I remember seeing this in the theater when it first came out. When he said "You're god damn right I did!" there was a collective gasp in the audience. Will never forget that.
Yep. Except I saw it on Broadway, before the film was made, with Tom Hulce as Kaffee and Stephen Lang as Jessup. The dialog in the scene is pretty much the same between the play and the film. When Lang yelled out "You're Goddamned right I did!" the audience also gasped, no one saw that coming. And Lang's performance was quite powerful.
"We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We uses these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something, you use them as a punchline" That is one brutal killer line
The impact is substantially lessened by the fact that Colonel Jessup was neither honorable nor loyal. He did not follow the code of ethics he espouses. He ordered one of his own men be attacked while he slept in his bed. Then he threw his men under the bus to save his skin.
It's both amazing and saddening how true those words ring out in today's world. Society has forgotten the true meanings of those words and use them loosely, while others who uphold those words and their meanings get ridiculed and punished.
Yep, and Kaffee begins his career as a bartender soon after discharge after type writer maintenance stint, learns Coughlin's Law. "You think they hate you now," "What till you give them crabs."
actually that's not what he meant.. He meant that the way "they treated Santiago could make him a better soldier to protect their country", but it let them to a worst problem(human rights).. Some soldiers are ready to take shit from their superiors but some can't fit in it.. People that went through this would know this thing better than any other civilian.. the thing is these so "called commanders" wouldn't take responsibility for their actions..
Funfact the reactions were first recorded then the monologue. Jack wanted to rehearse it off camera a couple times . The director said "he did it off camera precisely as he did before the camera. So I went up to jack and said save some for the actual shot" Jacks reactions "you don't get it rob, I love to act " He never missed or screwed up one word in rehearsal or doing it on camera . He's actually known for it by now. Jack Nicholson is a incredible professional on and off camera.
While I agree it IS an awesome scene, I can't go as far as saying the "greatest scene in any film". I think the scene in "Men of Honor" with Cuba Gooding Jr. & Rober De Niro "I want my 12 steps" is very powerful as well. And I could throw in Al Pacino in "Scent of a Woman" where he defends Chris O'Donnell's character and perhaps even several different scenes from "The Green Mile" come to mind. MY problem is that I can't classify just ONE great scene from a movie... that's just how I personally see it. I'm all over the place and can't decide on ONE "great scene"!!! Lol
"You made it clear just a minute ago that people follow your orders, or people die" "And now Santiago is dead." Kaffee is sent to a court martial. Roll credits. 😂
A lot of people, from the military, have complained about the movie saying yeah that's NOT the way it would really go down: A seasoned, hardened man like Jessup would never admit that - I submit that about *every one* of those men would have the same meltdown - with Kaffee right in front of their face, getting under their skin.
I think the true hero of 'A Few Good Men' is obviously Aaron Sorkin and his writing. So sublime, intellectual, and poignant, Aaron Sorkin is one of the best writers of this generation.
The thing about how Aaron Sorkin writes is how he times the dialogue and counts every syllable. Look at his films, The American President, Charlie Wilson's War, The West Wing, The Social Network, and Moneyball. Lines are always being repented 2-5 more times than the average writing would do so. The Social Network had over 22 repented sentences in one scene (the one with Jesse Eisenberg on his date with Rooney Mara). Some call this writing style "heighten language dialogue". The goal Sorkin claims is to make dialogue where the characters are smarter than everyone else (including himself).
Video recording technology improves Audio recording technology improves Editing software improves Camera stabilization tech improves ... Acting talent never changes Acting talent, especially GOOD talent, never changes. Nicholson, or Cruise for that matter, could do this again with the right script.
“Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to!!!” Something about the way Jack delivers that line makes it my favorite part of his self-important rant
@@CB-ux5xc reminder : a ago, your double impeached criminal cult leader trump has already LOST and you, members of the cult 45, were saying "medias don't elect the POTUS" 😂🤣
@@kas7344 way better? Lol do you know what acting even means? This acting here is as subpar as it can get. None of his face muscles move in the previous scene, his body is rigid af! Compare that to Jack's acting. Smh. Fanbois.
My response to Jessup, after he implicates himself in the Code Red: "Do you expect me to be grateful, you insane POS? I'm not grateful for anything you do. I don't need anything from you, I don't want anything from you. If it wouldn't land me in jail, I would beat the everloving fuck out of you right here in this courtroom. Fuckign shithead."
@@flightofthebumblebee9529 Jesus man. You think Jessup was right to order the Code Red instead of doing the SENSIBLE fucking thing and sending Santiago home because he was too weak to be a Marine?
Jessups greatest strength and weakness is his Pride. He is a highly decorated commander and he prides himself with the responsibility of guarding a base which has enemies on the other side that can attack anytime soon. He is so proud of what he does, he would not accept that he has a substandard soldier. Instead of medically discharging Santiago, he acted on his ego and opted to just brutalize the poor guy thinking this would make Santiago a better soldier, and him a better commander. When things went down south quickly, he cut lose two pawns, and he thought that his rank (Which brought power) would let him get away with it. Think of him as a tiger parent who wont accept that he has a child who could not get straight As. Here we see him let his ego get the better of him. He was asked if he ordered the code red, and the Presiding Judge told him he did not need to answer it. He did answer it in a fit of rage because he felt insulted that someone like Keffee who did not even earn his rank by being a combat soldier would question him on how he commands his soldiers. Its like when that kid questions his tiger parent Dad why he is so obsessed with those straight As, and the dad feels offended because he pays the bills and puts food on the table. Jessup thought that Keffe has no right to ask him questions like that, and being the fanatic he is to his uniform and rank melts down and confesses to ordering the code red.
While I don't condone hazing, it's not like Dawson and Downey went with intent to do harm to Santiago, nor was Jessup looking to have him killed. As he said, "We're going to train the lad." And then specifically tell Kendrick that he wants Santiago making top marks by his next performance eval. They wanted to make Santiago into the model of the Marine Corps. The problem was the unrecognized heart condition, and as a veteran with startling similar symptoms as they said Santiago had, I am extremely comfortable in believing that they were describing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (yes, it's real, not just something they toss around on House). My condition wasn't discovered until I had been in nearly 10 years. There were no symptoms early off, in fact I cleared my run (1.5 mile) in BMT with a time of 10m32s. Not incredibly fast, but it was fast enough for Honor Grad. By the time my condition was diagnosed, I couldn't keep pace on runs no matter how hard I tried. I was at 25 minutes by the time I cleared all six laps. My PT tests, as a result, were all failures. My chain pushed me hard to improve, I had times where SNCOs would pop out of nowhere with a weighted pack and have me walk flights, or go run, or whatever. During one group PT session, I said screw it, I'm going to push hard as I can. And I did. I was out front leading the pack for half a mile. Then I fell back. Then I slowed to a crawl. So badly, that our PTL was beside me and took me into the nurse's station at our facility. I wound up in the ER, where they ruled out a full blown heart attack, but an exam and some follow-on tests found an obstruction, and I had a diagnosis. Until then, no one knew. Not even me. I was even told the Commander was prepping to bring me up on Malingering charges, they thought I was faking the run problems. Post diagnosis, I was put on a run waiver and instead completed walking versions (they're harder to pass, trust me). I was apologized to over and over because they realized they were quite literally pushing me to death to pass the test... but they didn't know. The problem is the overall culture surrounding medical issues in the military. Even the doctor in the movie, looked at a Marine complaining of classic heart-related symptoms, and gave him a clean bill of health. And probably some Motrin. Rather than giving him a complete workup to see if there was an actual problem. Without a medical diagnosis, command staff treated this a corrective training issue... because if you're the square peg, they will bust your ass to shave your corners until you fit through that round hole. No, doesn't excuse the hazing in violation of ALCOM's directive, and because it resulted in the death of Santiago, made matters worse. Then there's the cover-up after the fact, and that goes down a whole new rabbit hole of wrong way beyond the issue. Aside for those actions, everything they had done was in line with military culture. You don't send someone packing because they can't run... you work with them to get back up to standards. I mean, guy was in, right? That means he'd been through Basic, he'd been through all the medical checks at MEPS... he'd done it at some point. And he was still boot, so it wasn't all that long ago, shouldn't stand to reason that he was capable? Anyway, point is that military leaders and command staff need to take a harder look when the people under their command are showing obvious problems, and get them checked out fully. I don't know where I'd be right now if mine hadn't been caught, but it's not hard to imagine a place very similar to Santiago. At the very best, I'd have probably been BCD'd and still undiagnosed to this day. Just one fateful run that had the nurses thinking I was about to crash that got me the care I needed. Santiago wasn't so lucky. ... because, you know, plot.
My DS in BT said one thing to us one after noon. he had us on 24 ct pushups, smoking us right after chow. Know what he said? "Pressure. It either cracks pipes, or makes diamonds. Are you diamonds, or pipes?" "DIAMONDS, DRILL SERGEANT!" "Then a few push ups don't matter to you boys at all, do they?" "NO DRILL SERGEANT!" Basic was a fucking blast.
Jessup was an outright narcissist. This is why he can absolutely not tolerate even the smallest perceived slights or failures to express what he would consider to be proper respect. This is why when he berated Markinson for questioning him in front of another officer, Jessup made sure to throw his promotions and acquired rank into Markinson's face. He gets off on making others feel smaller than him, and will stoop to sexually harassing an officer in order to make her feel comfortable because he didn't like the questions she was asking, nor her tone. For all his grandiose bluster about honor and duty; I think the man merely worshiped himself, and merely touted patriotism as a means to garner the praise and adulation that he craved. He thought that he was beyond reproach, he lacked empathy nor did he take responsibility for his actions, has an almost pathological need to dominate and put down others; this guy is just a dead-ringer for narcissm.
Kind of an epic film. Everytime RUclips brings it on recommendation, I stop by to watch. And because I do, the recommendation only gets worse. More and more of the same film....! 😂
“Don’t call me son. I am a lawyer and an officer in the United States Navy and you are under arrest you sob” - he waited days to respond appropriately with perfect timing !!
That's awful, and such a man would not have used such words. When I saw the movie on opening night in Brooklyn, the anti-American yuppies cheered the Cruise character cursing out the Nicholson character. I booed them. Sorkin pandered to them, in writing those lines.
@@nstix2009xitsn Sure and I did not say that your statement was "stupid". I said its your opinion. Just like it was my opinion that his dialog and the delivery timing was just wonderful and enjoyable. But I guess you are here to demean people. Enjoy!
All of these actors at their peak. This was incredible acting by all of them. Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Jack Nicholsen, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak...Every one of them
Yes indeed. The MPs “work” for the Judge and no one else. They know how to stay in the background and observe, then when called upon they’re right into action.
Put aside all the speculation about Tom Cruise's personal life and his religious beliefs. The man is, in my opinion, a fine actor. He just went toe-to-toe with Jack Nicholson in one of Nicholson's top ten moments on screen and held his own beautifully. He is the real thing.
Best line in this great speech "I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it."
While I get what’s he saying, he’s still the bad guy. Why? Because he still ordered the code red in defiance of higher orders. Ok, but maybe code reds are necessa...oh screw this. The real reason this a-hole is the bad guy is because he left two low levels Marines to rot because of his orders. Elsewhere in the movie they said his “star was on the rise.” Meaning he was going to be made brigadier general. If this sack of crap had any integrity, he would’ve put his hands behind his back and admitted what he did. He doesn’t deserve a star or an eagle. Anyone worth the term officer would’ve had enough integrity to immediately admit to the court what he did.
Very dangerous and very wrong-headed thinking. Let's say you get into a car accident late one night and despite the fact that you rise and sleep under the blanket that first responders and ER docs provide, one of them commits malpractice and you unnecessarily lose a limb. Do you still feel that you have no right to question the manner in which they provided care to you?
@@Thechist781 Yeah, great point. Ordered the code red and then let two Marines who were just obeying orders take the fall for it. But he uses words like "honor." Where was the honor in hanging those guys out to dry and making it look like they acted on their own?
The thing that people don't understand, is the type of lawyer Lt. Kaffee was. After he got the confession, he Immediately stopped the Colonel from further implicating himself, and commanded the court to schedule a seperate hearing. He was just like his father and wanted the truth to be shown.
If you actually want the truth you wouldn't take steps to prevent someone from implicating themselves... Not arguing that what he did to actually defend the Colonel wasn't honorable in a way, but it wasn't seeking to pour sunlight over every possible bit of truth that the lieutenant could.
@@SamBrickell he doesn't need to proceed any further than that. The col was under oath and if he didn't ask for a separate trial things could have been a little complicated in the col trial.
The type of lawyer that Lt Kaffee was is the kind that is about to make coffee to other lawyers cause he would've been disbarred after this trial and this whole trial would've been dismissed on the grounds of prejudice and miscarrage of justice. Kaffee started off with an irrelevant line of questioning, battering of witness and submitting inadmissable evidence such as tower logs. The Judge said he will hold Lt. Kaffee on grounds of contempt and anything Jessup said afterwards would have been inadmissable at a retrial. It's a movie.. you'll never be assigned to go to a full court martial with no case under your belt unsupervised (Or better yet, lecture your supeior officer whom is also your supervisor) that's like going to the supreme court after you became an intern at a firm and preach your firm's partner about their line of work.
@@cloudygor8948 i think you underestimate the permeability of the justice system. Lots of stuff gets thru that shouldnt. Bill cosby for example.. gave testimony under agreement that it would be sealed and couldnt be used for prosecution. New da said since it was the previous da’s agreement, he didnt have to follow it. New da used the testimony to put him in jail. Took 3 years for the justice system to untangle that one and release cosby. In all likelihood that prosecutor was hoping he would just die in prison of age…
@@Mfields4517 Justice system is always flawed and I can't encapsulate every case at all times. But strictly speaking this will never happen to a career Colonel in a controversy case such as this one, and certainly the prosecution will not allow a homicide case to be run by a junior lawyer who has "never seen the inside of a court room" plus allowing him to pretty much walk over his CO who outranks him and has more experience. It doesn't happen not because its about the victim, it's not. It's not happening because the military takes ranking and experiencevery seriously. This junior LT here pretty much just walked over 2 Colonel, one is the court Judge another one is Jessup.
Let’s not forget one of the huge reasons everyone does such amazing acting here - the director, Rob Reiner. He’s responsible for the tempo, the peaks and valleys of intensity in the scenes, camera angles - all that stuff that makes for such great drama that we don’t even think about because the actors are so good. Between Aaron Sorkin’s brilliant script and Rob’s directing chops, the actors just nailed the whole thing. One of the best movies ever!
An absolutely incredible moment in cinema history!! Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise should've won an oscar for this movie. For this scene in particular. Amazing.
Word is Nicholson did that scene in one single take. Sounds preposterous to me, but I've seen people that were in that room testify to the truth of that. Mind boggling. Amazing.
I think he did 2 takes (they only had him for a short window to shoot so there wasn't a lot of time) but the shot in the movie is from the first take he did if I'm remembering this right.
@@feellucky271 I would have liked to see a sequel. See him do some jail time, then come out and do something GOOD - for somebody. Maybe Kaffee goes after someone bad, with him.
Im just now noticing the amount of risk that Kaffee put himself into just to squeeze a confession out of Jessep, it was a high risk high reward attempt and he scored. Impressive story telling.
Speaking as a lawyer, this is an extremely well done movie version of a trial. Yeah it’s a bit hollywoodized, but it’s quite good. The lesson in this particular scene is that there is always a weakness in the other guys story if you think about it hard enough you’ll find it.
There have been soliloquys in film for decades, but to me this is hands down the finest performance I have ever seen. Bravo! Talk about swallowing the part whole!
Whenever anyone calls me son, I say don't call me son: I'm a lawyer and an officer in the United States navy, and you're under arrest you son of a bitch. Most people don't get the reference and look at me like I've lost it, but it always makes me laugh to myself.
@@jamstawildman Makes sense to me....so what you are saying is that if all the animals along the equator were capable of flattery, then Thanksgiving and Halloween would fall on the same day.
@@THE_IKON Nope more than likely charged with Conspiracy to commit Murder with the LT also Conduct unbecoming a Field Grade Officer Perjury Obstruction of Justice and whatever else the JAG corps could come up with. He would have been busted to his Lowest rank then given a BIG CHICKEN DINNER of a discharge after he did his time at Leavenworth Prison.
Jack Nicholson's impactful acting had many of my friends empathize with his hard as nails mindset, even justifying his behaviour at the camp which he lorded over. My friends were of the opinion that one has to be a nasty, snarling bastard to win battles. McEnroe & Conners said the same thing while winning their Grand Slams. Then came Sampras, Federer, Nadal & several others, who showed the world that being fierce at work is not necessarily linked with bad behaviour. Once again, great acting by Nicholson. Equally classy acting by Cruise.
One of my favorite movies. What makes this one among the greatest ever are the dialogues, the intensity. It explodes in this scene especially and Actors are always at their best.
Tom Cruise held his own here with Nicholson. One of the best dialogues in modern movie history. I put it up there with the diner scene with De Niro and Pacino in Heat.
"Jack?" I love the pause and expression Kevin Bacon gives when after Jessup's speech Cruise prompts Bacon to answer the judge. With one word Cruise shows the friendship that him and Bacon have as well as his exhaustion of the trial, and Bacon, just by pausing and nodding, shows the magnitude of what Jessup just did and what's about to transpire in Jessup's life. Acting at its finest.
Something that this clip doesn't make people privy to is the fact that Kaffee has been, for lack of better words, pressing Jessup's buttons for quite some time at this point - that was probably the reason why Jessup said "YOU'RE GOD DAMN RIGHT I DID!" at the end of the interrogation
Yes indeed, Kaffee started to push Jessup's buttoms in Cuba by unrespectfully demanding the transfer order of Santiago. Then in the courtroom with the weak questions about the phone bills and cloths of Santiago. The pause of Kaffee saying nothing and Jessup thought he was off the hook. So he wanted to walk out of the courtroom, Kaffee stopped in unrespectfully by calling him Jessup, not colonel or Sir. Annoying Jessup. And then this cross exam, where Kaffee caught Jessup telling a lie, making Jessup really angry. Finanly the hate of Jessup toward Kaffee, Jessup regarded Kaffee and other navy lawyers as weak civilian in a grotesk uniform. Causing Jessup to confess his crime and fun fact; Jessup did not know how serious his crime was.
The advantage was his scenes were few enough that he could crank the Nicholson-ness up to about 23 (on a scale of 1 to 10) without draining himself or having the character be overexposed in the movie.
Great acting involves the chemistry between actors, how they interact, and how they behave between the lines, the emotion, the body language. This is a superb example of what real acting is.
Woops........then Ross is in such shock he can't even respond to Kaffee's call for a court martial...I love how Kaffee turned Jesup's own words around on him, enraging him until he lost it ; as a lawyer, with the brains of a Perry Mason and the quick wits of a Ben Matlock. Brilliant.
I get chills watching this scene every time. It’ll never get old. The passion back and forth and the buildup to this scene was palpable throughout the movie.
Imagine a few years previous, and a Soviet Colonel saying that about the Berlin Wall, or more relevantly, the 'Iron Curtain' barrier a bit further west: not a true analogy to Guantanamo since he could point out that, historically, armies from much further west or further east from Berlin had got into Moscow, and nearly did again in living memory
When Col. Jessup said, "Sometimes, men take matters into their own hands..." after _explicitly_ stating that Marines 'follow orders, or people die!', you could tell he was lying. And as Caffey dug further, and started to uncover the lie, you could tell Jessup knew he was in deep trouble.
Don't believe he ever believed he was in the slightest trouble right up to the astonished "I'm being accused of a crime?" He didn't just think he was above the law, he KNEW it. Sad part is that if it were real he'd be right. Whole thing would be swept away because he was right that the country needs men who can do that job even if a few men die because of him. Frankly, I hope there really ARE men that tough in command positions!
@@edsiler3260 I guess I can see your point--I guess my thought process was (having been caught telling a few mistruths myself, althought none with _near_ the weight of Jessup's lies), I recognize #1 the lie (that Jessup didn't order the Code Red), and then #2, making statements that directly contradicted previous statements (like when Jessup said "sometimes, men take matters into their own hands..." after _explicitly_ stating that wasn't true). You add to that his increasing (at least, to me) belligerence to Caffey, led me, personally, to believe that Jessup knew he'd been figured out. The reaction, especially, is common among liars, when they know they've been found out. (Sadly, I've reacted that way when lies of mine have been found out). I think his "I'm being _charged with a crime?"_ statement was more shock that brother Marines (the judge was a fellow Marine, and I'm sure there were other members of the Corps on the jury) would even _consider_ charging a decorated officer like him, when (in his mind anyway), he was just doing his job. Just my opinion, though.
Кино
No one can play a raging psychopath quite like Nicholson could.
Casting can be a prison, Nicholson is just too good at this.
Remember the movie As Good As It’s Gets! One hell of a actor ? I love Jack Nicholson!
@@cindylevenburg3118 Anger Management has its moments. :)
Robert De Niro in Cape Fear he freaked me out
You haven't met my wife, but you're right, Jack plays crazy pretty good.
God damned right I ordered the Code Red. Best Mountain Dew flavor they ever had.
LOL!
Yeah
But that shit will kill you.
I wish I'd never picked up the first bottle.
Naw Voltage all the way
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Lol...i like code red too
I remember seeing this in the theater when it first came out. When he said "You're god damn right I did!" there was a collective gasp in the audience. Will never forget that.
Yep. Except I saw it on Broadway, before the film was made, with Tom Hulce as Kaffee and Stephen Lang as Jessup. The dialog in the scene is pretty much the same between the play and the film. When Lang yelled out "You're Goddamned right I did!" the audience also gasped, no one saw that coming. And Lang's performance was quite powerful.
@@douglaslally156 Interesting. Didn't know that even took place.
@@mtgoss40 Lots of fans of the movie don't know it's based on a stage play.
sorry it was me who had a massive Guinness fart just before that scene.........
@@douglaslally156 stehpen lang is a fucking national treasure
"We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We uses these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something, you use them as a punchline"
That is one brutal killer line
I beg to defer (not to read it back to you or to take matters out of your hands), MIN 2:50, "YOU WANT ANSWERS?!" Classic entitlement 😉
@@kt-dy8qw I mean, "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH" is one if not the most recognizable line Nicholson has ever delivered 👌
Danny glover used it in shooter also
The impact is substantially lessened by the fact that Colonel Jessup was neither honorable nor loyal. He did not follow the code of ethics he espouses. He ordered one of his own men be attacked while he slept in his bed. Then he threw his men under the bus to save his skin.
It's both amazing and saddening how true those words ring out in today's world. Society has forgotten the true meanings of those words and use them loosely, while others who uphold those words and their meanings get ridiculed and punished.
When Jack goes full Nicholson, people win Oscars.
And "You can't handle the truth" wasn't even IN the script, apparently.
So what if Kevin bacon said no when judge asked him🤔🤔 what would've happened 🤣😂
‘I don’t make movies.I make classics.’
*Full Torrance
I have neither the time, or the inclination to like this comment.
"Colonel, did you order the Code Red ?"
"No, I did not."
The end.
Wait - what is this inputting actual reality?? You are correct!!!
so true lol
Yep, and Kaffee begins his career as a bartender soon after discharge after type writer maintenance stint, learns Coughlin's Law. "You think they hate you now," "What till you give them crabs."
That’s why he had the airmen there as his bluff.
Marine have spoken the oath,you can't break that.
“You can’t handle the truth!”
Proceeds to tell him the truth
@Justin Pullin what
And Tom Cruise proceeds to handle it pretty well.
@@moondawwg *all lawyers r crooks.*
actually that's not what he meant.. He meant that the way "they treated Santiago could make him a better soldier to protect their country", but it let them to a worst problem(human rights).. Some soldiers are ready to take shit from their superiors but some can't fit in it.. People that went through this would know this thing better than any other civilian.. the thing is these so "called commanders" wouldn't take responsibility for their actions..
That should have been the last words he said before standing up, dismissing himself and waking off like a badass.
I love that the two marines on trial looked around like "everyone heard that, right?"
Funfact the reactions were first recorded then the monologue. Jack wanted to rehearse it off camera a couple times .
The director said "he did it off camera precisely as he did before the camera. So I went up to jack and said save some for the actual shot"
Jacks reactions "you don't get it rob, I love to act "
He never missed or screwed up one word in rehearsal or doing it on camera . He's actually known for it by now. Jack Nicholson is a incredible professional on and off camera.
Couldn’t believe he told the truth. Stunned.
LOL!!!!!!!!
Probably one of the greatest scenes in any film.
My all time favourite..... and my favorite scene......
Lol
I too agree Steve. Both Jack, and Tom, did a great job in those parts, and kudos to the writer.
While I agree it IS an awesome scene, I can't go as far as saying the "greatest scene in any film". I think the scene in "Men of Honor" with Cuba Gooding Jr. & Rober De Niro "I want my 12 steps" is very powerful as well. And I could throw in Al Pacino in "Scent of a Woman" where he defends Chris O'Donnell's character and perhaps even several different scenes from "The Green Mile" come to mind. MY problem is that I can't classify just ONE great scene from a movie... that's just how I personally see it. I'm all over the place and can't decide on ONE "great scene"!!! Lol
Not “problably.” 🇺🇸
“Colonel Jessup, did you order the code red!”
“No.”
Daniel Kaffee is sent to a court martial. Roll credits.
"Consider yourself in contempt!"
"You made it clear just a minute ago that people follow your orders, or people die"
"And now Santiago is dead."
Kaffee is sent to a court martial. Roll credits. 😂
Now teaching typewriter maintenance for women.
Screen rant would've did that perfect..😥😥😥
A lot of people, from the military, have complained about the movie saying yeah that's NOT the way it would really go down: A seasoned, hardened man like Jessup would never admit that - I submit that about *every one* of those men would have the same meltdown - with Kaffee right in front of their face, getting under their skin.
A slight grin crosses Cruise's face when he says, "Crystal." He knew Jessup had walked right into a trap. Well played.
Also Nicholsons's little smile after the words of Cruise, that he is released. He knew, that he turned in a trap.
Sven Leiser Which part do you mean?
Jesus, Nicholson really nails those lines
In every movie he is in.
That’s why he’s Jack Nicholson. Lines are the least of his worries
Which is why he shot for 10 days and got paid $5 million.
he also maintains really clean nails while doing a few lines
LOL
He's insane 😳 I'm scared if Jack was my dad
I think the true hero of 'A Few Good Men' is obviously Aaron Sorkin and his writing. So sublime, intellectual, and poignant, Aaron Sorkin is one of the best writers of this generation.
Word! .. Very well done beginning to end!
The thing about how Aaron Sorkin writes is how he times the dialogue and counts every syllable. Look at his films, The American President, Charlie Wilson's War, The West Wing, The Social Network, and Moneyball. Lines are always being repented 2-5 more times than the average writing would do so. The Social Network had over 22 repented sentences in one scene (the one with Jesse Eisenberg on his date with Rooney Mara). Some call this writing style "heighten language dialogue". The goal Sorkin claims is to make dialogue where the characters are smarter than everyone else (including himself).
@@osmanyousif7849 we all saw the video bud, chill pills
Without question
Crack cocaine is a hell of a drug.
Holy crap 20 plus years later the acting work is still amazing in this piece
Video recording technology improves
Audio recording technology improves
Editing software improves
Camera stabilization tech improves
...
Acting talent never changes
Acting talent, especially GOOD talent, never changes. Nicholson, or Cruise for that matter, could do this again with the right script.
@@antibull4869 hey I am no fan of Cruises weird shit but he has some amazing films. The Last Samurai. Valryrie. Vanilla Sky.
“Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to!!!” Something about the way Jack delivers that line makes it my favorite part of his self-important rant
I say that line to dumb liberals all the time.
@@CB-ux5xc reminder : a ago, your double impeached criminal cult leader trump has already LOST and you, members of the cult 45, were saying "medias don't elect the POTUS" 😂🤣
People sleep on Tom as an actor because he turned into an action star but he is such an underrated actor. His acting here is as good as Jack's.
As good? You mean way better
Nobody sleeps on Tom Cruise. The fuck?
Ppl sleep on RUclips sneaking this into your recommended years later.
@@jonathan2755 I searched for it.
@@kas7344 way better? Lol do you know what acting even means? This acting here is as subpar as it can get. None of his face muscles move in the previous scene, his body is rigid af! Compare that to Jack's acting. Smh. Fanbois.
This is one of the most brilliant pieces of acting I have ever seen.
6:18 mark u can see Jack's subtle facial mark of approval and expression of respect for how Cruise finishes scene. Its subtle but its there.
ditto
@@briandavidson1946 You said it. I didn't know what to make of that settling of his eyes.
You must be thinking of his performance in the Pledge.
@@lewiscoacher7781 You can also see it in the subtle raising of his lips. Almost a smile, but a simple curling seeing that he's been found out.
Hands down, one of the absolute best monologues ever delivered in any film, delivered by one of the greatest actors of all time.
My response to Jessup, after he implicates himself in the Code Red: "Do you expect me to be grateful, you insane POS? I'm not grateful for anything you do. I don't need anything from you, I don't want anything from you. If it wouldn't land me in jail, I would beat the everloving fuck out of you right here in this courtroom. Fuckign shithead."
@@akshaynatu6568 What an amateurish speech. You have no writing talent whatsoever.
@@nstix2009xitsn Ehh, get lost chump. This is YT. I wasn't going for "best speech ever", just trying to convey what I would do in that moment.
@@akshaynatu6568 I side with the Colonel. America became a lost void of crybaby jerkoffs
@@flightofthebumblebee9529 Jesus man. You think Jessup was right to order the Code Red instead of doing the SENSIBLE fucking thing and sending Santiago home because he was too weak to be a Marine?
"You lieutenant Weinberg?"..that unscripted little gem gets me everytime.🤣
Great back story on that line.
ruclips.net/video/-DLt8WNYN2I/видео.html
Just watched that RUclips clip that Kevin Pollack did. He talks about the Lt. Weinberg line a lot but never mentions it’s unscripted.
It was in the script
Jessups greatest strength and weakness is his Pride. He is a highly decorated commander and he prides himself with the responsibility of guarding a base which has enemies on the other side that can attack anytime soon.
He is so proud of what he does, he would not accept that he has a substandard soldier. Instead of medically discharging Santiago, he acted on his ego and opted to just brutalize the poor guy thinking this would make Santiago a better soldier, and him a better commander. When things went down south quickly, he cut lose two pawns, and he thought that his rank (Which brought power) would let him get away with it. Think of him as a tiger parent who wont accept that he has a child who could not get straight As.
Here we see him let his ego get the better of him. He was asked if he ordered the code red, and the Presiding Judge told him he did not need to answer it. He did answer it in a fit of rage because he felt insulted that someone like Keffee who did not even earn his rank by being a combat soldier would question him on how he commands his soldiers. Its like when that kid questions his tiger parent Dad why he is so obsessed with those straight As, and the dad feels offended because he pays the bills and puts food on the table. Jessup thought that Keffe has no right to ask him questions like that, and being the fanatic he is to his uniform and rank melts down and confesses to ordering the code red.
Perfect interpretation
While I don't condone hazing, it's not like Dawson and Downey went with intent to do harm to Santiago, nor was Jessup looking to have him killed. As he said, "We're going to train the lad." And then specifically tell Kendrick that he wants Santiago making top marks by his next performance eval. They wanted to make Santiago into the model of the Marine Corps.
The problem was the unrecognized heart condition, and as a veteran with startling similar symptoms as they said Santiago had, I am extremely comfortable in believing that they were describing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (yes, it's real, not just something they toss around on House). My condition wasn't discovered until I had been in nearly 10 years. There were no symptoms early off, in fact I cleared my run (1.5 mile) in BMT with a time of 10m32s. Not incredibly fast, but it was fast enough for Honor Grad. By the time my condition was diagnosed, I couldn't keep pace on runs no matter how hard I tried. I was at 25 minutes by the time I cleared all six laps. My PT tests, as a result, were all failures. My chain pushed me hard to improve, I had times where SNCOs would pop out of nowhere with a weighted pack and have me walk flights, or go run, or whatever.
During one group PT session, I said screw it, I'm going to push hard as I can. And I did. I was out front leading the pack for half a mile. Then I fell back. Then I slowed to a crawl. So badly, that our PTL was beside me and took me into the nurse's station at our facility. I wound up in the ER, where they ruled out a full blown heart attack, but an exam and some follow-on tests found an obstruction, and I had a diagnosis. Until then, no one knew. Not even me. I was even told the Commander was prepping to bring me up on Malingering charges, they thought I was faking the run problems. Post diagnosis, I was put on a run waiver and instead completed walking versions (they're harder to pass, trust me). I was apologized to over and over because they realized they were quite literally pushing me to death to pass the test... but they didn't know.
The problem is the overall culture surrounding medical issues in the military. Even the doctor in the movie, looked at a Marine complaining of classic heart-related symptoms, and gave him a clean bill of health. And probably some Motrin. Rather than giving him a complete workup to see if there was an actual problem. Without a medical diagnosis, command staff treated this a corrective training issue... because if you're the square peg, they will bust your ass to shave your corners until you fit through that round hole.
No, doesn't excuse the hazing in violation of ALCOM's directive, and because it resulted in the death of Santiago, made matters worse. Then there's the cover-up after the fact, and that goes down a whole new rabbit hole of wrong way beyond the issue. Aside for those actions, everything they had done was in line with military culture. You don't send someone packing because they can't run... you work with them to get back up to standards. I mean, guy was in, right? That means he'd been through Basic, he'd been through all the medical checks at MEPS... he'd done it at some point. And he was still boot, so it wasn't all that long ago, shouldn't stand to reason that he was capable? Anyway, point is that military leaders and command staff need to take a harder look when the people under their command are showing obvious problems, and get them checked out fully. I don't know where I'd be right now if mine hadn't been caught, but it's not hard to imagine a place very similar to Santiago. At the very best, I'd have probably been BCD'd and still undiagnosed to this day. Just one fateful run that had the nurses thinking I was about to crash that got me the care I needed. Santiago wasn't so lucky.
... because, you know, plot.
My DS in BT said one thing to us one after noon. he had us on 24 ct pushups, smoking us right after chow. Know what he said?
"Pressure. It either cracks pipes, or makes diamonds. Are you diamonds, or pipes?"
"DIAMONDS, DRILL SERGEANT!"
"Then a few push ups don't matter to you boys at all, do they?"
"NO DRILL SERGEANT!"
Basic was a fucking blast.
Jessup was an outright narcissist. This is why he can absolutely not tolerate even the smallest perceived slights or failures to express what he would consider to be proper respect. This is why when he berated Markinson for questioning him in front of another officer, Jessup made sure to throw his promotions and acquired rank into Markinson's face. He gets off on making others feel smaller than him, and will stoop to sexually harassing an officer in order to make her feel comfortable because he didn't like the questions she was asking, nor her tone.
For all his grandiose bluster about honor and duty; I think the man merely worshiped himself, and merely touted patriotism as a means to garner the praise and adulation that he craved. He thought that he was beyond reproach, he lacked empathy nor did he take responsibility for his actions, has an almost pathological need to dominate and put down others; this guy is just a dead-ringer for narcissm.
Marine not solider
Please note Kevin bacon looked stunned was an excellent act as well. You need to know that the entire room made it a very believable scene.
Agreed. He played that resigned realization that he lost very well.
Yes, the obvious friendship between Kaffee and Ross was a nice part of the script. “I’ll flip you for it.” “Too late.”
So did the judge as well
Kind of an epic film.
Everytime RUclips brings it on recommendation, I stop by to watch. And because I do, the recommendation only gets worse. More and more of the same film....! 😂
Yeah he had the perfect expression on his face that he lost the case.
Nicholson is an A+ actor. As Good as it Gets, All About Schmidt, One Flew Over the Coo Coo’s Nest and The Shining. He’s great.
I like him in the opening Scene in departed. Especially when he says that magical word that has nothing to do with story. Completely out of blue.
@@hannibalburgers477 i beg pardon. My hand slipped.
He made the shining work.. very spooky character played so well.
China Town???
Nicholson is the same in every role he does.
“Don’t call me son. I am a lawyer and an officer in the United States Navy and you are under arrest you sob” - he waited days to respond appropriately with perfect timing !!
That's awful, and such a man would not have used such words. When I saw the movie on opening night in Brooklyn, the anti-American yuppies cheered the Cruise character cursing out the Nicholson character. I booed them. Sorkin pandered to them, in writing those lines.
@@nstix2009xitsn that’s simply *your* opinion
@@rahulrahul_awsjunkie What a stupid, vacuous statement. I could say the same about your first stupid statement.
@@nstix2009xitsn Sure and I did not say that your statement was "stupid". I said its your opinion. Just like it was my opinion that his dialog and the delivery timing was just wonderful and enjoyable. But I guess you are here to demean people. Enjoy!
All of these actors at their peak. This was incredible acting by all of them. Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Jack Nicholsen, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak...Every one of them
@@Agelmar101 That makes total sense.
dont forget keiffer sutherland
I love the two marine court guards, no hesitation, no conflict of conscience, just action.
It's the Judge's house,
the the word of the Judge is law.
And they could kick his into next week.
@Ridge Gregory Fuck off, no one wants to watch your shitty channel full of stolen videos.
Mps dont give a shit about rank if you break the laws
Yes indeed. The MPs “work” for the Judge and no one else. They know how to stay in the background and observe, then when called upon they’re right into action.
Put aside all the speculation about Tom Cruise's personal life and his religious beliefs. The man is, in my opinion, a fine actor. He just went toe-to-toe with Jack Nicholson in one of Nicholson's top ten moments on screen and held his own beautifully. He is the real thing.
indeed. performer's personal lives are for the most part no concern.
That was powerful and an example of pride coming before a fall.
Best line in this great speech "I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it."
He had a point in that one.
While I get what’s he saying, he’s still the bad guy. Why? Because he still ordered the code red in defiance of higher orders. Ok, but maybe code reds are necessa...oh screw this. The real reason this a-hole is the bad guy is because he left two low levels Marines to rot because of his orders. Elsewhere in the movie they said his “star was on the rise.” Meaning he was going to be made brigadier general. If this sack of crap had any integrity, he would’ve put his hands behind his back and admitted what he did. He doesn’t deserve a star or an eagle. Anyone worth the term officer would’ve had enough integrity to immediately admit to the court what he did.
"The ends justify my means and I don't have to explain myself to anyone"
Very dangerous and very wrong-headed thinking. Let's say you get into a car accident late one night and despite the fact that you rise and sleep under the blanket that first responders and ER docs provide, one of them commits malpractice and you unnecessarily lose a limb. Do you still feel that you have no right to question the manner in which they provided care to you?
@@Thechist781 Yeah, great point. Ordered the code red and then let two Marines who were just obeying orders take the fall for it. But he uses words like "honor." Where was the honor in hanging those guys out to dry and making it look like they acted on their own?
Great acting by both Nicholson and Cruise! Absolutely unforgettable dramatic courtroom scene:)
Maybe the best courtroom scene ever written
Pozostali także świetnie zagrali.
You look at Nicholson's face in the end when Kaffee says to him "The witness is excused", and you know what he got his Academy Award for...
Sadly, he didn't win an Oscar for this.
Quite possibly the best scene in cinematic history
The best scene from the movie; shame Jack lost out in the Oscar for Supporting Actor
Never trust the "Academy".
Paul Wright- I enjoyed watching Nicholson on the front row of the Oscars for decades. But, he should have won for this performance too.
@@patriciawright8786 In what way was Gene Hackman's performance as Little Bill inferior?
He's got 3 more at home though. It's hard to fathom how Tom Cruise has never won an Oscar after watching this though.
This scene still holds up over all these years
It takes legendary and puts it on a pedestal....incredible scene....
The thing that people don't understand, is the type of lawyer Lt. Kaffee was. After he got the confession, he Immediately stopped the Colonel from further implicating himself, and commanded the court to schedule a seperate hearing. He was just like his father and wanted the truth to be shown.
If you actually want the truth you wouldn't take steps to prevent someone from implicating themselves... Not arguing that what he did to actually defend the Colonel wasn't honorable in a way, but it wasn't seeking to pour sunlight over every possible bit of truth that the lieutenant could.
@@SamBrickell he doesn't need to proceed any further than that. The col was under oath and if he didn't ask for a separate trial things could have been a little complicated in the col trial.
The type of lawyer that Lt Kaffee was is the kind that is about to make coffee to other lawyers cause he would've been disbarred after this trial and this whole trial would've been dismissed on the grounds of prejudice and miscarrage of justice. Kaffee started off with an irrelevant line of questioning, battering of witness and submitting inadmissable evidence such as tower logs. The Judge said he will hold Lt. Kaffee on grounds of contempt and anything Jessup said afterwards would have been inadmissable at a retrial.
It's a movie.. you'll never be assigned to go to a full court martial with no case under your belt unsupervised (Or better yet, lecture your supeior officer whom is also your supervisor) that's like going to the supreme court after you became an intern at a firm and preach your firm's partner about their line of work.
@@cloudygor8948 i think you underestimate the permeability of the justice system. Lots of stuff gets thru that shouldnt. Bill cosby for example.. gave testimony under agreement that it would be sealed and couldnt be used for prosecution. New da said since it was the previous da’s agreement, he didnt have to follow it. New da used the testimony to put him in jail. Took 3 years for the justice system to untangle that one and release cosby. In all likelihood that prosecutor was hoping he would just die in prison of age…
@@Mfields4517 Justice system is always flawed and I can't encapsulate every case at all times. But strictly speaking this will never happen to a career Colonel in a controversy case such as this one, and certainly the prosecution will not allow a homicide case to be run by a junior lawyer who has "never seen the inside of a court room" plus allowing him to pretty much walk over his CO who outranks him and has more experience.
It doesn't happen not because its about the victim, it's not. It's not happening because the military takes ranking and experiencevery seriously. This junior LT here pretty much just walked over 2 Colonel, one is the court Judge another one is Jessup.
If Jack Nicholson looked at me like that I'd die. This scene is Tom Cruise's most dangerous stunt ever.
Lol
Underrated comment
Kafee knew that Jessup was lying. The only one in danger in that scene is Jessup.
Jack is one of the best actor all times.
I agree
So is Tom Cruise
I can`t describe how I feel while watching this scene! This movie is true art
Jack is amazing. He is a great actor.
I think we can all be thankful that Jack had a healthy outlet for his behavior.
Let’s not forget one of the huge reasons everyone does such amazing acting here - the director, Rob Reiner. He’s responsible for the tempo, the peaks and valleys of intensity in the scenes, camera angles - all that stuff that makes for such great drama that we don’t even think about because the actors are so good. Between Aaron Sorkin’s brilliant script and Rob’s directing chops, the actors just nailed the whole thing. One of the best movies ever!
One of the most memorable scenes in moviemaking history!
An absolutely incredible moment in cinema history!! Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise should've won an oscar for this movie. For this scene in particular. Amazing.
Jack definitely
I assumed at least one of them did.
@@redwingsfan3621 I forgot but I know someone gotta award... I know it wasn't jack.. idk y but it's the way oscars are
@@jonsnipe5484 Yeah.
Pussifed,commie liberal bullshit now.
@@feellucky271 ok calm down🤣🤣
One of the most powerful acting performances ever. By both actors.
Word is Nicholson did that scene in one single take. Sounds preposterous to me, but I've seen people that were in that room testify to the truth of that. Mind boggling. Amazing.
I think he did 2 takes (they only had him for a short window to shoot so there wasn't a lot of time) but the shot in the movie is from the first take he did if I'm remembering this right.
I looked a bit more closely. During that entire scene, I think Nicholson blinked 3 times. The eyes draw you in.
I was there. It was 5 days of shooting. You heard wrong.
From what I read, that scene was shot MANY times, largely because Nicholson insisted on getting it dead solid perfect.
Nicholson almost smiles when Cruise says "The witness is excused".
Thanks dad 🙈
That how we ended up with Liberals!
It was sort of a little half smirk, where you can tell Jessup knew Kaffee got the best of him ...
@@martindebrois1472 Nope.
It was his ego......again.
Kidding man.
Just fucking with you about the other comments above.
Good argument by the way.
@@feellucky271 I would have liked to see a sequel. See him do some jail time, then come out and do something GOOD - for somebody. Maybe Kaffee goes after someone bad, with him.
Nicholson on blistering form. Cruise did well to stay with him.
Not a Tom Cruise fan but wow He was great in this scene
I think there are many scenes Tom cruise is on and he is great in many of them.
He played a lawyer very well in The Firm but that role wasn't nearly as memorable as this.
I loved how he used jessup ego against him
He’s actually a very good actor. It’s the other things about him that are off putting.
@@dzanier the fact that he is involved with those bastard scum pieces of shit Scientology ??????????
This still gives me goosebumps after all this years.
Alternate Ending...Daniel Kaffee has been recently promoted to Head Instructor for Typewriter Maintenance at the Rocco Clubo School for Women
Im just now noticing the amount of risk that Kaffee put himself into just to squeeze a confession out of Jessep, it was a high risk high reward attempt and he scored. Impressive story telling.
24 years later and this film remains a classic.
This is a classic star performance by two great actors, going back and forth at each other.
Speaking as a lawyer, this is an extremely well done movie version of a trial. Yeah it’s a bit hollywoodized, but it’s quite good. The lesson in this particular scene is that there is always a weakness in the other guys story if you think about it hard enough you’ll find it.
The movie is based on a real trial. I don’t think the marine died though. Former US attorney David Iglesias was on the defense team.
"You're not going anywhere Colonel." "MPs guard the Colonel." I bet Colonel Jessup didn't expect to hear that.
He admitted to a crime on the stand.I wonder what he thought was going to happen after he admitted to giving the order.
This is the best Tom Cruise performance in his career
What about Jerry Macguire??
Collateral????
No way... he was in tropic thunder.
He has many to be fair.
What about his time in Scientology? That's a true show.
Remember seeing this in ‘92 in the movies. Dope scene 25 years later still
There have been soliloquys in film for decades, but to me this is hands down the finest performance I have ever seen. Bravo! Talk about swallowing the part whole!
I think Tom's line at the end when he said I'm not your son and you know the rest is a powerful line also
Yes! ... Most important line in the whole film. Because it was always a condescending, "I'm smarter and better than you" thing, Jessup was saying.
Without a doubt one of my favorite movies
After 3mins in i started to realize this isn't a really expensive commercial for Mountain Dew
Give me a mountain
and nothing to do
Give me the whole world
And give me a YOU CAN"T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
🤣🤣🤣
My friends and I used to look at each after after seeing this and be all like, "You're goddamned right I did!" when answering a question. 😸
Whenever anyone calls me son, I say don't call me son: I'm a lawyer and an officer in the United States navy, and you're under arrest you son of a bitch. Most people don't get the reference and look at me like I've lost it, but it always makes me laugh to myself.
@@jamstawildman 😅
😂
Did they say " you're under arrest you son of a bitch"
@@jamstawildman Makes sense to me....so what you are saying is that if all the animals along the equator were capable of flattery, then Thanksgiving and Halloween would fall on the same day.
What's great is how cruise uses facial expressions to get under jacks skin
Kafee - " I said grave danger?" facial expressions killed it. Completely got under the skin of the colonel. Great acting by Tom.
Just as Jack has confirmed the clarity of his point, there is a really sparkle in Cruise's eyes
one of the best movies. old movies are the best!
This is just beautiful, Tom and Jack was at their best, just great and not to forget Rob Reiner...
I'd like to forget Rob Reiner.
Why would you want to forget rob reiner?
@@toddgrogg2810 Because he's a slimeball elitist liberal.
@@mrwildbill24 Oh, poor baby is triggered. Lol.
Rob Reiner is a propagandist tool. Do your research
This is the most powerful I could watch it over and over again and never get bored
Did I just watch this 3 times in a row? After having already seen it about a dozen times over the last 20 years? YOU'RE GOD DAMN RIGHT I DID !!
2:28 is where one of the greatest scenes in cinematic history REALLY gets started
"You don't have to answer that question."
"Mkay."
*End credits*
Lame
Incredibly lame. Especially lame are the people who say 'Mkay' and think its cool.
@@baldwintheleper Mkay.
@@MrBraddles3128 hey thanks for proving my point, man. I'm glad you replied.
@@baldwintheleper Mkay.
Looks like Colonel Jessop isn't gonna dine in town with his sister tonight after all..
He will not eat breakfast 300 yards from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill him either.
He was released an hour later and had dinner with his sister lol.
He probably won’t get his retirement now.......🤪
@@THE_IKON Nope more than likely charged with Conspiracy to commit Murder with the LT also Conduct unbecoming a Field Grade Officer Perjury Obstruction of Justice and whatever else the JAG corps could come up with. He would have been busted to his Lowest rank then given a BIG CHICKEN DINNER of a discharge after he did his time at Leavenworth Prison.
@@baxakk7374 If he met Tony Montana there wouldn't even be a Code Red.
"Did you order the Code Red?"
"I ordered it right between your knees."
Jack Nicholson's impactful acting had many of my friends empathize with his hard as nails mindset, even justifying his behaviour at the camp which he lorded over. My friends were of the opinion that one has to be a nasty, snarling bastard to win battles.
McEnroe & Conners said the same thing while winning their Grand Slams. Then came Sampras, Federer, Nadal & several others, who showed the world that being fierce at work is not necessarily linked with bad behaviour.
Once again, great acting by Nicholson. Equally classy acting by Cruise.
One of the best clips in movie history!!! One heck of a movie!!!
I love how Tom so calmly and clearly delivers the trap question which further enhances Jack's "oh shit" response
"I want the truth." "You can't handle the truth!" Epic🙏❤️
"You can't handle the truth, no truth-handler you, I totally *deride* your truth-handling abilities!"
“You can’t handle the truth!!” - best part 😎
The moment he picks up the hat. Truly greatness.
This has got to be some of the greatest 6 minutes of movie dialogue of all time.....top 10?
what are the other 9 ?
The way Jack Nicholson straightened is jacket is so satisfying
I could watch this over and over again, and never get bored of it. Best ever acting. Best scene. Unforgettable.
"You want me on that wall, you need me on that wall!"
One of my all time favorite quotes!
Nobody can duplicate this scene awesome
One of my favorite movies. What makes this one among the greatest ever are the dialogues, the intensity. It explodes in this scene especially and Actors are always at their best.
Tom Cruise held his own here with Nicholson. One of the best dialogues in modern movie history. I put it up there with the diner scene with De Niro and Pacino in Heat.
"Jack?" I love the pause and expression Kevin Bacon gives when after Jessup's speech Cruise prompts Bacon to answer the judge. With one word Cruise shows the friendship that him and Bacon have as well as his exhaustion of the trial, and Bacon, just by pausing and nodding, shows the magnitude of what Jessup just did and what's about to transpire in Jessup's life. Acting at its finest.
The eyebrow lift as Bacon looks down is a subtle thing that adds a ton of depth.
Something that this clip doesn't make people privy to is the fact that Kaffee has been, for lack of better words, pressing Jessup's buttons for quite some time at this point - that was probably the reason why Jessup said "YOU'RE GOD DAMN RIGHT I DID!" at the end of the interrogation
Yes indeed, Kaffee started to push Jessup's buttoms in Cuba by unrespectfully demanding the transfer order of Santiago.
Then in the courtroom with the weak questions about the phone bills and cloths of Santiago.
The pause of Kaffee saying nothing and Jessup thought he was off the hook. So he wanted to walk out of the courtroom, Kaffee stopped in unrespectfully by calling him Jessup, not colonel or Sir. Annoying Jessup.
And then this cross exam, where Kaffee caught Jessup telling a lie, making Jessup really angry.
Finanly the hate of Jessup toward Kaffee, Jessup regarded Kaffee and other navy lawyers as weak civilian in a grotesk uniform. Causing Jessup to confess his crime and fun fact; Jessup did not know how serious his crime was.
It would have been a nice scene with Jack and Bacon where he asks him to bail him out if he gets in trouble
Jack Nicholson-- arguably the finest actor this country has ever produced.
The cast was out of this world.
The advantage was his scenes were few enough that he could crank the Nicholson-ness up to about 23 (on a scale of 1 to 10) without draining himself or having the character be overexposed in the movie.
I agree, he's an unbelievable actor. They don't make them like him anymore.
One of the best acting scene ever.
DAMIT KAFFEE!!!! Love Kevin. Such an underrated actor.
The best line, "You are under arrest, you SOB". This was a true boss moment for Tom.
True, but his character would have gotten into a LOT of trouble for saying that
Best part of this picture is Jack’s scenes, period!
Great acting involves the chemistry between actors, how they interact, and how they behave between the lines, the emotion, the body language. This is a superb example of what real acting is.
"...deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you WANT me on that wall, you NEED me on that wall..."
U know what u sign up for does not mean ur a god with no consequences coming.
Woops........then Ross is in such shock he can't even respond to Kaffee's call for a court martial...I love how Kaffee turned Jesup's own words around on him, enraging him until he lost it ; as a lawyer, with the brains of a Perry Mason and the quick wits of a Ben Matlock. Brilliant.
I get chills watching this scene every time. It’ll never get old. The passion back and forth and the buildup to this scene was palpable throughout the movie.
ALL-TIME CLASSIC... intense + gripping. any & every time you see this.
"You WANT me on that wall. You NEED ME ON THAT WALL!"
Imagine a few years previous, and a Soviet Colonel saying that about the Berlin Wall, or more relevantly, the 'Iron Curtain' barrier a bit further west: not a true analogy to Guantanamo since he could point out that, historically, armies from much further west or further east from Berlin had got into Moscow, and nearly did again in living memory
Dont sign up for the job if u dont wanna be on that wall,nobody is kissing ur ass
One of my favorite movie scenes of all time. You can't handle the Truth.
When Col. Jessup said, "Sometimes, men take matters into their own hands..." after _explicitly_ stating that Marines 'follow orders, or people die!', you could tell he was lying. And as Caffey dug further, and started to uncover the lie, you could tell Jessup knew he was in deep trouble.
I saw that too. Its incredible how Nicholson was able to subtly convey that just using mannerisms and eye movement.
Don't believe he ever believed he was in the slightest trouble right up to the astonished "I'm being accused of a crime?" He didn't just think he was above the law, he KNEW it.
Sad part is that if it were real he'd be right. Whole thing would be swept away because he was right that the country needs men who can do that job even if a few men die because of him. Frankly, I hope there really ARE men that tough in command positions!
@@edsiler3260 I suppose there are a few good men out there really.
Kendrick should have been charged with perjury, too. (If it was real life)
@@edsiler3260 I guess I can see your point--I guess my thought process was (having been caught telling a few mistruths myself, althought none with _near_ the weight of Jessup's lies), I recognize #1 the lie (that Jessup didn't order the Code Red), and then #2, making statements that directly contradicted previous statements (like when Jessup said "sometimes, men take matters into their own hands..." after _explicitly_ stating that wasn't true). You add to that his increasing (at least, to me) belligerence to Caffey, led me, personally, to believe that Jessup knew he'd been figured out. The reaction, especially, is common among liars, when they know they've been found out. (Sadly, I've reacted that way when lies of mine have been found out). I think his "I'm being _charged with a crime?"_ statement was more shock that brother Marines (the judge was a fellow Marine, and I'm sure there were other members of the Corps on the jury) would even _consider_ charging a decorated officer like him, when (in his mind anyway), he was just doing his job. Just my opinion, though.