A Few Good Men

Written by: Aaron Sorkin Starring: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Pollack, Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland

A big, polished production with a lot of star-turn pyrotechnics. But it's all a bit sterile and never really rises above the level of melodrama. Cruise is fine, but Reiner relies way too much on closeups of him glowering. Plus, the "revered father" theme is one that is a bit tired. Nicholson does just what you'd expect, and as well as you'd expect, though it is essentially a one-note role. Moore is fine too, though as a typical male sexist pig I have trouble getting past her incredible glamourousness (glamourosity?). Still, it is a very professional job all around, and certainly an entertaining couple of hours, and there are some priceless lines (Who can forget, "You can't handle the truth!"?) [webmaster's note: penned by Sorkin, who has gone onto become my favorite TV writer, with "Sports Night" and "The West Wing."]