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| Synopsis
Friedkin's (EXORCIST and FRENCH CONNECTION) action-packed courtroom drama, while sure to draw surface comparisons to A FEW GOOD MEN, actually owes a greater debt to RAMBO for both its premise (lone soldier betrayed by his government) and politics. Based upon a novel by Reagan-era Secretary of the Navy Webb, with a screenplay by Gaghan (THE PRACTICE), RULES OF ENGAGEMENT raises several interesting questions about post-Cold War American foreign policy and the moral dilemmas of soldiers involved in combat, but never explores the issues with complexity. The action sequences, inspired by SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, explode on screen with a frenetic pace, effectively employing hand-held cameras and an eye for gory detail to illustrate the confusion and horror of combat. However, the scenes in the courtroom, which recount the court-marshal trial of a decorated Marine (an intense, fire-eyed Jackson) accused of ordering a civilian massacre, suffer from lackluster dialogue and a seeming lack of credible legal procedure. Regardless, Friedkin, working with a less-than-subtle screenplay, does his best to maintain a high level of ambiguity regarding key plot elements, and keeps the film moving along. Fans of Jackson and Jones will certainly enjoy their performances, which are honorable, and the action scenes are exciting and well choreographed, but moviegoers seeking a taut courtroom thriller or any insight into military culture may come away less-than-satisfied. |
Drama.
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones , Mark Feuerstein , Samuel L Jackson , John Speredakos , Guy Pearce . Directed by
William Friedkin
,
William A. Fraker
,
Nicola Pecorini
and
Dariusz
Wolski
.
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