This movie surprised me. I am not really big on Charlie Sheen movies, other than Platoon, but this is a truly good movie. Martin Sheen gives a good performance, as does the supporting cast. The setting, while not authentic, is real enough. The dialogue and acting are both excellent and believable. I found I was interested in the characters, and although the ending is predictable, it was fitting. I would recommend this movie to just about anyone, other that the hardcore action enthusiast. Definitely an entertaining film, and one that is quite a bit better than the rating it has received. I wouldn't hesitate to rent it again.
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Gavno15 September 2005In many ways, the military in this country has been in the forefront as far as social advancement is concerned. When Harry Truman decreed back in 1949 that the segregated military had to go, the armed forces went thru most of the same turmoil that the civilian world was to undergo years later.
In the Vietnam war era these upheavals were still going on in the services; while not officially segregated, there were two distinctly separate groups living and working together under an uneasy truce. The film talks about those times, and the frictions of the situation come through with amazing clarity.
CADENCE tells about another basic truth about military life that is that is unknown to those who never wore a uniform.
To outsiders, military people seem monolithic; everybody is identical, interchangeable, and of a like mind. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
There are sharp and RIGID social divisions based on rank and tradition, justified by the concept of military discipline. Privates don't hobnob with colonels, and frankly even if the opportunity presents itself they never really communicate frankly with each other. To be honest about it, they don't even LIKE each other very much. Nowadays, the divisions will include gender lines. Those lines are why bases with bars will usually have separate Enlisted, Noncommissioned Officer's, and Officer's clubs; the doctrine may claim that everyone in uniform is equal, but the reality is that nobody wants to press that idea very far.
To these divisions CADENCE adds the aspect of "free" versus "prisoner", something we don't often see presented accurately in films. This is the niche that the film centers on.
Each division within the military macrosociety has it's own social mores and it's own loyalties to others within the group. There is a fierce pride in each group, and interestingly that holds true for the prisoners too.
That pride, an amalgam of both the Black and prisoner subdivisions shows itself clearly in the startling march cadence the stockade soldiers have adopted, based on Sam Cooke's song "Chain Gang". Private Bean, the new prisoner, is mightily confused and astonished the first time he sees it, but it gradually teaches him a lesson that the Army tried, but failed, to impart; you're no longer an individual, but part of a GROUP, dedicated to a common cause and to the welfare of the group.
It's ironic that the unit cohesion and esprit de corps this bunch of stockade prisoners has forged on it's own should be the ENVY of every officer on the base; interestingly, there isn't a single scene where an officer actually SEES their expression of it. The only time these distant, disconnected officers interact with the prisoners is in stiff, structured, and regulation proscribed situations like in church services and courtrooms where they're dealt with as INDIVIDUALS, not as a unit.
In many ways, Bean's stockade time is his REAL basic training. He learns "courtesy" ("Ask a man what he's CHARGED WITH; NEVER ask him what he's DONE"), he learns unit loyalty by standing with his fellow prisoner and keeping his silence about what happens in the barracks. He learns that a man has to carry his own burdens (in this case, doing his own time in a manly, stoic manner). He learns that a man must earn respect by his own actions and skills, be it on a basketball court or by repairing a broken windmill.
And in the final scene he learns the most important lesson of all; the most valuable thing a man can possess is the honor and respect that is bestowed on him by his peers.
Martin Sheen as Sgt. McKinney radiates evil, and epitomizes those still present vestiges of racism that the military tried in that period to pretend didn't exist. He's hard core, burned out, and Old School all the way. This hardassed old Noncom knows full well what sort of men he has locked up in his jail, and he also knows, but refuses to respect, the tightly integrated unit they've formed. Given other circumstances, I can see McKinney proudly leading these guys into combat... but he's been discarded by the Army because of his age. He in turn clings to the old military pecking order and despises the prisoners... the military says they are scum, and he holds fast to that opinion to bolster his own fallen position in the food chain.
Otis McKinney's is infuriated by the fact that private Bean has done something that he couldn't; after a long, hard struggle, Bean has earned the respect of the stockade prisoners. McKinney MUST destroy Bean or accept the fact that this young punk private is a better man than he is, and is able to survive in a world defined by race, age, and culture that would destroy McKinney's supposed "superiority" based on rank and race.
The situation develops into a battle of wills that constantly escalates through Bean's 90 day stay, with ultimately tragic results.
Lawrence Fishburn is outstanding as Stokes, the leader of the compound. The movie never makes it clear just WHY he's been imprisoned, and he pointedly tells Bean not to ask. Despite that, we get the impression Roosevelt Stokes would be a powerful leader of men in or out of the stockade.
Special mention has to be made of Harry Stewart, as "Sweetbread" Crane. Sweet is an obviously retarded soldier who doesn't speak, but who isn't totally mute; as Stokes puts it "The man has PIPES... pipes that will put Jesus into your heart instantly". Besides singing a solo part on the "Stockade Shuffle", his performance of a hymn in a chapel sequence (one that Stewart WROTE, incidentally) shows the man to have an amazing vocal talent!
I can't really call CADENCE a great film, but it's indeed an interesting glimpse into the social and psychological factors at work within the armed forces. -
ReelCheese5 August 2006This reserved little drama stars Charlie Sheen as the lone white prisoner in a 1960s army stockade. Initially apprehensive toward his new roommates, he soon becomes one of them, much to the chagrin of the racist Master Sergeant, played by dad Martin Sheen. Rather than give in to the sarge, the younger Sheen continues to stand his ground, which only further frustrates his superior.
The younger Sheen, who delivers one of his best performances as the troubled private, is surrounded by an able cast that includes Laurence Fishburne and Michael Beach. The story is captivating at times, but unravels at others, particularly during the climax when the elder Sheen loses control. There just wasn't enough buildup to make his bullet-spewing outburst believable.
Still, CADENCE is overall a quality picture that deserved more than its status as one of the big box office stinkers of 1990 (it only grossed $173,601 its opening weekend and just over $2 million overall).
CAST NOTE: Brent Stait, who has a brief role near the end as a psych ward MP, is best known for his role as Rev Bem on the T -
chetamorton26 September 2004I seldom comment on a movie, but I so strongly disagreed with a prior comment on this movie, I felt I had to add two cents. I found this entrant far from boring. I have watched it four or five times, each time finding a new focus. The movie's idea is interesting, the conflict between the Sheens believable and well played, and the supporting cast excellent. Laurence Fishburne and James Marshall in particular are pleasures to watch. As the second of Sheen's two stints as a director I was impressed. Even the basic set works for me. And the music is so good that I continue to look from time to time to see if an actual CD is available. I believe that if you get your hands on this movie you won't be disappointed.
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bkoganbing28 August 2019Cadence casts Charlie Sheen as a rebel soldier during the Vietnam era in the tradition of Montgomery Clift as Robert E.Lee Pruitt in From Here To Eternity. The film is also directed by dad Martin Sheen who has a nice role as the stockade sergeant.
Charlie's gone AWOL after his dad died and in a drunken did the stupid thing of hitting an MP. That got him 90 days in the stockade, where all the other prisoners there are black.
Stockade sergeant Martin Sheen is merely a sadist to Charlie. But add the element of racism with the others. He hopes Charlie will be an ally of sorts, But it doesn't work out that way as Charlie more and more sides with his fellow stockade prisoners.
Martin Sheen is a wonder and you won't see one hint of President Josiah Bartlett in this performance. The scenes directed dad between father and son are special.
Others in the cast are Laurence Fishburne and Blu Mankuma among the prisoners.
This is a real good military drama. -
hitchcockthelegend21 September 2011Cadence (AKA: Stockade) is directed by Martin Sheen and written by Dennis Shryack. It stars Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen and Laurence Fishburne. Music is by Georges Delerue and cinematography by Richard Leiterman.
Upon the death of his father, Pfc. Franklin Bean (C Sheen) gets drunk and assaults an MP. Sentenced to 90 days in an army stockade run by bigoted bully MSgt. Otis V. McKinney (M Sheen), Bean finds he is the only white prisoner in the facility...
Better than it has any right to be visually, and rising above what looked to be scratchy themes on the page, Cadence rounds out as a more than enjoyable character study. After a poor opening suggests the picture is going to be an hour and half of Charlie Sheen over doing the brat packer persona, picture then settles into its stride once Sheen Junior encounters the aggressive Sheen Senior and is thrown in clink with the Laurence (here credited is Larry) Fishburne led "Soul Patrol Brothers". True enough to say that basic formula sets in as Sheen Junior can't fit in with his new "roomies", whilst he stays firmly in his broody bubble much to the ever increasing consternation of the agitated McKinney. No way is Bean going to let McKinney break him, even as the gruff voiced warden starts to come down hard on his newly adopted brothers, this merely serves as the catalyst for some black and white unity, which if given a chance can always be powerful.
At the centre of the character hot pot is a broken water windmill that serves as a beacon of hope for the prisoners, but sure enough we know where this is going and it will form the basis of the last quarter of the story as things invariably go bad before a ray of hope springs from the narrative. It's all very predictable and obvious, but Shryack's screenplay allows the characters depth, with much detailed emotion afforded the lead protagonists. Bonus, too, is that the secondary roles don't just serve as props, they impact hard on proceedings, something all too rare in prison/institution set movies. Smart sound-tracking as well, with Harry Stewart (Sweetbread Crane) singing his own beautiful composition "End of My Journey", a song that lands in your chest and stays there for quite some time.
Sheen Junior has rarely been better away from Oliver Stone's guidance, no doubt spurred on by his father's presence in front of and behind the camera. However, Sheen Senior's direction is only safe and basic, while his acting is the films only real weak acting link. You have to feel that with his subsequent non directing career, Martin Sheen found it wasn't for him, certainly blending both acting and directing appears to have been a step too far for the otherwise very talented actor. Fishburne is quality, while F. Murray Abraham shines in one of the smaller roles.
A drama with touches of comedy, and full of good honest intentions to offer hope and inspiration, Cadence is a very good movie. That comes on proviso, though, if one can accept it on its formulaic terms. 7/10 -
thom-pravda25 July 2005Why is this film so unknown ? It really deserves to be recognised as a great film along with the Nam films of the late 70s early 80s. To me it has quite a Nam feel to it, (the progression of the relationship between the inmates, and the constant battle with the higher ranks). Deterioration of character screams out "Apocalypse Now", but the team aspect shows a strong influence from films such as "Platoon". The film itself is set during the time of Nam, but can't be bracketed as one. Charlie Sheen has once again took part as the lead role in a great film. I can't see the film working with any other actor ! His cold manner, but warm heart is seen also in the classic "Platoon". All in all this film is a good modern story. Which I recommend to not only Vietnam film fans, but to a general audience.
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cruiseabout30 October 2000Reading Maltin's summary may steer you away from a film which, after an unpromising beginning, develops into a gripping drama, aided no end by superb acting from the nine very individual players in this film: Charlie Sheen, as the white prisoner incarcerated with five black soldiers in a military stockade, the two very different white guards, and Martin Sheen as the bullying and racist Sergeant who causes the tension to mount as his personal problems drive him to take out his frustrations on his charges. Martin Sheen perhaps gives the weakest, because least believable, characterization. It is Charlie Sheen as the initially wary room mate and the five finely etched black prisoners, all very good in their roles, who forge a memorable dramatic scenario out of their situation. Martin Sheen's sole directorial effort makes the most of the increasingly tense story-line. See it, it's good!
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More than any of his other movies that I have seen (even "Wall Street" and "Platoon"), "Cadence" makes me hope that Charlie Sheen will not throw away his talent. He does a remarkable job in this movie, which is even more impressive because everyone else does a terrific job too! (Martin Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Beach...) This movie didn't last long in the theaters, which is a real shame, because too many people missed it! It has a timeless, touching message of brotherhood, acceptance and friendship, which it conveys through an interesting story and very engaging characters. Overall, it's serious, and even disturbing at times, but it has enough humor and light moments to give you hope and a good feeling at the end. The dream about being white and the prison-yard basketball game are two wonderful and memorable scenes, and you never will hear the song "Chain Gang" quite the same way again! I love this movie! I hope you will, too!
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Uriah436 October 2018Plagued with a bad attitude and seriously lacking discipline, "Franklin Bean" (Charlie Sheen) joins the United States Army right after high school. Not long afterward, his father dies unexpectedly and this subsequently has a profound affect upon him. To that end, he gets into a drunken brawl while stationed in West Germany and for that he is sentenced to serve 90 days in a local stockade. Unfortunately, his attitude problems continue and this creates extreme friction with both his new NCOIC, "Master Sergeant Otis McKinney" (Martin Sheen) and his fellow prisoners. Likewise, the fact that all of his prison mates are black doesn't help his situation either. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an interesting film for the most part in that it highlighted some of the social issues surrounding race relations within the U.S. military during this particular era. Admittedly, the plot was rather predictable but even so I found it to be somewhat enjoyable and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
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Such a shame that good talents were thrown to the winds on a unnecessary effort of trying to make something good out of almost nothing. Story is heavily clichéd, filled with repetitions and there isn't much of a path to walk on with.
"Cadence" tells the story of a soldier (Charlie Sheen) who recently lost his father (Matt Clark) and not knowing how to cope with this news is arrested after some disturbance on a bar. Sent to a military prison where he's the only white man around among the prisoners, this tough guy will have to deal with an even tougher guy than he, a tyrannic Sergeant (Martin Sheen, who also directed this movie) who runs the place with strong hands. So, trouble is set when those two forces collide after some disagreements on how things work in the place and because of the bad temper between both, and a tragedy will define who they are and the course of things will never be the same.
Most of the story is just showing a bunch of guys fighting against each other for meaningless things or over a gold lighter; or the sergeant punishing the soldier for not addressing him as 'sir' (this is quite funny, actually). Where's the goal? Where's the speech, the message in the work? It goes out of one place but stays there without a reason, and all that is plain boring, very drub. Yes, the prisoners exchange ideas with each other, they help things out among themselves and work hard in prison, trying to rehabilitate themselves while the place's chief always seems to disturb their peace, but the film never succeeds in making us interested in all of that, there's nothing magnificent in seeing recurring situations that leads to nowhere.
Not much of an impressive directorial debut for Mr. Sheen (but the tragic scene filmed in slow-motion was quite good despite some melodrama involved), who takes an unimpressive performance from his son and some really average acting from supporting members like Laurence Fishburne, Michael Beach, F. Murray Abraham, James Marshall and others. Performances that go way below the surface, it's almost pitiful. Best thing of this is Martin's character, giving some motion to the picture, some funny moments.
I don't see a way of how this could have been better. Very disappointing. 3/10 -
Ghenghy19 February 2002You'll have a tough time getting that one out of your head. Charlie Sheen's best work next to Wall Street as a renegade Army private stuck in a German stockade during the Vietnam War. A flash of early brilliance by Laurence Fishburne with a great, but twisted dynamic between Charlie and Martin Sheen. What can you say, this movie is just terrific! 9/10
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This is not a military movie. Sure, it takes place in a military brig, and everyone in it are soldiers, but that is only a set for what this movie is really about.
It is a generational movie about the WWII/Korea generation represented by MSgt. Otis V. McKinney (Martin Sheen), and the Vietnam generation represented by Pfc. Franklin Fairchild Bean (Charlie Sheen).
I read the other day around Father's Day about some psychologist stating that we need fathers like McKinney. Well, like Charlie, I had one, and I can assure you that I would much rather have a father like Tim Russert. The fathers of McKinney's generation had some concept in their heads about discipline, which is good, but they forgot to meld that with love. McKinney cannot understand why his son, who is Bean's age, doesn't want to talk to him. I can.
I don't know if it was novelist Gordon Weaver's intention, but I see why Bean found it easier to join the black convicts rather than McKinney. After all, most, if not all of them, grew up in fatherless homes. With the distance between McKinney's and Bean's generation, it can be said that he grew up fatherless also. Sure, Bean has a sense of responsibility in the end, but he also had a deep sense of compassion. One, he got from his father; the other he had to develop on his own.
This is a movie that speaks highly to my generation. If anyone wants to understand us, then you definitely need to watch it. -
sbox22 April 2000[WARNING: May Contain Spoilers.]
This film had a fine cast and an interesting setting. However, the plot and its nuances are just a tad too cliched to merit a favorable review.
The silver screen has rarely (if ever) portrayed the underbelly of America's presence in West Germany during the Cold War. In "Cadence," the audience is introduced to a group of misfit G.I.'s who have run afoul of the law. Some are supposedly innocent, while others, including Private Bean are not. A well thought out screenplay could have capitalized on this unique angle. What does the audience get instead? Windmills and psychotic superiors. Say what?
The prisoners' handler, played by Martin Sheen, who also directed this film goes nuts after being dissed by his son. I feel the old formula of "superiors are always nuts" is a bit tired.
A lot more could have been done with the subject matter of "Cadence." Unfortunately, it wasn't. Four out of Ten. -
war_cat27 December 2000Plot summary: Charlie Sheen is thrown into an army stockade with a whole gang of brothers, and they need to learn to work together to get through it. Translation: He's the only white guy in the bunch, and if his honky azz messes up, he won't be rollin'.
This underground (hardly any theater time) military movie turns out to be quite a winner. Charlie Sheen is superb, Laurence Fishburne does a great job, and Martin Sheen pulls off a great directorial debut to the big screen (along with a nice acting performance). I was in the army for many years and I could totally relate sometimes how it was to be the white guy trying to fit in. It's a tough situation to capture in film and make work (it's been attempted hundreds of times), but Martin does a very nice job. The 'Chain Gang' song they sing through the movie was so good that I recorded it off the the movie to MP3. My squad once attempted to perform that cadence dance. It was very amusing. 'Gig for Bean' is a quote I used to say all the time. Every once in awhile someone would get it and it would be a classic moment. 3 out of 4 paws on this one. (More reviews at www,warcat,com) -
Captain_Couth20 August 2005Cadence (1990) marks the cinematic directorial debut of Martin Sheen. Not only does he direct the film but he also stars along with his son Charlie. The movie CADENCE is about a group of convict soldiers that must live with the fact that they're no longer soldiers but prisoners of Uncle Sam. When a G.I. is in the brig they lose a lot of what little freedom they have as enlisted men. Charlie Sheen stars as a G.I. who's thrown in the brig for drunk and disorderly conduct unfitting of a man in uniform. He's thrown in a prison unit that happens to be all black (message). They're over seen by a mean an bigoted N.C.O. who has his own problems. He likes to take them out on the poor soldier who reminds him of his own rebellious son. Can Charlie do his sentence without being eaten alive by his fellow prisoners or will he fall under the spell of his shady N.C.O.?
A good film that's a nice time waster. It's pretty heavy handed at times and the movie is filled with numerous pop culture errors. Ignore the goofs and the sappiness of the movie and you'll find an enjoyable watch.
Recommended. -
mattymatt4ever22 September 2001"Cadence" is not a memorable film about soldiers in Vietnam. It goes through the familiar routines. But the performances by father and son, Martin and Charlie Sheen, help anchor this moderately forgettable story. The two actors are good and on-target, but I found it very ironic that the two of them played enemies(Charlie plays a soldier and Martin a sadistic sargeant). If you're going to cast your son in the movie--unless he doesn't have a big role--you may as well cast him as your son. Though their performances are convincing, I couldn't help but find it somewhat humorous when Charlie Sheen's real-life Dad was going psycho on him. It's also worth checking out an early performance by Laurence Fishburne. Some of the fish-out-of-water situations between Sheen and his new-found African-American buddies are cliched and/or predictable, and lack spark. Some of the situations are worthy of a few cheap laughs, though.
The film is basically a combination of familiar farce and melodrama, but it's entertaining and sometimes moving. The ending is very depressing, and almost made me cry. I thought the rendition of "Workin' on the Chain Gang" was real nifty, too. This is not one I'd put on the "must-see" list, but it's worth seeing.
My score: 7 (out of 10) -
First and foremost, the cast is great. Seeing Charlie and Martin Sheen playing off each other is a real plus. The film is somewhat claustrophobic, mostly taking place in a confined compound. The conflicts that drive "Cadence", both racial and military, are believable, and resolved satisfactorily. A lively soundtrack is another positive. The personal torment of Martin Sheen is only briefly explored, but is nevertheless a driving force behind his increasingly irrational behavior. This is no blockbuster. It is a small movie with a message of mutual respect and acceptance, where race becomes secondary in an irrational war being waged against all prisoners alike. - MERK
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When the five comrades of Private First Class Franklin Bean (Charlie Sheen) with Roosevelt Stokes (Laurence Fishburne) in front make the soul-march, which refers to a locomotive, Bean does not know what happens to him. He cannot step with them! In fact the racial tension in the prison with a majority of five blacks come to the surface at the end of the movie in a tragic way. But Master Sergeant Otis V. McKinney (Martin Sheen) is right when he asks Bean to call him sergeant every time when a subordinate answers to him. There are only officers at the trial in this movie; but it is the colonel who gives Bean permission to work on the windmill and from that moment on the unexpected happens: Bean and his five comrades form a team, something McKinney cannot appreciate. At the end they commit insubordination when McKinney triumphantly comes up with an order that the windmill is a forbidden domain. Private First Class Harold Lamar (James Marshall), in fact a corporal, does everything what his superior McKinney asks from him but at the end he will not be awarded for this and neither will Bean be rewarded for saying the truth at the trial. The criminal background of the six prisoners is not very clear: are they really criminals who have committed those serious crimes that McKinney claims? This is important while it gives another description of the black prisoners and it allows in any circumstances for McKinney to be severe. Bean does not accept a proposition for friendship from McKinney, but it is not clear why McKinney should want to settle peace with a simple private. After all, he is in charge of the military camp.
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dscinc12 May 2006One of the best movies that I have seen, even though it was a sleeper during it's Theater run. The movie relates back to my days as an MP in the 503rd MP Co,3AD, Butzbach, Germany. The British Columbia set and location are true to life The interaction between all characters shows the eventual break down of the barrier that is created with stereo-typing. Charlie and Martin Sheen's characters seem to bring some of their real life tribulations out on to the screen. It is well known that Charlie,his brothers and Dad had a turbulant relationship during their teenage years. It appears that there is a family reconciliation taken place. I also think it's formidable that Martin brought back Lawrence Fishburn, who was just a young and upcoming unknown in "Appocolypse". I would make this film part of the Army's Training Library on racial sensitivity. Can't help but watch this movie every couple of months.
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Both Martin Sheen and his son Charlie had starred in movies about the horrors of the Vietnam War. They later co-starred in a movie about the tough regimens faced by US troops on the verge of the war. Directed by the elder Sheen, "Cadence" stars the younger Sheen as a disobedient cadet on a US military base in 1965 Germany. Put in the stockade with a group of African-American troops, he's at the mercy of a brutal sergeant (played by dad).
Admittedly, this movie doesn't have the heart-stopping intensity of, say, "Full Metal Jacket". What it is has is some great performances. Personally, I thought that Laurence Fishburne's performance carried the movie. It's not a great movie, but worth seeing. -
DieKakutanienschpiel8 August 2016Plot summary: a group of racist blacks beat and rob a white soldier and then, when he doesn't narc them out, accept him with great reluctance. This is what happens when Hollywood white guilt takes steroids.
The acting is pretty good, but this is a classic example of black -on - white racism disguised as a morality tale about the evils of white - on - black racism.
It's also the worst of the worst in the category of 'let's have us some black folk teach a white kid how to dance.'
Shoot me now.
Please, do it. I beg you. Laurence Fishburne musta been either really angry or really desperate, to tag this dog onto his otherwise impressive resume. -
pumpkingirl457019 February 2005This movie has it all; adventure, drama, humor and sorrow! They couldn't have gotten a better cast to fill the rolls. I have a question to those of you who are reading this. Does anyone know where I can find the (piano/lyrics) for the song "End of my journey" that the character "Sweetbread" sings in this movie? I love the song. Sweetbread is my favorite character! Thanks!!! Charlie Sheen gives one of his greatest performances in this movie. I love when he and his father work together. You never know how things are going to go. And with another family member in the movie as well, it was definitely interesting. My question is, "Where's the other siblings?" I thought that they might be going for the whole family thing there for a moment the first time that I saw it. LOL This movie will most definitely keep you interested. If you like the Military type movies than you will certainly enjoy this movie.
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view_and_review22 February 2020Franklin Bean (Charlie Sheen) gets sentenced to the stockade for striking an MP. He only has to do 90 days but he's the only white guy in a stockade with five Black men who have considerably longer sentences. "Cadence" is about Franklin's ability to get along with his stockade-mates while surviving Master Sergeant McKinney's bullying and dealing with his father's death.
The movie was pretty good, but nothing special. It's a drama with some dramatic moments. Naturally, there was some racial tension being that the movie was set in 1965, but I've seen a lot worse. This movie was tame compared to many others. The performances nor the script really leapt out at me. There was nothing about this movie that made it stand out amongst the crowd. It was a good movie and all, but barely memorable. -
iknowflicks18 September 2004Perhaps, it was my having seen this movie with a bunch of my Army buddies - while in the Army. Or maybe, being a Larry/Laurence Fishburne FANATIC! It could be that I saw this with my heart open and my mind closed...nah, none of the above reasons are why this movie ranks as one of my all-time favorites. It is the camaraderie and class of the relationship that Martin Sheen created with his main characters.
Never have I seen a movie with such honesty and triumph. Truly, I saw the ending before it came...but I didn't care. Isn't that what a GOOD director will do - make you appreciate the movie and not focus on what the end result will be.
The "End of My Journey" rips through me every time I hear it. A great film study on what true friendship is when race is not factored into the equation. 9/10 - And, I know flicks!