A Few Good Men poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland ... see more see more... , Kevin Pollak , James Marshall , J.T. Walsh , Christopher Guest , J.A. Preston , Matt Craven , Wolfgang Bodison , Association of Former Fish Drill Team , Xander Berkeley , David Bowe , Harry Caesar , Frank Cavestani , Michael De Lorenzo , Cuba Gooding Jr. , John M. Jackson , Oscar Jordan , Lawrence Lowe , Joshua Malina , John M. Mathews , Geoffrey Nauffts , Ron Ostrow , Mathew Saks , Arthur Senzy , Cameron Thor , Al Wexo , Gene Whittington , Maud Winchester , Noah Wyle , Aaron Sorkin , Jan Munroe , Jane Jenkins , Janet Hirshenson

In this military courtroom drama based on the play by Aaron Sorkin, Navy lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) is assigned to defend two Marines, Pfc. Louden Downey (James Marshall) and Lance Cpl. Har... read more read more...old Dawson (Wolfgang Bodison), who are accused of the murder of fellow leatherneck Pfc. William Santiago (Michael de Lorenzo) at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Kaffee generally plea bargains for his clients rather than bring them to trial, which is probably why he was assigned this potentially embarassing case, but when Lt. Commander JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore) is assigned to assist Kaffee, she is convinced that there's more to the matter than they've been led to believe and convinces her colleague that the case should go to court. Under questioning, Downey and Dawson reveal that Santiago died in the midst of a hazing ritual known as "Code Red" after he threatened to inform higher authorities that Dawson opened fire on a Cuban watchtower. They also state that the "Code Red" was performed under the orders of Lt. Jonathan Kendrick (Kiefer Sutherland). Kendrick's superior, tough-as-nails Col. Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson), denies any knowledge of the order to torture Santiago, but when Lt. Col. Matthew Markinson (J.T. Walsh) confides to Kaffee that Jessup demanded the "Code Red" for violating his order of silence, Kaffee and Galloway have to find a way to prove this in court. A Few Good Men also features Kevin Bacon as prosecuting attorney Capt. Jack Ross and Kevin Pollak as Kaffee and Galloway's research assistant, Lt. Sam Weinberg. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

83% liked it

300,338 ratings

Critics

84% liked it

43 critics

R, 2 hr. 18 min.

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Release Date: December 11, 1992

Keywords: military, courtroom

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: October 7, 1997

Get It:

Stats: 11,049 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

A Few Good Men A Few Good Men A Few Good Men Jack Nicholson & Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men A Few Good Men YOU CAN"T HANDLE THE TRUTH! A Few Good Men Demi Moore A Few Good Men A Few Good Men Kevin Bacon in A Few Good Men
Upload a Photo | View All A Few Good Men Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (11,049)

  • jmanard52
    May 11, 2008
    jmanard52
    Can you handle the truth? One of the best court room dramas ever.
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    May 23, 2012
    StarCrossedVoyager
    I'm not one for courtroom dramas, but I actually quite liked this. I felt a part of the team and although I didn't always understand exactly what was going on, there was a huge sense of triumph. The tension was built brilliantly so that I didn't even notice it until the end of th... read moree climax. Brilliant performances from everyone here, the only things I can say is that it was difficult to follow what was happening at times because of the numerous characters and legal dialogue I'm not attuned to. It went on a bit too long for my liking but it definitely paid off. Not a film for everyone, but something I surprisingly liked.
  • bbcfloridabound
    July 12, 2011
    bbcfloridabound
    Can't believe I haven't review this film up till now. Who hasn't seen it. Watch just about any movie channel around a patriotic holiday and this will be on it. During my military career I worked for many a men who acted just like the part played by Jack Nicholson. For his part al... read moreong this movie gets 5 Stars. You want the truth, you can't handle the truth.
  • DreamExtractor
    June 19, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A classic, the best courtroom drama sice To Kill A Mockingbird
  • ythelastman89
    June 4, 2011
    ythelastman89
    The definition of a dynamite cast; Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson boil up an intensity together that is almost too much to handle. Both actors give out tour-de-force performances and are two of the main reasons that this is such a memorable and flawless piece of movie magic. While... read more it's a completely performance driven movie, I still feel like there was an effort to make these performances look as natural and free flowing as possible. That is only the result of meticulous editing and great directing. Rob Reiner has directed just about every single type of movie and does a beautiful job here. Courtroom dramas are hard because they're either really amazing or truly terrible, but A Few Good Men stands as one of the best. Full of classic lines, classic characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the finale, it's hard not to find yourself enjoying it.
  • SirPant
    May 31, 2011
    SirPant
    Well I finally got round to watching this and I have to say I was quite surprised as I really thought I'd hate it. It's a cheesy drama though, you have to admit, very typical of Hollywood in the early 90's. The story was interesting I suppose and the direction was good but it was... read more the key performances from the impressive cast that really makes the film. Tom Cruise had a tendency to be really annoying around this time and a little bit of overacting aside, he does a pretty good job. Kevin Bacon also does a great job in a supporting role but it is Jack Nicholson who steals the show, each line he delivers is convincingly venomous and it's a fantastic performance. The script is very 50/50 though, it's funny how all the worst lines seem to be the best remembered and admired. The 'Lunch by the Sea' scene is fantastic but no one ever talks about it!
  • jonnyjason
    April 26, 2011
    jonnyjason
    'A Few Good Men' is a 1992 courtroom drama directed by Rob Reiner starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore.
    Summary: When an ostracized marine winds up dead after being hazed by two of his unit mates in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Navy lawyer Lt. J. G. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cr... read moreuise) is assigned to defend the reputed murderers at their court martial, in a supposedly open-and-shut case. After a string of unsuspected circumstances, though, Kaffee starts to believe that things may not be as they appear. Thirsty for the truth, he and Joanne Galloway (Demi Moore) begin to delve deeper into the case and expose a shocking reality. Consensus:A Few Good Men brings up complex and fascinating issues surrounding the military and the expectations of soldiers in uniform: the nature of orthodoxy, persecution of the weak, the price of unquestioning obedience to superiors. This movie was so fantastic, because, well, it was like Jack Nicholson said, "You want the truth, you can't handle the truth!" It divided the audience in half, by raising moral correctness vs. political correctness issues. no real good guy or bad guy. Overall:This movie delivers a whopping dose of political intrigue, good acting, and a deliciously intricate plot. If you're looking for a courtroom drama, a military film, or just a good movie in general, this would be a film you wouldn't regret watching.
  • rjayhutchinson
    February 5, 2011
    rjayhutchinson
    While the film seems to waste some of its time on small, insignificant subplots, the core plot of the film is as good as anything out of a John Grisham novel. The film finishes well with an exciting climax and a thoughtful denouement, leaving the viewer with a good impression of ... read morethe film. Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson are excellent in their roles.
  • MovieGeek13
    December 26, 2010
    MovieGeek13
    "I want the truth!" - Tom Cruise.
    "You can't handle the truth!" - Jack Nicholson
    This scene is probably more famous than the movie from where it comes from. Of course, Rob Reiner's A Few Good Men was quite a popular movie back in 1992. But what a movie it is!
    Two Army lieutenants... read more stationed out at Guatanamo Bay are charged with the murder of one of their own. Tom Cruise and Demi Moore play two hot shot Navy officers charged with defending the case. What looks on the surface as an open and shut plea bargain becomes a complex and disturbing look at what it takes to be a soldier under the most extreme and life threatening of conditions.
    I can't say any more about this movie. Everything works. The film is a masterpiece and one of the best legal dramas. Tom Cruise is fantastic as the arrogant defense lawyer and Jack Nicholson plays his perfect opponent as the lieutenants' Colonel. The scene that they share together is completely epic and one of the most tense courtroom scenes ever filmed.
  • lewiskendell
    September 1, 2010
    lewiskendell
    "Unit. Corps. God. Country."

    Legal dramas aren't usually too high up on my "must see" list, but A Few Good Men intrigued me with it's great cast and completely won me over with some fantastic performances.

    The story is a pretty standard tale of military misconduct and those in ... read morepower protecting themselves at the expense of others, but it's the great interactions between the characters and the riveting courtroom exchanges that made this such an enjoyable flick. Tom Cruise stars in the kind of rakish, devil-may-care type of role that he excels at, but does a great job of getting across the fact that under his boyish charm, Kaffee is a damn good lawyer. His camaraderie with Demi Moore and Kevin Pollack, his respectful rivalry with Kevin Bacon, his explosive confrontations with Nicholas and Sutherland, and his complicated relationship with two defendants, all ring true. And that's all testament to how good Cruise was in this role.

    I'd recommend this to fans of legal drama, as well as those who don't really get excited at the prospect of courtroom showdowns. A Few Good men is the kind of movie that you don't have to be a genre fan to enjoy.

View All A Few Good Men Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
December 21, 2008
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

An extraordinarily well-made movie, which wastes no words or images in telling a conventional but compelling story. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
October 18, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety

The same histrionic fireworks that gripped theater audiences will prove even more compelling to filmgoers due to the star power and dramatic screw-tightening. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

The screenplay is a good one, directed with care and acted, for the most part, with terrific conviction. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

That the performances are uniformly outstanding is a tribute to Rob Reiner (Misery), who directs with masterly assurance, fusing suspense and character to create a movie that literally vibrates with e...

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Men is full of loaded, manly moments, great clashes of will and excellent buzz cuts. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie's setup scenes have good energy to them. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

It's a grand undertaking that wrangles with the heavy questions that cropped up at Nuremberg and My Lai, questions that deserve and get lots of imposing shots of monuments and not a little swashbuckli... Full Review

December 21, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The final scene, when Kaffee locks horns with Jessep, more than makes up for the predictability of what's come before. Full Review

December 21, 2008
Film4

Although Nicholson has little more than an extended cameo, he seizes the final courtroom scene and makes it a tour de force of cinema. Full Review

Pablo Villaca
August 16, 2006
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Julgando-se mais importante e inteligente do que é na verdade, o filme conta com um roteiro ingênuo em seu idealismo juvenil e traz Cruise em uma performance implausível e repleta de maneirismos de es...

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Rules of Engagement
    Rules of Engagement (88%)
  • 12 Angry Men (Twelve Angry Men)
    12 Angry Men (Twelve Angry Men) (94%)
  • The Firm
    The Firm (77%)
  • The General's Daughter
    The General's Daughter (100%)

More Movies like A Few Good Men

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Col. Nathan R. Jessep: You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. 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. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
    • Lieutenant J.G. Daniel Kaffe: Did you order the code red?
    • Lt. Sam Weinberg: Why do you like them so much?
    • Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway: Because they stand on a wall, and say 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch.'
    • Lieutenant J.G. Daniel Kaffe: Should we or should we not follow follow the advice of the galactically stupid!
    • Col. Nathan R. Jessep: You can't handle the truth!
    • Col. Nathan R. Jessep: I run my unit how I run my unit. You want to investigate me, roll the dice and take your chances. I eat breakfast 300 yards from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill me, so don't think for one second that you can come down here, flash a badge, and make me nervous.
    • Lieutenant J.G. Daniel Kaffe: Wow. I'm actually getting sexually aroused.
Submit a Fact | View All

A Few Good Men : Watch Free on TV

A Few Good Men Trivia

  • This quote "Harold, you dont have to wear a patch on your arm to have honour" is from which fabulous film?  Answer »
  • Which of these movies is NOT based on a John Grisham novel?  Answer »
  • A driven young neo military lawyer, appointed to investigate the case of two Marines accused of the murder of an unpopular recruit in a secret 'Code Red' sanction, risks all on a head-to-head confrontation in court with the fearsome garrison commander to expose dubious military practice???  Answer »
  • In the movie, "A Few Good Men". What did Tom Cruise tell Kevin Bacon in the bar when he got mad at him?  Answer »
More A Few Good Men Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All A Few Good Men Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add A Few Good Men to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?