Fans of edge-of-your-seat courtroom dramas are in for a treat tonight, as one of the 'best films of all time' is set to air on television. Hailed as an 'enthralling classic' that fans have 'watched 300 times', this gripping legal thriller boasts some of Hollywood's most gifted and celebrated actors.
Dubbed a 'masterpiece' by fans, A Few Good Men will air on Film4 tonight, August 30, at 9pm. The 1992 American legal drama features Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, and Demi Moore in the leading roles, alongside Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak, J. T. Walsh, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Kiefer Sutherland, rounding out an exceptionally talented supporting cast.
Behind the Scenes of the Legal Thriller
Helmed by director Rob Reiner with a screenplay crafted by Aaron Sorkin, both have received considerable praise for their storytelling and direction. A Few Good Men was adapted from Sorkin's 1989 stage play of the same name. Sorkin's inspiration for the play came from a telephone conversation with his sister Deborah, a Boston University Law School graduate who had enlisted for a three-year posting with the US Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps.
The film's official synopsis reads: "A military lawyer intends to prove that two US Marines charged with murdering a fellow Marine were only following their base commander's orders."
Box Office Success and Critical Acclaim
A Few Good Men was released on December 11, 1992, and went on to become a tremendous commercial success, taking $243 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of $40 million. Not only was the 'gripping' legal drama a box office triumph, it also earned widespread critical acclaim, securing four Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing.
Fascinatingly, Sorkin wrote the majority of the film's storyline on cocktail napkins while working as a bartender at the Palace Theatre on Broadway. He and his flatmates had bought a Macintosh 512K at the time, and upon returning home from his shifts behind the bar, Sorkin would reportedly empty his pockets of the napkins and begin typing the hastily scrawled words into his computer. These napkins formed the foundation of many of the play's earliest drafts.
Critics and Fans React
Critics were utterly blown away by the film, with one writing: "A Few Good Men has a whole cast of good men - and one good woman - and it's this ensemble that makes director Rob Reiner's conventional courtroom drama so enthralling." Another reviewer said of the legal drama: "The courtroom scenes are gripping, the complexities of the plot (screenplay by Aaron Sorkin from his play) well controlled. And Jack Nicholson lights up the screen with his rage and bitterness and his final bluster."
While one critic said: "With outstanding performances throughout the cast, superb direction by Rob Reiner and a fine, taut screenplay by Aaron Sorkin, who adapted his own Broadway success, the movie marches by at double-time."
Viewers have been equally captivated by the film, with one fan posting on Rotten Tomatoes: "This movie is a classic and I have watched countless times over the years. It has everything a great movie needs. The cast is amazing, story line is fantastic, plot will keep you interested and the ending is brilliant!!!" An IMDB user review says: "This is my all-time favourite movie. I've probably watched it 300 times and I can recite it line by line. The acting is superb and Aaron Sorkin's story sucks you in from the opening minute. There is so much great dialogue, headlined by Tom Cruise's courtroom battle with Jack Nicholson at the movie's climax."
While another audience member said: "What a film, absolutely a masterclass in acting, story. Just finished the movie for the first time, and let there be no doubt, it shall not be the last." One fan of the film said: "Pure Gold. I still have goosebumps from this fine specimen of a movie. Such a wonderful script, so many brilliant performances." Meanwhile, another viewer said: "It's one of the best movies of all time. There are actually very few evergreen movies that one likes to see again and again, this is one of them, you always feel great after watching it."
A Few Good Men will air tonight on Film4 at 9pm. It's also available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.
