Day 4: 3rd Act Climax

[Carol Kennedy]

A Few Good Men — Taking Down Jessup

One of the most well-written scenes in movie history in my opinion. The characters both have a significant arcs in this scene with Kaffee appearing initially nervous bumbling and intimidated by the highly decorated Colonel and the Colonel appearing pompous, arrogant, and annoyed by this ridiculous investigation. They have conflicting views of the world that are clear:

COLONEL: Angry because he feels he is protecting him, his family and the country and can do whatever necessary to do so and ‘how dare he question HIM!
He feels a significant sacrifice he has made in his life for everyone and he should not only be honored because of it, but respected and never questioned

KAFFEE: Believes in integrity and honor should be coupled with such. He’s emotionally invested in the case and feels a duty to find the truth and disclose it.

Here are several key dialogue points that make the scene so very good and continue to increase intension throughout:

Calling him ‘son’ and demanding he be addressed by his title – arrogance and intimidation.

“You snotty little bastard” heighten of tension.

“You can’t handle the truth” the irony to Tom Cruises role, condescending.

CLEAR ARC BOTH CHARACTERS MOVE TO:
Tom Cruise’s confidence at the end ‘don’t call me son’…you son of a bitch”
FINALLY:
The Colonel completely now out of control/lost his cool: I’m going to rip the eyes out of your head and piss in your dead skull.”

Of course, none of the above could be accomplished without the clever and skill of both Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson.

[Ali Jordan]

It has tension, build up and a huge pay off at the end. What I like about it too, is that you get a brief run down of events that happened prior so it’s almost like you only have to watch this scene to get the entire movie. The two characters are strong and you can really see both sides of the argument. Stakes are high for both as they battle it out. Jessups arrogance is also his downfall as Kaffee pins him into a corner and he just blurts out a confession. It’s little hard to believe that he doesn’t need to answer the question but does anyway. Would a hardend marine colonel really let his emotions get the best of him in that situation? I honestly think not. Especially to a “holier than thou” young lawyer. The scene works great to finish off the movie but I don’t consider it very realistic.

[Julie Scorziell]

SCENE ANALYSIS: A FEW GOOD MEN COURTROOM SCENE

The scene starts with Jack Nicholson ready to step down from the witness stand. He is in control of the courtroom, instructing everyone to call him Sir or Colonel because he’s earned it, knowing that he won’t be convicted. Attorney Tom Cruise tells him he is not yet dismissed and he needs to get back in the chair. Cruise then leads Nicholson into a corner with his interrogation and gets Nicholson to admit he ordered the Code Red. Nicholson is arrested and seems confused by what is going on. The writing is perfection and the acting is top-notch with both actors bringing their A game. The emotions are real.

Tension rises as the anger between the two characters grows. Both are completely convinced about the truth and value of their respective positions which are diametrically opposed. As Nicholson reveals more truths about what it takes to defend the nation so people like Cruise can sleep at night, the scene becomes more tense and intriguing. “You can’t handle the truth,” is a classic line. The entire scene ends with a dilemma for Nicholson — either admit his men disregarded him and his order or that he gave the order. The final twist occurs when Nicholson admits that he did give the order.

Everything deescalates then as Kevin Bacon reads Nicholson his rights and the military police arrest him. The audience almost feels sorry for Nicholson who seems confused that this could be happening to him when he truly believes his actions were to protect the nation.

[Sharon Martin]

“A Few Good Men” is a series of challenges. Who will pull rank? First by Col. Jessup who tries to dismiss the whole affair and walk away. Lt. Kaffee pulls what rank he has and gets him to sit back down. Jessup demands respect. The judge demands respect. Dripping with sarcasm, Jessup yells his put down. Calmly, Kaffee maintains respect in the situation presenting a contrast to Jessup’s superior rank. Then through a series of strategic questioning, Jessup is led to incriminating himself. As Kaffee mirrors Jessup’s anger and outrage and gets the confession, speaking the very language that the bully understands. Ironically, Jessup doesn’t even understand the trap he’s walked into at first. He doesn’t know what an Article 39 is. When he realizes what has happened, responds again with anger and violence. The judge pulls rank. Kaffee pulls rank by finally dismissing him–into custody. A perfectly constructed scene.

[Ar Marewski]

I remember how impressed I was when I first saw this. And almost 30 years later this scene still gives me goose-bumps. It is great for many reasons.

1. Two strong characters with clear standpoints that both seem to be legitimate.

2 Very high stakes. Both men have a lot to loose.

But it is mostly 3. , the structure of the scene: From the start the scene keeps you by the edge of your seat by building up tension and suspense. It is sort of a ascent-of-character-story and here underdog Kaffee faces the ultimate test. Right in the beginning, he almost gives in. He seems at his wits end and his ally even gives him a wink to give up. But he can’t. He has to face what he’s been running away from his whole life. It’s a surrogate war he has to fight to overcome his own father-complex and Jessup even calls him “son”. His presence and condescending behavior are very intimidating. But it’s his hubris that becomes Jesupps weak-spot in the end, but that comes as a surprise twist in the end. This is something audiences have enjoyed watching since the Ancient Greek theatre. It somehow is a great relief to audiences, when hubris get’s exposed and punished. It is this effect, that made the series “Columbo” such a big world-wide success. In the end, the antagonist always falls prey to their own arrogance and self-entitlement.

There is also the quality of the writing, When Jesupp talks about his duty, I almost think: Yes he has a point. But when he finally into his arrogant hate-speech I can feel that something has way out of proportion in this man. Yet, I can even feel sorry for him, because he is also a victim of a flawed system and I have no doubt that he strongly believes he is doing the best for his country and everyone “sleeping under the blanket of freedom he provides”.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by  Ar Marewski.

[John Woodward]

3:10 to Yuma. Scene arc, situation, conflict, moving the story forward, entertainment value, and setups/payoffs

Situation: Post Civil War old west in Arizona. Dan Evans wants to deliver Ben Wade to the train that takes prisoners to Yuma for trial. It’s the correct thing to do, and Dan wants to accomplish the delivery of the leader of a gang of armed robbers against the almost 99.99% chance he will be killed trying to accomplish the dangerous feat. Dan persists because he wants his son to see that he has courage.

HIGH STAKES CONFLICT: Dan and his son battle Ben Wade’s gang of about 8 heavily armed and highly skilled gunmen. Initially, Charlie Prince, Wade’s second in command, fires at Dan from a corral full of steers. REVERSAL: Dan’s son, William, drives the steers out of the corral. The animals trample Charlie. He’s injured, but still capable of shooting. The steers provide cover for Dan to fire at the gang members.

When Dan delivers Ben to the jail car on the train. Ben sincerely congratulates him, but one of the gang shoots Dan in the back. SURPRISE: Ben yells NO to stop the gang, apparently genuinely concerned for Dan’s life and his mission to impress his son. Charlie stumbles forward firing bullets into Dan’s chest. Ben exits the train out of concern for Dan who is dying at his feat. Charlie calls Dan, “one tough son of a bitch.” The gang tosses Ben’s pistol to him. The pistol is decorated with Christ’s cross. Ben stares at the cross. REVERSAL: Charlie realizes Ben is not himself and draws his pistol, but Ben fires rapidly, killing 6 of his gang members. Ben places his pistol on the wounded Charlie’s chest, and fires. Dan’s son William witnesses all of it.

William runs to his father, tells him, “You done it, Pa. You got him on the train.” Dan smiles slightly as he dies. William pulls a pistol, aims it at Ben. Ben faces him, willing to die. William can’t pull the trigger, lowers the pistol. DRAMATIC REVERSAL: Ben gets on the train, surrenders his firearm, sits down inside the cell. Ben submits himself out of a moral sense of honoring Dan, his worthy adversary. The train pulls away as William kneels over his dad. Ben Whistles. His horse runs after the train.

What I learned: There is almost no dialogue in the entire scene. The action is powerfully dramatic, and its meaning is conveyed substantially through subtext that is very open to interpretation.