Talk:A Few Good Men

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is part of WikiProject Films, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to films and film characters on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.
Start
This article has been rated as Start-Class on the quality scale.
High
This article has been rated as High-Importance on the importance scale.

The term "Code Red" may be fictional, but the practice of using physical means to correct the actions/attitude of a fellow soldier is still in use. In the Army we called it a "Blanket party"- when the individual in question is in his bunk, a group of guys will rush in and throw a blanket over him. Two to four guys will hold the blanket tight, effectively pinning the "Correctee" down, while others will pummel him with pillowcases full of soap (or other objects) or simply beat him with their fists. Head and face shots are avoided, and the correctee usually just gets a few bruises. This is a barbaric and (obviously) illegal practice, but I have seen it straighten out a couple of soldiers in Basic Training who were not team players.

Just finished editing to replace the severely muddied and Orwellian definition of "code-red" with something more brief, appropriate, and factual. Any objections, please post them here. --68.100.2.20 16:54, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

I just want to say that this is a very good article. -Amit

Where was this movie filmed? I can't place the city... Annapolis? Functionform 07:05, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Jess[eou]p?

I've changed what was Jessop to Jessup, since that is the name used in Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on the NY Times movie review. Also, Google search results:

  • Jessup - 8,240 [1]
  • Jessop - 803 [2]
  • Jessep - 799 [3]

It seems even IMDB has it wrong [4]. That's one reason why Reuters has specifically NOT approved Wikipedia or IMDB to be citable sources. Fuzheado | Talk 22:12, 28 August 2005 (UTC)

  • Well, it is not as simple as a Google search and count the numbers. The end credits of my DVD clearly show the character credit as "Col. Nathan R. Jessep". The DVD scene selection and liner notes also use that spelling, so the DVD is consistent. Two on-line scripts show the name as Jessep. [5] [6] Finally, the Awards Database of the Academy Awards Site list the nomination as "ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE -- A Few Good Men {"Col. Nathan R. Jessep"}" [7]. I think the Academy Awards site is the final authority here, since I cannot find a Aaron Sorkin site. Wendell 14:59, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

Nicholson's SAG and on-screen credit is definitely for portraying "Col. Nathan R. Jessep". Given the lack of an actual on-screen "canonical" proof (Jessep never wears a uniform with a nametag, alas) I think that has to be the best authority. I note that it was also spelled "Jessep" in the Broadway play. Shadoks 13:14, 30 August 2005 (UTC)

  • While I agree that Jessep is the best spelling given all current information, is there an on-line reference to a SAG credit? I could not find one. However the above Academy Awards Site seems most clear and authoritative. Wendell 00:51, 1 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Unsupported Assertion: anti-American movie?

Someone recently added a "Progression" section were he/she claims this is an anti-American/anti-military movie, something which is a) unclear (and false in my opinion) and b) unsupported original research, something frowned upon by Wikipedia's rules. I'm eliminating this section and reverting to the previous version. This is what gets eliminated:

Progression.
This movie seems to be a progression of anti-military movies generated by Hollywood (like From Here to Eternity). It seems the insipiration for the battle between lawyers on behalf of junior officers vs. senior officers or commanders was the depiction in the movie The Caine Mutiny. In the Caine Mutiny the initial drafts were anti-Navy written by a writer with Communist sympathies in the beginning of the cold war. Towards the conclusion of the movie the lawyer who convicts the General chances upon a group of celebrating and mutinous sailors who are then informed that they have done a disservice to their country by pressing charges against their Captain. Apparently a Few Good Men was written as a rebuttal to make amends for that last shred of vaguely pro military view.

201.235.51.167 01:33, 19 February 2006 (UTC)

Excellent cut. It's so wrong on so many levels it boggles the mind.--Buckboard 09:19, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Minor Change

There was a line in the article that read, "... his history of quickly settling cases, which would remove the cloud of suspicion that could bring the Marine Corps embarrassment". This detail wasn't 100% accurate, probably closer to 90%. I added/changed the line to "... his history of quickly settling cases by plea bargains, which would have prevented the case from ever going to trial, bringing the Marine Corps embarrassment". Quickly settling cases implies still having gone to trial, i added the lines "by plea bargains" and "prevented the case from ever going to trial" to emphasize the facts that A, Kaffee reguarly settles cases by plea bargains to avoid trials, and B, explicitly show that keeping the case out of trial was exactly what was desired because it involves investigations and questionings. I just felt this was a bit more accurate.
Watemon 10:55, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "You can't handle the truth" denouement

I'm pretty certain that I heard Jessup say to the judge in the movie "Colonel, what's going on?" after the court members are cleared from the courtroom, not just "What's going on?". Is that accurate? If it is, it'd be notable in that it's the only time when Jessup looks like he has no idea, and no control, over what's happening. Ironic given Downey's on-the-stand confusion when questioned by Ross. Wl219 21:58, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] YouTube links

This article is one of thousands on Wikipedia that have a link to YouTube in it. Based on the External links policy, most of these should probably be removed. I'm putting this message here, on this talk page, to request the regular editors take a look at the link and make sure it doesn't violate policy. In short: 1. 99% of the time YouTube should not be used as a source. 2. We must not link to material that violates someones copyright. If you are not sure if the link on this article should be removed, feel free to ask me on my talk page and I'll review it personally. Thanks. ---J.S (t|c) 07:12, 7 November 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Trivia

There is a line in the trivia section that seems to be missing a word or have accidentally replaced a word such that it doesn't make any sense. "The play was sent being performed on stage and being sent to producers as a sample of Aaron Sorkin's writing ability. It was never intended to be used as screenplay material." In particular, the first "sent" makes the sentence very confusing. Could someone else take a look at this?