G.I. JANE
RATING: 6.5 / 10 --> So-so
Review
Date:
April 16, 1998
Director:
Ridley Scott
Writers:
Danielle Alexandra and David N. Twohy
Producers:
Roger Birnbaum, Demi Moore, Suzanne Todd
Actors:
Demi Moore as Lt. Jordan O'Neil
Viggo Mortensen as Master Chief John Urgayle
Anne Bancroft as Senator Lilian
DeHaven
Genre:
Drama / Action
Year of Release:
1997
A Demi Moore cinematic vehicle directed by the man who brought us
another "gung-ho women" movie back in 1991 entitled
THELMA AND LOUISE (8/10): Mr.Ridley Scott. His brother is fellow
hot-shot director Tony Scott of TRUE ROMANCE (9/10) and CRIMSON
TIDE (7/10) fame. Scott Free is their production company.
PLOT:
O'Neil (Moore) is selected as a test-case candidate to undergo
three months of Navy Seals training, as to identify the
capability of a woman in that branch of the United States Armed
Forces. Many people want her to succeed. Many others want her to
fail. The outcome is this film.
CRITIQUE:
This is a 2-hour movie that bored me stupid during the first hour
or so, with countless shots of the men, and woman, training
really hard (how many sweaty shots of Demi Moore must we endure
before we crack?), and politicians and Army heads trying to
figure out what to make of the whole thing. "Navy Seals
training is hard, and politics is a dirty game"-now there's
something we never knew before!! Yawn. To entertain yourself
during these early scenes, watch for the Scott brothers'
trademark inclusion of a heavy downpour at some point in the
film, as well as the eternal shot of a man smoking a big
"manly" cigar, and those darn cute rays of sunlight
flashing through a shuttered window.
The second half of the film does add a little intensity, and a
spec of suspense, but not enough to make it an entirely enjoyable
movie. I mean, I don't really think there's anybody out there
that can't confidently predict the ending of the film, eh? Having
said that, Anne Bancroft is perfect in the role of the steadfast,
political piranha Senator, and Viggo Mortensen draws a wonderful
performance as the "hard-as-nails" Major Chief. He even
gets to deliver my second favourite line from a 1997 film (the
first being "Yeah baby, yeah !! from AUSTIN POWERS (7/10)),
"Lieutenant O'Neil, when I want your opinion...I'll give it
to you." Yeah baby, yeah !!!
Other than that, the last twenty minutes are the only ones to
include any kind of "action" in this film (as contrived
and obvious as the conclusion does turn out....), and Demi
Moore's performance is adequate. But I guess that if you're in
the mood for something that starts off slow, gets a little
political, and ends on a semi-action tip, then I guess GI JANE
should visit your VCR in the near future. Otherwise, skip it and
rent the ultimate "underdog beating all odds" movie
called ROCKY (8/10). Maybe you've heard of it? Viggo rules.
Little Known Facts:
At one point in the movie, there are two girls in
a bar named Thelma and Louise, a reference to the 1991 film
THELMA AND LOUISE (8/10), also directed by Ridley Scott.
Ridley's brother Tony Scott supplied some footage of submarines left over from his
film CRIMSON TIDE (7/10).
Earlier titles for this movie were "In Pursuit of
Honor", "Matter of Honor, A", "Navy
Cross" and "Undisclosed".
Demi Moore is married to fellow actor Bruce Willis, with whom she's had
three children who go by the names of Rumer, Scout Larue and
Tallulah Belle (and who said Moon Unit and Dweezel were weird
names?). Her own stepfather (real father left before she was
born) killed himself when she was 18 years of age.
Viggo Mortensen speaks fluent English, Spanish and Danish.
Anne Bancroft was born in The Bronx, New York, under the birth name
of Anna Maria Louisa Italiano (I think she's Italian, eh?), and
has been happily married to director/writer/actor Mel Brooks for
over 30 years.
(c) 1998 Berge Garabedian
Movie Reviews by Berge Garabedian