.

There are many more. A compilation is in wikiquotes

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/A_Few_Good_Men

Many people will say the movie is slow and some have difference with the ending.But for me,this is one of my all time favourites:-I am a fan :)

August-15 review

Frederick Forsyth's The Day of the jackal is one of the best thrillers I have read. The success of the novel is so huge and its influence is such that it inspired many even in the real world, like the one who assassinated Yitzhak Rabin then Israel Prime Minister.The protoganist of the novel is its villain Jackal- a well etched character.He is presented as a thorough professional, somewhat like a superhero. Detective Claude Lebel, though kills the jackal is somewhat a side character.

And the movie august 1 based on the novel was also a gripping tale.There were many modifications from the novel-Perumal became the central character. However the assassin also had an equal importance and it was brilliantly portrayed by Captain Raju- This one is one of the best villains in malayalam cinema.Even sukumaran who played chief minister had a really shining role.

Now cut back to 2011. August 15 is Perumal's show all the way; CM is nothing - not even comparable to original- and the straight on your face scenes that glorify cm and party secretary are completely spoiling the tempo of the movie. And the villain, though is good is just a shadow of the original.

There were many loopholes and I never got a feeling that this guy can kill the chief minister

And now about Perumal-IMO, He is the only character in the movie that was as good as the one in the original.
But the balance provided to him by other characters is not there.

In summary, the movie is average to me.

I think for those who havent seen august1 or read the novel, it will be good.For others, it will be a one time watch- an escape from the crap action movies playing around.