What a cast! Two U.S. Marines, are on trial for the murder of William Santiago, a fellow private in their unit. Were the men acting under orders or was it a pre-meditated decision of their own? Aaron Sorkin adapts his own 1989 Broadway play. His script crackles with intelligence as it entertains simply with words that fly fast and furious. Nowhere is this more true than in the courtroom arena. Jack Nicholson’s famous line in the climatic scene is pretty much the stuff of movie legend. He got the showiest role and the Academy Award nomination. He’s genuinely excellent as the proud and supercilious Colonel Nathan Jessup. But the rest of the company matches his talent. Tom Cruise and Demi Moore exhibit a witty repartee as the defense, Kevin Pollack rounds out their team with sagacious support, Kevin Bacon exudes confidence as the prosecutor and Kiefer Sutherland is all seething hostile aggression as Lieutenant Kendrick, Jessup’s right hand man. Everyone is in fine form. Sorkin’s writing is brilliant. A literate examination of the Marine Corps and their code of honor is at the heart of this expose. The actors give his language the dramatic weight that elevate this production into a document of military life that feels essential. 12 Angry Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Few Good Men. These are the reasons I love courtroom dramas.
Archive for 1992
A Few Good Men
Posted in Crime, Drama with tags 1992 on January 21, 2013 by Mark HobinLike Water for Chocolate
Posted in Drama, Romance with tags 1992 on November 28, 2011 by Mark Hobin
A young woman is forbidden to marry the man she loves by her domineering mother. Mamá Elena insists Tita de la Garza honor a timeworn tradition which dictates the youngest daughter must not marry so she may care for her aging mother instead. Established Mexican character actor Alfonso Arau (The Wild Bunch, Romancing the Stone) directs this adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s debut novel. The two were married at the time. The title comes from a Latin American expression. In these countries, hot chocolate is made with water instead of milk. The phrase refers to someone who has reached their boiling point, in this case it could refer to anger, but also repressed sexuality. Tita is like water ready to be used for hot chocolate.
This drama became one of the biggest foreign language hits ever in the US and it’s easy to see why. It has all the attributes of a glossy Hollywood romance: beautiful cinematography, lush music, sensational soap-opera storyline. It’s melodramatic and touching. The main difference – the action is set in Mexico and takes place in the past (1910 to 1934). Food is a recurrent theme as Tita is at her best when cooking. Her dishes have the ability to create emotions in the one who partakes of them. Those feelings correspond to what Tita was experiencing when she prepared them. This blending of magical elements with the real world gives narrative a whimsical tone that is reminiscent of a Grimm’s fairy tale. It’s incredibly effective. The combination has a dreamlike quality that is both fanciful but also realistic.
What makes the picture so compelling is the appeal of our central heroine. Actress Lumi Cavazos is gripping as Tita. By keeping her emotions bottled up, her meals are essentially the only way she has to express herself. On the surface she seems passive at first, but she remains a fundamentally passionate individual. Her story is rather epic in scope and the many people that she meets along the way are involving. The relationships with her overbearing mother and her true love Pedro, are affecting but so is her relationship with Dr. Brown, her sister’s obstetrician. If there’s one thing a romance needs is heart and Like Water for Chocolate has that in spades.
Death Becomes Her
Posted in Comedy, Fantasy with tags 1992 on September 13, 2009 by Mark Hobin
Black comedy about Madeline Ashton, a fading actress who steals the fiancé of her longtime rival, Helen Sharp. Years later, Madeline feels compelled to try a miracle cure for aging, after seeing how well her nemesis has aged. At best, the film is a delightful romp, infused with satire and wit. At worst. it’s a stridently hyperactive shell of a film, overshadowed by freakish special effects. The problem, is that the movie is both and the story constantly vacillates between these two extremes. Luckily there are enough inspired moments to recommend this well acted, albeit campy film.
My Cousin Vinny
Posted in Comedy with tags 1992 on December 16, 2008 by Mark Hobin
Pitch perfect courtroom comedy about a lawyer defending his cousins of murder in a backwoods Alabama town. Fish out of water comedy features stellar performances by Pesci, Tomei and Gwynne. Likeable, funny and well written.
Where the Day Takes You
Posted in Drama with tags 1992 on September 3, 2008 by Mark Hobin
Urban drama about teen runaways on the streets of Hollywood features a dream cast of young actors (Will Smith makes his feature film debut here). Gritty juvenile delinquency film wants to be hard-hitting, but whenever something meaningful happens, the audience is subjected to tedious rock music by Melissa Etheridge and it becomes a music video. (She’s credited with 5 songs on the soundtrack, but I defy anyone to tell them apart). Some nice performances, but ultimately a minor film.
Reservoir Dogs
Posted in Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller with tags 1992 on August 4, 2008 by Mark Hobin
Bloody doesn’t even begin to describe this landmark film about a jewelry heist gone wrong. The witty script is the real star here. Tarantino’s distinctive style: story told out of sequence, 70s soundtrack, pop culture references, excessive profanity and violent crime, would go on to influence many films of the 90s.
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