This is Jessup's game He is not interested in any contribution from a lower level. The job is to save lives and he is the only one who knows how to. In Jessup's Gitmo all what you can say is Yes Sir.
I think “Tom” was familiar enough with the Col. that he knew it was a gag by his tone of voice and that the order would be belied before he could get the door closed. But, another thing I never understood is, thats the second time that Jessup infers that he answers to POTUS. Is that true? A field Col.,despite it being a forward position, doesn’t talk to a General first?
Jack's tone of voice reminded me of his scene in Easy Rider, when he clarified what he was ordering for the benefit of the waitress who didn't understand.
@timmellin The one where he wanted toast, which wasn't on the menu so he ordered a toasted sandwich, and told her to hold the filling ? That was Five Easy Pieces not Easy Rider.
Is Jack Nicholson REALLY a great actor ? In most roles, Jack Nicholson plays Jack Nicholson. He is VERY GOOD at playing Jack Nicholson. He's had years of practice. He's very well cast in his best most famous parts, where a Jack Nicholson is needed.
I love sarcastic answers, and I've often used Jessup's same tone of voice and M.O. in some of my own situations I encounter. My dad was a former Marine and a champion of the smart ass retort, which he would use against everyone that didn't meet his expectations. I picked up lots of that, to my chagrin. But near the end of his life, he started to show some feet of clay, yet still had the old spark. I've always liked ice in my beer to keep it chilled, (that's very unorthodox.) At a family gathering in dad's old age, he growled " I don't understand how you put ice in your beer." So, I replied w/ a straight face: "Dad, the way you put ice in your beer, is you take the ice in your hand, place it in the glass and then pour beer over the ice." To which he replied: "you're nothing but a smart ass !" I said: "Thanks, dad....I learned it all from you."
@@DGenerationX69 In poor Toms defence. He's the only one who comes close to someone of his rank speaking to any other rank depicted in this scene. The rest of this is pure fiction.
This movie is saturated with talents. Jack was a legend already. Walsh, Tom, Demi, Kevin and many actors made it big in Hollywood. This is a classic movie among many classics during 90s - the best decade for classics.
@@Anthony-gq7dkI liked him in that TV show where the government got wiped out and he went from fourth assistant undersecretary for citrus fruit in eastern Latin America or something to President. It was a shit show but he did a good job. And Doc Scurlock, of course. Otherwise, I agree, he's better as a bad guy.
@@johnnealis6826 There's probaly a dozen movies like that you don't think of until you have a list of his work in front of you. On another note- man, Jeff Bridges was so creepy in that movie. It gives me goosebumps all these years later.
Santa Operator would have wrapped a booby-trapped claymore package, & put it under the tree addressed to, To PFC Santiago, From Santa. A lump of coal just wouldn't have cut the mustard...
I blame Dr Stone for Santiago’s death.He missed his coronary condition during a routine medical exam.Had he diagnosed it ,Santiago would have probably been medically discharged & Jessup would have made 1 ⭐️
If I'm parroting a line from the movie, forgive me. However, in the grand scheme of defending a nation we need the Colonel Jessups of the world. I'm certain he had no clue that Santiago being given a code red would die. How many times had these been administered to other lackluster marines or soldiers and had nothing but good things to show for them. Before it starts, I'm not condoning murder. In battle you want the most BA people to fight for your country. G.S. Patton proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. He was tough but fair.
@reevertransport3979 sure he was a tough leader and when it comes to the military you need tough leaders to train troops as war is he11 however the moment that Santiago was ki11ed he took no responsibility as a leader and figured he'd let two low ranking soldiers take the fall.
There is no evidence that Santiago had a coronary condition other than Dr Tom Cruise making a diagnosis. Normal physical exam and work up. I’m sure he had a normal EKG. No mention of autopsy findings of a heart problem. Chest pain and shortness of breath could occur in any out of shape American male who tried to exercise like a Marine. In that sense the doctor was at fault because he should have discharged Santiago for not being fit enough to be a Marine.
If you've never seen A Few Good Men, it's about a young officer named Tom, who struggles with nightmares after discovering the truth about US plans to surrender to Cuba.
-"What are we gonna do with him? Transfer him?" -"Yeah, I'll transfer him, all the way out from the USMC. It's clear that he isn't fit to be a soldier, so I want him out." *Roll credits*
I really enjoyed this movie but it is make-believe. I understand you have to bend reality to make a story but the reality is, if you are a bad enough soldier to be a conversation in the CO'S office, the only conversation worth it's salt, at that point, is to prepare Santiago's release.
@@iwanegerstrom4564 Actually, I think it's safe to say that type of conversation wouldn't even happen in the CO's office. It would be held in the Sargent Major's office. Where the hell is the SM in all of this??? lol.
@Viprz bear in mind this movie was conceived, written and executed by those who bear a high level of contempt for the military and the people who served: the Meathead himself; who went out of his way to show it in the worst possible light
I watch it every time on TV, with the only problem being that classic scenes like this one get watered down to edit out the language. You can't watch this movie without "Who the f### is William F. Santiago?"
Yes...guilty pleasures: for me I like scenes from this film, full Passenger 57, full Under Seige, full Dr. Zhivago. Once I start watching, I can't stop.
My Pasadena City College Georgraphy instructor Mr. Redman wasn't snide and sarcastic like the Nicholson character, but very similar in matter of fact as to how the class would not be a day at the beach. Very serious and down to earth. On the last day of class in the same serious tone, he told a story about how he had had a disastrous Africa expeidition years earlier, and by the time he was done, we were almost rolling in the aisles laughing, as he was so tongue in cheeck w/out even breaking his serious character.
Jessup: "Don't ever question my orders in front of another officer". Markinson: "Well, maybe it's your own damn fault for not taking the conversation private when I suggested it..."
Jessep was pretty arrogant throughout. The part where he says he's been promoted faster and with greater success than Markinson really got me. They're only one rank apart.
Jessup's thinking was understandable, the only and huge problem was that he was willing to sacrifice his men to save his own skin. That makes him a cowardly psychopath instead of a good commander who simply made a grave mistake by misunderstanding a situation.
Actually their thinking was void of one glaring problem. Santiago kept having heat strokes. This is a marine who made it through basic training. So why all of a sudden is he having a problem with running? That screams underlying health problems. They didn't catch it, the medical staff didn't catch it. This whole idiocy was started by ignoring that one problem which would have resolved this right away. Transferring him back to the states they might have found the health problem. So the second in command was right.
@@writerconsidered Unfortunately though it did not matter that he was right. Jessup was his commanding officer and first-in-command so given his position in the pecking order he was still wrong for questioning Jessup. I agree with you he was right but being right and doing what you are told by a higher authority are two different things.
@@xyPERSON He asked for a private discussion. He answered Jessup's question on what is his opinion. Jessup wanted him to echo his thoughts, which he did not do. That's why Jessup became angry and escalated the talk, pushing it to the moment where he always wins. Jessup was a terrible leader. For the comparison: In Game of Throne Alliser Thorne is a similar character to Jessup. But Thorne does say that Snow was right at some point. He is standing out as an ultra dominant leader but he can watch himself in a mirror and realize his fails. Jessup is not like this. Even in the courtroom he asks what is happening. He really does not see any wrong about losing a soldier's life out of his personal pride.
I agree. If he was so concerned for the good of the corps he would not have concealed his behavior and lied about his behavior, which means his “concern for the corps” was a lie as well.
Tom later became a Secret Service agent who had trouble spelling ukulele, and later still good friends with Dr. James Wilson, which helped when his liver failed.
This is where you see why Jessep is a terrible leader. His 2IC or whatever he is, is there to offer his honest advice and to speak his mind, not be a yes man. Markinson offers to speak in private, gets rejected, so then says out loud his opinion, which is what he’s there for and paid to do. Instead, Jessep reacts like the hugely prideful, arrogant asshole he is and lambasts Markinson as though he stepped out of line and was being facetious. Jessep thinks his position as a high ranking military leader entitles him to non-negotiable respect and immunity to criticism, which is why his constant monologues on military honor are a bunch of bullshit: He demands the respect associated with but shows none of the responsibilities for the role, he just wants people to what he says
Spot on analysis. Absolute narcissist. All he had to do was get Santiago medically assessed. Santiago fails it, he gets transferred, no longer his problem. If Santiago passes it, he should've just put him through training without a code red and he fails his next proficiency, then transfer him, no longer a problem with all credible reasons to do so.
Yeah, how Santiago even got through Boot Camp in the first place if he was shit at fitness is beyond me, if he had a heart condition, it should have immediately ruled him out for this sort of highly physical role. The doctor is probably going to get sued for malpractice or something@@marks_sparks1
@@marks_sparks1 Actually Santiago was revealed during the trial to be medically assessed by Christopher Guest's Dr. Stone character (albeit presumably negligently based on Kaffee's cross-examination) who stated "gave Santiago a clean bill of health" despite evidence of a faulty heart condition. We can also assume Jessup likely had a hand in that too. Great movie I can discuss hours on end having watcted it countless times over the last 31 years when first saw it as a U.S. Navy E-1 enlistee.
Well said. His first and default response is cruelty and humiliation. It's an armor against his own sense of personal powerlessness as a human. If you have to shove your authority down someone's throat, you don't really have it in the first place. You're masquerading. That road usually leads to the same place.
That look of ice that Markeson gives Jessup when he talks about being promoted faster than him was good acting. One look in the eye conveys his resentment and wounded pride.
Then you have bad leadership. If he's a colonel, then calling him that doesn't violate any military law. That is his rank. Sir or their rank are both perfectly acceptable responses. No different than calling a master sergeant, sergeant. As it is acceptable by the military regulation
@@DJ_TRON I agree with you about calling an officer by his rank, however I would not call a master sergeant "sergeant". I would refer to him as "master sergeant".
The crazy part is that there is no way a 1st Lt. would speak like that to a Lt. Col, and no way a Colonel would speak to a Lt. Col. like that in front of a 1st Lieutenant. Ain’t. No. Way.
Yeah, and the whole yelling scene in the court martial between Tom Cruise and Nicholson would never happen either. I was talking movies w a former JAG attorney now in civil practice, and he said that wouldn’t even happen in the courthouse downtown. The Caine Mutiny, Breaker Morant and Paths of Glory are the 3 best court martial movies. This one was entertaining because of Jack, but way over the top Hollywood.
That's because Rob Reiner is and always be a liberal meathead and he has no clue about the Military. Great movie but it is anti military. My Marine Corps buddies hate it!
@brandond73 . I would suggest to you that anyone who has not been in the military cannot really understand it. It has nothing to do with one's political views. I think you just needed an excuse to express your political hate.
@@trwent The court martial yelling and profanity would NEVER happen in a real court martial. The screenwriter Aaron Sorkin knows all about eating magic mushrooms and obviously had no JAG consultant on this movie. Courts martial are very formal and decorum is always maintained. The Caine Mutiny got that exactly right according to every JAG I’ve ever discussed that movie with. Jack and Tom were cartoon characters. Meathead obviously hates the military. Kiefer Sutherland’s character is rule breaking bible thumper, Jack is a loudmouth bully, and the only guy who respected the truth killed himself rather than go along with the villains. South Park got Meathead right.
@@brinsonharris9816 I do not know why it is "obvious" from this movie that Reiner hates the military. This is hardly the first movie to be unrealistic for the sake of excitement. And speaking of hating the military, what about Trump refusing to visit Omaha Beach because, according to him, it was full of "losers" and "suckers" like John McCain?
I saw a former Navy JAG office review this movie. He likes it but has so many mistakes. First of all, a Colonel on his way to being a General is not going to ruin his career over one Marine who cannot run. You cannot charge an enlisted man with Conduct unbecoming, that is only for officers because enlisted are usually kids between 18-22 and are expected to do dumb things. The military hands out good conduct medals like T-Ball Trophies. As for the Climatic scene, the moment the judge Ruled Kafee out of order and was told to stop anything from that moment was inadmissible. In real life, Downey and Dawson get a plea deal and discharged. Kaffee would be disbarred and Jessup, while not guilty, would be quietly asked to retire because all of this blew his chance for promotion.
Did they know that this movie is based on an event that actually happened? I forgot most of the details with David Cox, but i know instead of 2 marines dishing a code red, it was 10. The kid that got the code red survived and the squad leader of the 10 marines either went missing or died? I forgot but look it up
@@a-a-ron4679 But in the movie, the accused are a Private and Lance Corporal, not Senior NCOs. That was his point about enlisted in their first tours do a lot of stupid stuff.
Caffee might have faced a hearing for disbarment, but unlikely he would have been. Maybe a censure, at worst. More importantly, the evidence would not have been inadmissible against the colonel in the colonel’s court martial. If the testimony was ruled inadmissible on appeal, then likely as not, on the retrial, they would have been given a sweet plea deal, as a primary witness against them was being tried for the crime.
I hate running but the fear of falling out of a run was greater than the physical pain of running. I never fell out of a run in the army. One day in AIT, I woke up with a tempature Im assuming was atleast 101. I was sick as a dog, and sick call wasnt held until after PT. I dont know how I did it, couldnt do it today, but I actually completed the 4 mile run, did not fall out and went to all my classes. I finally told the Drill Sergeant I was sick about halfway thru the day. He actually looked concerned, asked me if I could finish my classes in which I did, then after class I was taken to the hospital. I was running a tempature of 104. I spent the next 2 days in the hospital than back to my unit when I was better. What happened next was unbelievable. One particular morning the drill Sergeants were PISSED. They woke us up screaming and proceded to give the worst P.T. session Ive ever seen. Even in Basic I didnt see the Drills this pissed. We are all outside getting smoked for a barbecue lol. About 5 minutes in if that, we are on the ground doung flutter kicks. Im just getting warmed up, Im not even preheated yet lol. My drill segeant walks over to me and orders me on my feet. He said, when you were sick you missed our companies P.T. test. You have to make it up tomorrow with another company. Go to your room and relax. I couldnt believe my ears. My whole company is getting smoked to a crisp and Im in my room chilling with the orders of my drill sergeant. I knocked that PT test out of the water too and was actually pubicly praised on my performance. I will never forget it.
@@ratdad48 Son, we live in a world that has online video sharing platforms, and those platforms need to be guarded by men with guns. Who's going to do it, you?
"shipping a marine who's not up to the job to another assignment puts lives in danger" Not really. He could get a cushy desk job somewhere and you get someone better suited to replace him. You'll never run out of fit young men.
Jack Nicholson Plays Colonel Jessup Perfectly and I’ve Read That James Woods Auditioned For The Role Also This Scene is One of My Favorite Scenes in This Movie Besides The Last Courtroom Scene
When he does the we go way back speech you can actually feel all those years they served together. All the missions. All the memories. It's too bad that Col Jessup didn't value his opinion.
Many believe that Marlon Brando was the best actor that ever was. I disagree. The diner scene in “5 Easy Pieces.” started it for me. The talent is that Jack always plays crazy people and thus so just really plays himself.
I don't think someone like Nicholson is the best because others have shown they have much more of a range than Jack did in films. That takes another level of greatness to be able to become such different people so drastically. I don't think Jack would have ever put himself through losing 30 pounds for a movie, as one example.
@@BigBadJerryRogers I agree here. I think you have to have range to be considered a great actor. Not sure that Nicholson ever had it. and I really like Jack... or Tom Cruise, who kind of plays himself. A great actor steps OUT of his day to day personality. Somebody, like say Tom Hanks, or Roberte Deniro
@@GQElvie Character actors just play different versions of themselves. A number of these guys are just character actors being put into leads. Yes, Deniro has shown great range and diversity if you look at his whole body of work.
One of my favorite lines in the movie (and of all time given the context) was when Kaffie asked Jessup on cross if he felt Santiago's life might have been in "grave' danger if he wasn't transferred off the base, and Jessup, without missing a beat, retorts, "Is there another kind?"
I dislike using first names between officers and NCOs. We had that same problem in my former unit until the CO put a stop to it. We once had a visiting General officer who made a comment to the commander about such informal communication in front of junior enlisted members.
"John, you're in charge. If Santiago doesnt make 4-6, 4-6 on his next proficiency and conduct report Im going to blame you. Then Im going to kill you" "I think thats a mistake Colonel" 😂
Jessup is a brilliant antagonist. His idea to train Santiago is good. He gives the order to Kendrick who will see it through; he corrects Martinson effectively. He is to the point, intelligent and a bit humorous. He genuinely believes he has the best interests of the country at heart and that making Santiago a better marine is the best choice. He could have been venal or mean spirited. But he is an outstanding officer, at least in this scene. This multi layering is key to the movie and makes him such a great character.
He got one of his own men killed, willing to get two more almost imprisoned, and tried to weasel his way out of it. That's not honor but pure toxic leadership. Frightening to think how many others he's thrown under to bus to climb that ladder.
But you don't know that yet. This is the first scene. Reiner paints and Nicholson creates an honorable marine officer who says he wants to do the right thing. Only later do we learn he lies about transferring him off the base and at the end, ordered the code red. @@GraeShadowe
Jessup is pretty toxic in this scene. This would also be a wild conversation. Jessup letting a young lieutenant interrupt the 2nd in command in front of him. Jessup telling him he is gonna kill him. Oboy.
Are you kidding? Demeaning his XO sarcastically infront of a junior officer, siding with the junior officer when he rudely interrupts a much higher rank, threatening to kill the junior officer, even the private conversation with his XO could of been handled better. The XO was far more sensible in this situation. Colonel Jessup showed absolutely no respect to his XO who isn’t some wet behind the ears butter bars, he’s a LTC Colonel with an exceptional service record, combat veteran, counter intelligence experience. Jessup handled this meeting about as badly as possible.
Jesup didn’t know about the fence line shooting. This turned out to be his Achilles heel. Sutherlands character certainly knew about fence line shooting, didn’t tell jesup..
RIP JT Walsh. He was my favorite actor of all time. His roles in some of his movies were just outstanding. Blue chips and breakdown were some of his finest work.
Love the reactions from Walsh in these scenes, just by looking down at Jessup's "we're in the business of saving lives", he conveys he's heard this all before and thinks it's BS...but can't roll his eyes or sigh because he's a professional. It's only after Jessup says it again does he stand up to leave: he's had enough.
I do miss J.T. Walsh. He was an excellent character actor playing "good" and "bad" guys (even his uncredited brief role during Outbreak was electrifying) and here he has a supporting role to several famous thespians but like Alan Arkin in Glengarry Glen Ross he makes this character unique and as memorable as everyone else in this crackling drama.
Jessup is right here, if there is a problem with a member of the company the responsible thing to do is to address it and not transfer the problem onto another unsuspecting command. That is his platoon leader's job though, and a colonel should not be telling him what to do because you are also seeing how competent your platoon leader is as well. But as an officer, and particularly the commanding officer you have a responsibility to keep that man safe above all else.
You just made me realize the irony of Jessup's court room rant about "placing a man's life in your hands, and his in yours" and how that was the opposite of what he did by ordering the Code Red on Santiago.
Also his "Code, Honor, etc." in the same courtroom rant; he abandoned code and honor by the cover up. His assistant was so concerned about breaking code and honor by his role in the Code Red, and then having to confess to it, he eventually committed suicide because he saw no way out of his conflicting commitments........he was in a Catch 22 situation.
I'd like to write to everybody, including Santa Claus, and request that Tom be reconsidered for an Academy Award because that was the single most underrated performance in the history of cinema.
It's enlightening looking back at this decades later. Markinson was actually the smarter, more politically savvy operator. He understood how things were going. If Jessup had followed his advice, no problem. But Jessup - the old warrior - thought he was above politics. He sneered at Markinson - who he acknowledged had served alongside him - and preferred Kendrick, (who hadn't) so he was taken down by Kaffee and Galloway who were just pencil pushers who were never shot at. The movie portrays Jessup as this dinosaur, with old values which off their time might have been admirable but in the current era are cruel and to be vilified. To the extent he exhibits any honourable behaviour that makes you sympathise...that is bait. If you want to see how nothing is enough, consider how an officer like Markinson would be perceived today when Levine is at large.
This is actually completely wrong, Jessup was a reactionary conservative who has contempt for democracy, the rule of law and the society in which he was entrusted to defend. He failed because he was so politically right-wing, he refused to do what conduct was expected of a military of democracy. Typical vile fascist.
Why the hell do you care enough about this shitty movie to gasbag as you have about it? It's absurd. One legal team represents TWO defendants? Legally unethical and impermissible. Nicholson cast as a Marine colonel? Total misfit. Story idiotic. Cruise not a JAG officer the best day he lives. Bodison's character stating: "Ten hut! There's an officer on deck!" -- unreal; would never happen. How people get wound up over this film amazes me. You can buy into it -- MAYBE -- IF you never served in USMC or never received legal training. Otherwise, it's shit
@@Whitegorillaboy Why do you care about a comment enough to rant on about unrelated stuff? I never claimed it was a good movie or a documentary or if Cruise was a good casting choice. Weird. But carry on.
@@JonWilde2105 Because, fool, you wrote a lot of nonsense because it's the only place someone of your kind can get an audience. Try thinking before baiting readers into scanning your tripe.
Is it wrong to think that a base would have a Colonel and a Lt Colonel on staff at the same time? I have no idea personally - just seems like a lot of rank in one place
I question why he a) made it through meps b) made it through basic military training c) made it through technical training d) survived god knows how long before it reached a head. I’m not a marine, but in the Air Force we call that Swiss cheese. At a minimum, you ask what is wrong with the lad i.e. medical psych etc. once you figure out he’s full of shit, THEN you train him. Jessup was in love with himself and his perspective of glory which ultimately led to the death of a marine under his command. Not a good example of a leader.
@@Cabrasisboth sides have merit. Also the issue that canon fodder have always been used in war. In many armies soldiers are treated as being expendable. Only movies promote valour.
Of course they would have treated him differently....but since this is garbage anti-army propaganda they want you to believe that this wouldn't make any difference
That's a great movie, it opened up quite the fuss in youtube, which is unfortunate...often misunderstood. I feel like it is our duty as the audience, that any marvels like this movie keeps on standing the test of time. There are a few other movies that deserve similar attention, you imagine all the money, and work that is put in making a movie, and here I find these clips on youtube, Pay, Watch, Preserve.
2:52 it would be funny if Tom poked his head back in a few moments later to say: “I’m sorry sir, but was that a yay or a nay about surrendering to Cuba?”
Jessup: "We've been here and there, but I've been promoted up to the chain with greater prestige and success than you have...dot dot dot. We're in the business of saving lives, Liutenant Markinson. Don't ever question my orders in of another officer." Me: Markinson shot himself dead for his own salvation. While Jessup is charged of murder and pay his life in prison alive.
Some bozo told me that I have glaucoma about a year ago. And another Eye Doctor said that I was too young to have it. How am I meant to know who is right? It proves that Doctors make mistakes sometimes.
@@tenfourproductionsllche could’ve possibly had a degenerative cardiac condition, strong enough to make it through Basic but by the time he got to Cuba, also several degrees of latitude closer to the equator so the temps and humidity would’ve been on the regular probably substantially more and his condition really began to manifest itself especially during sustained infantry training which is even more grueling than the already infamous Marine Basic
"And now I'm thinking Colonel Markinson that your suggestion of transferring Santiago, while expeditious and painless, may not be, in a manner of speaking, the American way." That's certainly true. America never settles for a minor confusion, when it can have a gigantic cosmic clusterf*ck. Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Bay of Pigs etc etc
If Santiago had only written his letter to Santa Claus, do you think Jessup still demands he be better-trained or does he immediately send him for a psych evaluation? This is the Farrely Brothers version of A Few Good Men.
In this situation it wouldn't have reached this level. Lt. Kendrick would have sent PFC Santiago to base clinic for Eval from a Navy doctor then processed for a medical discharge. Col. Jessup wouldn't have even known about it in real life. But, this is HOLLYWOOD!
*Side Note: Upon further research I found that on Guantonomo only a Company unit is on base so Jessup would have as a Colonel commanded the Security Regiment from Headquarters in Virginia not from Cuba.
Yep. Col Jessup was 100% correct in the approach, based on the available facts. Which included CMDR Stone's half-assed, pencil-whipped, "Service Member is just a lazy ass looking for light duty" evaluation. If he'd owned up to ordering the Code Red from the start and the death was accidental, a proper inquiry gets done, it's the CMO's ass in the sling and Jessup gets off with a slap on the wrist. But no, let's go the conspiracy route, because that never has a history of backfiring in an organization that has 10,000 signed documents, in triplicate, for every mundane action.
Dramatic events for the stage and screen are rarely logical or simple. Funny side note, too... I wanted to perform in the theatrical version of this (it was originally a stage play), but even after a decade, I never once found the opportunity. It never appeared anywhere near where I lived.
It was a good movie , but it makes the marine corp look stupid . If a marine was having difficulty performing tasks they would do a full medical evaluation, not assume he is lazy and beat the tar out of him. The marines are a very professional well run organization
I love that Tom doesn't even blink and would absolutely have gotten the President on the phone if Jessup hadn't stopped him.
I would’ve been like “Sir are you serious?”
This is Jessup's game He is not interested in any contribution from a lower level. The job is to save lives and he is the only one who knows how to. In Jessup's Gitmo all what you can say is Yes Sir.
Jessup's orders are never questioned. Tom made quite sure of that during his examination.
@@emileblanche5868 Not in a Marine infantry platoon, you wouldn't have. Hell, I was airwing, and I wouldn't have asked that question.
I think “Tom” was familiar enough with the Col. that he knew it was a gag by his tone of voice and that the order would be belied before he could get the door closed. But, another thing I never understood is, thats the second time that Jessup infers that he answers to POTUS. Is that true? A field Col.,despite it being a forward position, doesn’t talk to a General first?
RIP J.T. Walsh. A very talented actor with many supporting roles. He died only about 6 years after this film came out.
@LtSarge He had so many good roles playing a**holes. Some of his best roles imo came right before he died in "Breakdown" and "The Negotiator".
he worked alot with kurt russell. great character actor!! RIP
@@80sNewWaveGeekBrewkdown was my favorite of his work albeit not Shakespeare
I think that J. T. Walsh passed away not to long after the movie Breakdown came out
I think that he passed away in 1998 shortly after he starred in the movie Breakdown
Jack Nicholson totally rocked this role in every scene he was in.
Jack's tone of voice reminded me of his scene in Easy Rider, when he clarified what he was ordering for the benefit of the waitress who didn't understand.
@@timmellin2815 There was a scene like that with him also in 'Five Easy Pieces'.
@timmellin
The one where he wanted toast, which wasn't on the menu so he ordered a toasted sandwich, and told her to hold the filling ?
That was Five Easy Pieces not Easy Rider.
For $500,000 a days work what’s another couple of hours?
Yup! I have him in my top 5 actors of all time along with Pacino, Deniro, Day-Lewis, and of course, Denzel.
I love how Tom is going to execute any order no matter how absurd
Militaries and orders are fictional but this is marketed as a fiction movie.
for that apsurdity of obeying crazy arrogant superior commands 2 men went to court bank with lifetime threat..... that was the movie about....
Tom is a good Marine given an order he doesn't question it quickly carriers it out. I'm certain he would have relayed the order to his Sargent.
@@Reb-El wrong kid, thats not what the movie is about
He's probably used to the Colonels quirks, and heard outrageous things like this everyday.
I love how Jack looks like a happy guy and a psycho at the same time.
@jrey That’s why he was a natural and perfect Joker (Batman, 1989)
Cause he IS. 😅
It's what separates a good actor from a great actor
He is a happy psycho.
Is Jack Nicholson REALLY a great actor ? In most roles, Jack Nicholson plays Jack Nicholson. He is VERY GOOD at playing Jack Nicholson. He's had years of practice.
He's very well cast in his best most famous parts, where a Jack Nicholson is needed.
Nicholson's such a treat to watch & listen to in this legendary role. Just heavenly.
Nicholson is a total joke in the role. A pot head degenerate playing a Marine colonel. Bullshit.
I love sarcastic answers, and I've often used Jessup's same tone of voice and M.O. in some of my own situations I encounter. My dad was a former Marine and a champion of the smart ass retort, which he would use against everyone that didn't meet his expectations. I picked up lots of that, to my chagrin. But near the end of his life, he started to show some feet of clay, yet still had the old spark. I've always liked ice in my beer to keep it chilled, (that's very unorthodox.) At a family gathering in dad's old age, he growled " I don't understand how you put ice in your beer." So, I replied w/ a straight face: "Dad, the way you put ice in your beer, is you take the ice in your hand, place it in the glass and then pour beer over the ice." To which he replied: "you're nothing but a smart ass !" I said: "Thanks, dad....I learned it all from you."
@@timmellin2815 If not sarcasm a bad case of celebrity worship syndrome.
The delivery of "who the fuck is PFC William T. Santiago" is the greatest character introduction of all time imo.
That one and I love the incredulous "He's THAT bad, huh?"
My fav part 😂😂😂
"Tom, get me the President on the phone...we're surrendering our position in Cuba." ..."Yes, sir."
"Already done sir. The press has been notified and you're flying to Washington in an hour". 😬
"Tom, order me a family sized pizza with extra cheese".... "yes sir"
President Siebert?
I know it is just a movie, but it really grates me that the term “Yes Sir” is responded to an order, rather than the correct term of “Aye Sir!” 🤪
@@DGenerationX69 In poor Toms defence. He's the only one who comes close to someone of his rank speaking to any other rank depicted in this scene. The rest of this is pure fiction.
This movie is saturated with talents. Jack was a legend already. Walsh, Tom, Demi, Kevin and many actors made it big in Hollywood. This is a classic movie among many classics during 90s - the best decade for classics.
Walsh and Bacon are the only ones I like. Demi is overrated and Cruise is a psychopath.
You can tell by the fear in his voice - Keifer Sutherland really thought Jack Nicholson was going to kill him. That’s how good an actor Nicholson is
How shitty decisions are made and the snowball starts
Keifer Sutherland was brilliant in this film , he is best cast as the bad guy , he doesn't fit the nice roles.
@@Anthony-gq7dkI liked him in that TV show where the government got wiped out and he went from fourth assistant undersecretary for citrus fruit in eastern Latin America or something to President. It was a shit show but he did a good job. And Doc Scurlock, of course. Otherwise, I agree, he's better as a bad guy.
@Anthony-gq7dk The Vanishing.is about as close as I can think of.
@@johnnealis6826 There's probaly a dozen movies like that you don't think of until you have a list of his work in front of you. On another note- man, Jeff Bridges was so creepy in that movie. It gives me goosebumps all these years later.
If PFC Santiago had only written to Santa Claus, none of this would’ve happened. 🎅🏻
😆😆😆
Haha 🤣
If he had wrote the battalion priest shit would have happened overnight
Funny
Santa Operator would have wrapped a booby-trapped claymore package, & put it under the tree addressed to, To PFC Santiago, From Santa.
A lump of coal just wouldn't have cut the mustard...
I blame Dr Stone for Santiago’s death.He missed his coronary condition during a routine medical exam.Had he diagnosed it ,Santiago would have probably been medically discharged & Jessup would have made 1 ⭐️
If I'm parroting a line from the movie, forgive me. However, in the grand scheme of defending a nation we need the Colonel Jessups of the world. I'm certain he had no clue that Santiago being given a code red would die. How many times had these been administered to other lackluster marines or soldiers and had nothing but good things to show for them. Before it starts, I'm not condoning murder. In battle you want the most BA people to fight for your country. G.S. Patton proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. He was tough but fair.
@reevertransport3979 sure he was a tough leader and when it comes to the military you need tough leaders to train troops as war is he11 however the moment that Santiago was ki11ed he took no responsibility as a leader and figured he'd let two low ranking soldiers take the fall.
damn... too very good points from you@@FamousDave2186 and @reevertransport3979
There is no evidence that Santiago had a coronary condition other than Dr Tom Cruise making a diagnosis. Normal physical exam and work up. I’m sure he had a normal EKG. No mention of autopsy findings of a heart problem. Chest pain and shortness of breath could occur in any out of shape American male who tried to exercise like a Marine. In that sense the doctor was at fault because he should have discharged Santiago for not being fit enough to be a Marine.
@@FamousDave2186NEVER call a Marine a soldier.
If you've never seen A Few Good Men, it's about a young officer named Tom, who struggles with nightmares after discovering the truth about US plans to surrender to Cuba.
If that's true I can't handle it.
I thought it was about naval pilots going through training at Miramar and playing shirtless beach volleyball?
Look up "The Platt Amendment" and see why U.S. troops still are stationed in Cuba despite them not being welcomed there.
@@KilledByKangaroo Maybe so, but you're entitled to it.
And became the President's speechwriter.
-"What are we gonna do with him? Transfer him?"
-"Yeah, I'll transfer him, all the way out from the USMC. It's clear that he isn't fit to be a soldier, so I want him out."
*Roll credits*
I really enjoyed this movie but it is make-believe. I understand you have to bend reality to make a story but the reality is, if you are a bad enough soldier to be a conversation in the CO'S office, the only conversation worth it's salt, at that point, is to prepare Santiago's release.
@@Viprz Yes I feel the same. A forced situation that would most likely not have happened in real life
@@iwanegerstrom4564 Actually, I think it's safe to say that type of conversation wouldn't even happen in the CO's office. It would be held in the Sargent Major's office. Where the hell is the SM in all of this??? lol.
A Marine not a soldier
@Viprz bear in mind this movie was conceived, written and executed by those who bear a high level of contempt for the military and the people who served: the Meathead himself; who went out of his way to show it in the worst possible light
Jack Nicholson: actor skill level: Divine
Jack is Jack...there is no other to compare him 2...he is the best at what he is tasked 2 do...a true legend
There's two Jacks in the room, both legends
😂😂😂 "Who the fck is PFC William T. Santiago?"
I love this film. I watch it whenever It’s showing on tv, and one of my go to movies when on a flight.
I watch it every time on TV, with the only problem being that classic scenes like this one get watered down to edit out the language. You can't watch this movie without "Who the f### is William F. Santiago?"
Buy a dvd player, bro. I have an old tv, decent player and visit pawn shop regularly.. $1 movies. it's great.
Yes...guilty pleasures: for me I like scenes from this film, full Passenger 57, full Under Seige, full Dr. Zhivago. Once I start watching, I can't stop.
My Pasadena City College Georgraphy instructor Mr. Redman wasn't snide and sarcastic like the Nicholson character, but very similar in matter of fact as to how the class would not be a day at the beach. Very serious and down to earth. On the last day of class in the same serious tone, he told a story about how he had had a disastrous Africa expeidition years earlier, and by the time he was done, we were almost rolling in the aisles laughing, as he was so tongue in cheeck w/out even breaking his serious character.
Jessup: "Don't ever question my orders in front of another officer".
Markinson: "Well, maybe it's your own damn fault for not taking the conversation private when I suggested it..."
Jessep was pretty arrogant throughout. The part where he says he's been promoted faster and with greater success than Markinson really got me. They're only one rank apart.
He's still correct. He told his own subrodinate not to interrupt him, so questioning his own superior in front of him was out of line.
@@user-zr6pl6nb6z 1 Rank is a large difference at the higher ranks.
@@Adaephonable No, it's not. I was in the army.
@@user-zr6pl6nb6z Only to poor commanders with an ego problem.
Tom was like oh boy he didn’t take his medication today, but yes, sir
Your eyes are glued to jack Nicholson in whatever roles he plays. The man has mastered the art of acting.
Jessup's thinking was understandable, the only and huge problem was that he was willing to sacrifice his men to save his own skin. That makes him a cowardly psychopath instead of a good commander who simply made a grave mistake by misunderstanding a situation.
Actually their thinking was void of one glaring problem. Santiago kept having heat strokes. This is a marine who made it through basic training. So why all of a sudden is he having a problem with running? That screams underlying health problems. They didn't catch it, the medical staff didn't catch it. This whole idiocy was started by ignoring that one problem which would have resolved this right away. Transferring him back to the states they might have found the health problem. So the second in command was right.
@@writerconsidered Unfortunately though it did not matter that he was right. Jessup was his commanding officer and first-in-command so given his position in the pecking order he was still wrong for questioning Jessup. I agree with you he was right but being right and doing what you are told by a higher authority are two different things.
@@xyPERSON He asked for a private discussion. He answered Jessup's question on what is his opinion. Jessup wanted him to echo his thoughts, which he did not do. That's why Jessup became angry and escalated the talk, pushing it to the moment where he always wins.
Jessup was a terrible leader. For the comparison: In Game of Throne Alliser Thorne is a similar character to Jessup. But Thorne does say that Snow was right at some point. He is standing out as an ultra dominant leader but he can watch himself in a mirror and realize his fails. Jessup is not like this. Even in the courtroom he asks what is happening. He really does not see any wrong about losing a soldier's life out of his personal pride.
I agree. If he was so concerned for the good of the corps he would not have concealed his behavior and lied about his behavior, which means his “concern for the corps” was a lie as well.
@@xyPERSON A lot of good Jessup did relying on his own intuition, eh? Got a man killed and ended up in prison, lol.
"Apparently he's not happy here at Shangri-la".
All the other banter and dialogue is secondary to this beautiful statement.
"Matthew...I think I'll have that word with you in private now" ~ This is such a great overlooked line.
Tom later became a Secret Service agent who had trouble spelling ukulele, and later still good friends with Dr. James Wilson, which helped when his liver failed.
Also a speech writer for the White House.
And finally the university president at Caltech.
Motherfucker, its him! I didn't recognize
This is where you see why Jessep is a terrible leader. His 2IC or whatever he is, is there to offer his honest advice and to speak his mind, not be a yes man. Markinson offers to speak in private, gets rejected, so then says out loud his opinion, which is what he’s there for and paid to do. Instead, Jessep reacts like the hugely prideful, arrogant asshole he is and lambasts Markinson as though he stepped out of line and was being facetious. Jessep thinks his position as a high ranking military leader entitles him to non-negotiable respect and immunity to criticism, which is why his constant monologues on military honor are a bunch of bullshit: He demands the respect associated with but shows none of the responsibilities for the role, he just wants people to what he says
Spot on analysis. Absolute narcissist. All he had to do was get Santiago medically assessed. Santiago fails it, he gets transferred, no longer his problem. If Santiago passes it, he should've just put him through training without a code red and he fails his next proficiency, then transfer him, no longer a problem with all credible reasons to do so.
Yeah, how Santiago even got through Boot Camp in the first place if he was shit at fitness is beyond me, if he had a heart condition, it should have immediately ruled him out for this sort of highly physical role. The doctor is probably going to get sued for malpractice or something@@marks_sparks1
@@marks_sparks1 Actually Santiago was revealed during the trial to be medically assessed by Christopher Guest's Dr. Stone character (albeit presumably negligently based on Kaffee's cross-examination) who stated "gave Santiago a clean bill of health" despite evidence of a faulty heart condition. We can also assume Jessup likely had a hand in that too. Great movie I can discuss hours on end having watcted it countless times over the last 31 years when first saw it as a U.S. Navy E-1 enlistee.
Well said. His first and default response is cruelty and humiliation. It's an armor against his own sense of personal powerlessness as a human. If you have to shove your authority down someone's throat, you don't really have it in the first place. You're masquerading. That road usually leads to the same place.
@@Pianoman999 Any man who must say I am the king, is no true king.
That look of ice that Markeson gives Jessup when he talks about being promoted faster than him was good acting. One look in the eye conveys his resentment and wounded pride.
"That won't be necessary colonel". If I said that instead of "sir". I'd get my ass chewed.😂
Then you have bad leadership. If he's a colonel, then calling him that doesn't violate any military law. That is his rank. Sir or their rank are both perfectly acceptable responses. No different than calling a master sergeant, sergeant. As it is acceptable by the military regulation
@@DJ_TRON Have you ever served?
@@jeromerizzo423
I have.
@@DJ_TRON what branch?
@@DJ_TRON I agree with you about calling an officer by his rank, however I would not call a master sergeant "sergeant". I would refer to him as "master sergeant".
The crazy part is that there is no way a 1st Lt. would speak like that to a Lt. Col, and no way a Colonel would speak to a Lt. Col. like that in front of a 1st Lieutenant. Ain’t. No. Way.
Yeah, and the whole yelling scene in the court martial between Tom Cruise and Nicholson would never happen either. I was talking movies w a former JAG attorney now in civil practice, and he said that wouldn’t even happen in the courthouse downtown. The Caine Mutiny, Breaker Morant and Paths of Glory are the 3 best court martial movies. This one was entertaining because of Jack, but way over the top Hollywood.
That's because Rob Reiner is and always be a liberal meathead and he has no clue about the Military. Great movie but it is anti military. My Marine Corps buddies hate it!
@brandond73 . I would suggest to you that anyone who has not been in the military cannot really understand it. It has nothing to do with one's political views. I think you just needed an excuse to express your political hate.
@@trwent The court martial yelling and profanity would NEVER happen in a real court martial. The screenwriter Aaron Sorkin knows all about eating magic mushrooms and obviously had no JAG consultant on this movie. Courts martial are very formal and decorum is always maintained. The Caine Mutiny got that exactly right according to every JAG I’ve ever discussed that movie with. Jack and Tom were cartoon characters. Meathead obviously hates the military. Kiefer Sutherland’s character is rule breaking bible thumper, Jack is a loudmouth bully, and the only guy who respected the truth killed himself rather than go along with the villains. South Park got Meathead right.
@@brinsonharris9816 I do not know why it is "obvious" from this movie that Reiner hates the military. This is hardly the first movie to be unrealistic for the sake of excitement. And speaking of hating the military, what about Trump refusing to visit Omaha Beach because, according to him, it was full of "losers" and "suckers" like John McCain?
Not having seen a movie with Jack in quite some time, after watching this scene, I’m reminded of what a fine actor he was. A cut above the rest.
"I'm going to blame you, and then I am going to kill you". Funny thing is that lieutenant Kendrick was actually scared shtless.
And Kendrick was such a dedicated follower that he would have willingly put his head on the chopping block for Jessup.
Sutherland was excellent in this role. His fear and respect for Colonel Jessop is palpable in this scene. 👍🏼 👍🏼
Maybe because Jessup did not mean it in that order.
is 4 6 4 6 any good?
I saw a former Navy JAG office review this movie. He likes it but has so many mistakes. First of all, a Colonel on his way to being a General is not going to ruin his career over one Marine who cannot run. You cannot charge an enlisted man with Conduct unbecoming, that is only for officers because enlisted are usually kids between 18-22 and are expected to do dumb things. The military hands out good conduct medals like T-Ball Trophies. As for the Climatic scene, the moment the judge Ruled Kafee out of order and was told to stop anything from that moment was inadmissible. In real life, Downey and Dawson get a plea deal and discharged. Kaffee would be disbarred and Jessup, while not guilty, would be quietly asked to retire because all of this blew his chance for promotion.
Did they know that this movie is based on an event that actually happened? I forgot most of the details with David Cox, but i know instead of 2 marines dishing a code red, it was 10. The kid that got the code red survived and the squad leader of the 10 marines either went missing or died? I forgot but look it up
@@a-a-ron4679 But in the movie, the accused are a Private and Lance Corporal, not Senior NCOs. That was his point about enlisted in their first tours do a lot of stupid stuff.
@johnharris6655 That's really interesting. Can you elaborate on Kaffee being disbarred?
Caffee might have faced a hearing for disbarment, but unlikely he would have been. Maybe a censure, at worst. More importantly, the evidence would not have been inadmissible against the colonel in the colonel’s court martial. If the testimony was ruled inadmissible on appeal, then likely as not, on the retrial, they would have been given a sweet plea deal, as a primary witness against them was being tried for the crime.
You watched Legal Eagle. ; )
This movie was fantastic from the very beginning, to the end.
"You're appalled". Those pursed lips are evocative enough to convey what needs to be. As always Jack Nicholson lets subtlety speak volumes.
“Now you could end the scene there. But if you keep the camera rolling…”
I hate running but the fear of falling out of a run was greater than the physical pain of running. I never fell out of a run in the army. One day in AIT, I woke up with a tempature Im assuming was atleast 101. I was sick as a dog, and sick call wasnt held until after PT. I dont know how I did it, couldnt do it today, but I actually completed the 4 mile run, did not fall out and went to all my classes. I finally told the Drill Sergeant I was sick about halfway thru the day. He actually looked concerned, asked me if I could finish my classes in which I did, then after class I was taken to the hospital. I was running a tempature of 104. I spent the next 2 days in the hospital than back to my unit when I was better. What happened next was unbelievable. One particular morning the drill Sergeants were PISSED. They woke us up screaming and proceded to give the worst P.T. session Ive ever seen. Even in Basic I didnt see the Drills this pissed. We are all outside getting smoked for a barbecue lol. About 5 minutes in if that, we are on the ground doung flutter kicks. Im just getting warmed up, Im not even preheated yet lol. My drill segeant walks over to me and orders me on my feet. He said, when you were sick you missed our companies P.T. test. You have to make it up tomorrow with another company. Go to your room and relax. I couldnt believe my ears. My whole company is getting smoked to a crisp and Im in my room chilling with the orders of my drill sergeant. I knocked that PT test out of the water too and was actually pubicly praised on my performance. I will never forget it.
Private Santiago had immaculate handwriting.
Then you should see Hannibal Lechter's.
It's hard to express the nostalgic feeling this movie provides for me. I was about 12 when I first saw this movie.
You want a confrontation? You can't handle a confrontation!!
Overrated actor.
@@ratdad48 Son, we live in a world that has online video sharing platforms, and those platforms need to be guarded by men with guns. Who's going to do it, you?
@@ratdad48 I agree that he's overrated btw. A good actor, but plays the same role all the time - himself.
@@Camcolito 🤔 You know you are right.
Jack has to be one of the best actors of all time.
"shipping a marine who's not up to the job to another assignment puts lives in danger"
Not really. He could get a cushy desk job somewhere and you get someone better suited to replace him. You'll never run out of fit young men.
Jack Nicholson Plays Colonel Jessup Perfectly and I’ve Read That James Woods Auditioned For The Role Also This Scene is One of My Favorite Scenes in This Movie Besides The Last Courtroom Scene
1:25 Jack takes notices of the Moving Pictures icon not shutting the fuck up.
Good catch
Yeah ... so inspiring ... so I wrote "Heavens Ride" as Wayne 'Space Buoy' North ... what a lovely message she gave me ... thanks Tay.
Get ur hands out of ur pocket Marine...
The look on matthew's face when jessup tells him we're in the business of saving lives.
Especially when he was in 'Nam...
A COL addressing a LT directly without his CPT present, or even the MAJ...sounds legit
And where the hell is the Sergeant Major!???
yep.
When he does the we go way back speech you can actually feel all those years they served together. All the missions. All the memories. It's too bad that Col Jessup didn't value his opinion.
Nobody, but NOBODY swings it around like Jack Nicholson.
Overrated.
wrong hes the best @@ratdad48
It's just a movie but again we see the maxim that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Many believe that Marlon Brando was the best actor that ever was. I disagree. The diner scene in “5 Easy Pieces.” started it for me. The talent is that Jack always plays crazy people and thus so just really plays himself.
I miss your point. if you play yourself, is that great acting?
I would say yes in Jack’s case. @@GQElvie
I don't think someone like Nicholson is the best because others have shown they have much more of a range than Jack did in films. That takes another level of greatness to be able to become such different people so drastically. I don't think Jack would have ever put himself through losing 30 pounds for a movie, as one example.
@@BigBadJerryRogers I agree here. I think you have to have range to be considered a great actor. Not sure that Nicholson ever had it. and I really like Jack... or Tom Cruise, who kind of plays himself. A great actor steps OUT of his day to day personality. Somebody, like say Tom Hanks, or Roberte Deniro
@@GQElvie Character actors just play different versions of themselves. A number of these guys are just character actors being put into leads. Yes, Deniro has shown great range and diversity if you look at his whole body of work.
I like how the LtCol. Tried to leave without being dismissed. That showed how much he disagreed with Jessup.
This video is mistitled. Jessup's confrontation is with Markinson, not Kendrick.
One of my favorite lines in the movie (and of all time given the context) was when Kaffie asked Jessup on cross if he felt Santiago's life might have been in "grave' danger if he wasn't transferred off the base, and Jessup, without missing a beat, retorts, "Is there another kind?"
After successfully ridding themselves of PFC Santiago Jessup received a call. "There is a PFC Gomer Pyle at the front gate reporting for duty."
Tom's the man. No hesitation, not even an errant blink. "Yes sir!"
I dislike using first names between officers and NCOs. We had that same problem in my former unit until the CO put a stop to it. We once had a visiting General officer who made a comment to the commander about such informal communication in front of junior enlisted members.
Why no first names?
Familiarity breeds contempt
While I agree, I think back to when I was in the army. I used to call my sergeant by his first name.
Sounds like your CO is a spineless coward, to be changing everything up after a general visited.
I feel this is the best performance, in Jack Nicholson's career.
Jack is Fantastic in This Movie Without Question and He Should Had Won The Oscar Even Though It Was a Small Part For Him
"Get me the god damn president on the phone, we're surrendering our position in Cuba!" hahaha funny as hell!! hahahaha!!!
I don't recall him saying those two words between "the" and "president".
@@user-zr6pl6nb6z I will remind you on your dying bed
"John, you're in charge. If Santiago doesnt make 4-6, 4-6 on his next proficiency and conduct report Im going to blame you. Then Im going to kill you"
"I think thats a mistake Colonel"
😂
Kendrick is a Butter Bar....I seriously doubt he would talk to a colonel or a Lt. Col like that.
5:06 The eyes when he tells him to sit down. The Nicholson Stare that only belongs to him.
Jessup is a brilliant antagonist. His idea to train Santiago is good. He gives the order to Kendrick who will see it through; he corrects Martinson effectively. He is to the point, intelligent and a bit humorous. He genuinely believes he has the best interests of the country at heart and that making Santiago a better marine is the best choice. He could have been venal or mean spirited. But he is an outstanding officer, at least in this scene. This multi layering is key to the movie and makes him such a great character.
He got one of his own men killed, willing to get two more almost imprisoned, and tried to weasel his way out of it.
That's not honor but pure toxic leadership.
Frightening to think how many others he's thrown under to bus to climb that ladder.
But you don't know that yet. This is the first scene. Reiner paints and Nicholson creates an honorable marine officer who says he wants to do the right thing.
Only later do we learn he lies about transferring him off the base and at the end, ordered the code red. @@GraeShadowe
Jessup is pretty toxic in this scene. This would also be a wild conversation. Jessup letting a young lieutenant interrupt the 2nd in command in front of him. Jessup telling him he is gonna kill him. Oboy.
Are you kidding? Demeaning his XO sarcastically infront of a junior officer, siding with the junior officer when he rudely interrupts a much higher rank, threatening to kill the junior officer, even the private conversation with his XO could of been handled better.
The XO was far more sensible in this situation.
Colonel Jessup showed absolutely no respect to his XO who isn’t some wet behind the ears butter bars, he’s a LTC Colonel with an exceptional service record, combat veteran, counter intelligence experience.
Jessup handled this meeting about as badly as possible.
Jesup didn’t know about the fence line shooting. This turned out to be his Achilles heel. Sutherlands character certainly knew about fence line shooting, didn’t tell jesup..
RIP JT Walsh. He was my favorite actor of all time. His roles in some of his movies were just outstanding. Blue chips and breakdown were some of his finest work.
Me too I Mr JT is my favorite actor ❤❤❤❤❤❤ so acting super ❤ this movie I not bored
Back when you could still get a couple good movies a year.
Love the reactions from Walsh in these scenes, just by looking down at Jessup's "we're in the business of saving lives", he conveys he's heard this all before and thinks it's BS...but can't roll his eyes or sigh because he's a professional. It's only after Jessup says it again does he stand up to leave: he's had enough.
LTC Markinson wants to discuss the matter in private.
Gets denied.
So he speaks his mind but gets in trouble because he wasn't speaking in private.
I do miss J.T. Walsh. He was an excellent character actor playing "good" and "bad" guys (even his uncredited brief role during Outbreak was electrifying) and here he has a supporting role to several famous thespians but like Alan Arkin in Glengarry Glen Ross he makes this character unique and as memorable as everyone else in this crackling drama.
Jessup is right here, if there is a problem with a member of the company the responsible thing to do is to address it and not transfer the problem onto another unsuspecting command. That is his platoon leader's job though, and a colonel should not be telling him what to do because you are also seeing how competent your platoon leader is as well. But as an officer, and particularly the commanding officer you have a responsibility to keep that man safe above all else.
You just made me realize the irony of Jessup's court room rant about "placing a man's life in your hands, and his in yours" and how that was the opposite of what he did by ordering the Code Red on Santiago.
Also his "Code, Honor, etc." in the same courtroom rant; he abandoned code and honor by the cover up. His assistant was so concerned about breaking code and honor by his role in the Code Red, and then having to confess to it, he eventually committed suicide because he saw no way out of his conflicting commitments........he was in a Catch 22 situation.
Jack Nicholson, an absolute giant of Hollywood, there won’t be another like him
PFC Santiago had better penmanship than Jacob Shallus (the scribe who wrote the first copy of the US Constitution)
I just noticed how Jessup tells Kendrick to sit down parallels Lt. Kaffee telling Jessup to sit back down during the trial.
This scene messes with my head, they're having a meeting after it's happened
No, it’s being presented out of sequence in a similar style albeit smaller scale like Pulp Fiction
@@zachhoward9099 That's the thing, I don't think they are. It's hard to tell but I think they are just getting their story straight after it happened.
I'd like to write to everybody, including Santa Claus, and request that Tom be reconsidered for an Academy Award because that was the single most underrated performance in the history of cinema.
It's enlightening looking back at this decades later. Markinson was actually the smarter, more politically savvy operator. He understood how things were going. If Jessup had followed his advice, no problem. But Jessup - the old warrior - thought he was above politics. He sneered at Markinson - who he acknowledged had served alongside him - and preferred Kendrick, (who hadn't) so he was taken down by Kaffee and Galloway who were just pencil pushers who were never shot at. The movie portrays Jessup as this dinosaur, with old values which off their time might have been admirable but in the current era are cruel and to be vilified. To the extent he exhibits any honourable behaviour that makes you sympathise...that is bait.
If you want to see how nothing is enough, consider how an officer like Markinson would be perceived today when Levine is at large.
This is actually completely wrong, Jessup was a reactionary conservative who has contempt for democracy, the rule of law and the society in which he was entrusted to defend. He failed because he was so politically right-wing, he refused to do what conduct was expected of a military of democracy. Typical vile fascist.
Why the hell do you care enough about this shitty movie to gasbag as you have about it? It's absurd. One legal team represents TWO defendants? Legally unethical and impermissible. Nicholson cast as a Marine colonel? Total misfit. Story idiotic. Cruise not a JAG officer the best day he lives. Bodison's character stating: "Ten hut! There's an officer on deck!" -- unreal; would never happen. How people get wound up over this film amazes me. You can buy into it -- MAYBE -- IF you never served in USMC or never received legal training. Otherwise, it's shit
@@Whitegorillaboy Why do you care about a comment enough to rant on about unrelated stuff? I never claimed it was a good movie or a documentary or if Cruise was a good casting choice. Weird. But carry on.
@@JonWilde2105 Because, fool, you wrote a lot of nonsense because it's the only place someone of your kind can get an audience. Try thinking before baiting readers into scanning your tripe.
As great as gladiator was, this film was on another level.. Wow❤❤❤
A Butterbar interrupting and contradicting a Lieutenant Colonel in front of a Full Bird? I know its a movie but I can only suspend disbelief so far.
How big is the difference between a lieutenant colonel and a full colonel?
@@seanwebb605It's only one rank, but a Full Bird has a lot more power. Most officers never get past Lt Colonel.
Is it wrong to think that a base would have a Colonel and a Lt Colonel on staff at the same time? I have no idea personally - just seems like a lot of rank in one place
@@xmasinpacific No. The Lt Colonel is his executive officer
If Randall P. McMurphy And Jack Torrance had a child.
Colonel Jessup will soon be dishonorably discharged. Turns out he was nothing but a joker...
Jack Nicholson é pura magia do cinema.
Jack Nicholson gives an award winning performance.🙏👑♥️. Santiago sends a letter and he does something about it.
I honestly wonder what difference it would make if they all knew he had a medical condition that made him a liability?
I question why he a) made it through meps b) made it through basic military training c) made it through technical training d) survived god knows how long before it reached a head.
I’m not a marine, but in the Air Force we call that Swiss cheese. At a minimum, you ask what is wrong with the lad i.e. medical psych etc. once you figure out he’s full of shit, THEN you train him.
Jessup was in love with himself and his perspective of glory which ultimately led to the death of a marine under his command.
Not a good example of a leader.
@@Cabrasis
True
100% true.
@@Cabrasisboth sides have merit. Also the issue that canon fodder have always been used in war. In many armies soldiers are treated as being expendable. Only movies promote valour.
Of course they would have treated him differently....but since this is garbage anti-army propaganda they want you to believe that this wouldn't make any difference
zero difference, you can make an example out of shit people
That's a great movie, it opened up quite the fuss in youtube, which is unfortunate...often misunderstood. I feel like it is our duty as the audience, that any marvels like this movie keeps on standing the test of time. There are a few other movies that deserve similar attention, you imagine all the money, and work that is put in making a movie, and here I find these clips on youtube, Pay, Watch, Preserve.
Good man, that Tom.
2:52 it would be funny if Tom poked his head back in a few moments later to say: “I’m sorry sir, but was that a yay or a nay about surrendering to Cuba?”
Jessup: "We've been here and there, but I've been promoted up to the chain with greater prestige and success than you have...dot dot dot. We're in the business of saving lives, Liutenant Markinson. Don't ever question my orders in of another officer."
Me: Markinson shot himself dead for his own salvation.
While Jessup is charged of murder and pay his life in prison alive.
Don't ever let anyone outside the family know what you're thinking, Santino.
They never even consider that Santiago has an obvious underlying medical condition.
Doctor cleared him. "Trust the science."
Some bozo told me that I have glaucoma about a year ago. And another Eye Doctor said that I was too young to have it. How am I meant to know who is right? It proves that Doctors make mistakes sometimes.
and then they task the two most retarded marines on the whole base with beating him but not killing him.
He made it through basic training though.
@@tenfourproductionsllche could’ve possibly had a degenerative cardiac condition, strong enough to make it through Basic but by the time he got to Cuba, also several degrees of latitude closer to the equator so the temps and humidity would’ve been on the regular probably substantially more and his condition really began to manifest itself especially during sustained infantry training which is even more grueling than the already infamous Marine Basic
I just love listening to Jack Nicholson's voice.
I watched this scene and tried to enlist
Dumb***!!!
Jack is such a legendary actor…
"And now I'm thinking Colonel Markinson that your suggestion of transferring Santiago, while expeditious and painless, may not be, in a manner of speaking, the American way."
That's certainly true. America never settles for a minor confusion, when it can have a gigantic cosmic clusterf*ck. Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Bay of Pigs etc etc
If Santiago had only written his letter to Santa Claus, do you think Jessup still demands he be better-trained or does he immediately send him for a psych evaluation? This is the Farrely Brothers version of A Few Good Men.
Be Sharp,Be Alert Heads High Salute #Marines
I agree
In this situation it wouldn't have reached this level. Lt. Kendrick would have sent PFC Santiago to base clinic for Eval
from a Navy doctor then processed for a medical discharge. Col. Jessup wouldn't have even known about it in real life. But, this is HOLLYWOOD!
I thought they were marines.
@@seanwebb605Marines don't have their own Doctors. They use Navy Doctors.
@@seanwebb605 , The Marines use the Navy for all medical services even for Corpsmen who are the Medics for Marine infantry in the field.
*Side Note: Upon further research I found that on Guantonomo only a Company unit is on base so Jessup would have as a Colonel commanded the Security Regiment from Headquarters in Virginia not from Cuba.
Jessup started out trying to do the right thing, train the kid instead of taking the easy way out by sending him elsewhere. Then it went to hell.
Yep. Col Jessup was 100% correct in the approach, based on the available facts. Which included CMDR Stone's half-assed, pencil-whipped, "Service Member is just a lazy ass looking for light duty" evaluation.
If he'd owned up to ordering the Code Red from the start and the death was accidental, a proper inquiry gets done, it's the CMO's ass in the sling and Jessup gets off with a slap on the wrist. But no, let's go the conspiracy route, because that never has a history of backfiring in an organization that has 10,000 signed documents, in triplicate, for every mundane action.
Dramatic events for the stage and screen are rarely logical or simple.
Funny side note, too... I wanted to perform in the theatrical version of this (it was originally a stage play), but even after a decade, I never once found the opportunity. It never appeared anywhere near where I lived.
If he had a brain he’d have done a medical work up
Sad fact is...Lt. Col. Matthew did not live to see Col. Nathan R. Jessep go down in court, as i am sure he would have been delighted!
My favorite part of this movie is when they find out Santiago is a Cuban spy.
Only Jack Nicholson can threaten Jack Bauer and make him just stand there and listen.
It was a good movie , but it makes the marine corp look stupid . If a marine was having difficulty performing tasks they would do a full medical evaluation, not assume he is lazy and beat the tar out of him.
The marines are a very professional well run organization
Yes. That was my point too. The film's set up is implausible.
Everyone gets asked about playing in this movie except the guy that was Santiago