Rating: 
Summary: THE BEST MOVIE OF THE NEW MILLENIUM
Review: This tale of a diver is not only intreguing and exciting, but it teaches the younger generations (including myself) of how discrimination was carried out, and why it is so important to aviod. This lengthy tale took a long time to watch, but in the end it was worth it to see this epic adventure.
Rating: 
Summary: Carl Brashere: From the Farm to Top Rate Navy Diver!!!!!
Review: Carl Brashere's life is chronicled in this "against all odds" movie that highlights his resilience vs. the "old navy". The opening scenes display the hard, farm life Brashere (Cuba Gooding Jr.) was born into, conveying the "back breaking" fortitude his father displays, in order to keep the family farm. When Brashere originally enlists, he notifies the family of his chosen career, the elder Brashere,(Carl Lumby) sternly warns his son of returning home - intensifying the young Brashere's intention to buck the system and prevail at all costs... Early on, in his tour of duty, Brashere is relegated to cook's detail, the obvious choice for young enlisted african-american naval men. Undaunted, Brashere vows to become an elite member of the Naval Diving Core. Initially, he is laughed at by his fellow naval men. After dilligent pursuit in seeking admission into the Naval Diving School he is finally accepted upon sending countless letters. Master Seargant Billy Sunday (Robert DeNiro) is the self-proclaimed god of the training school,where he puts trainees thru pure-hell in order to qualify as a deep sea diver. The DeNiro character is a hard-charging, whiskey drinking southerner who has trouble following orders - and he's prone to violence if provoked. Brashere confronts racism immediately once arriving on the base. His bunk-mates refuse to share the dorm - walking out one by one. His only friend is the Michael Rappaport character, who just seems to be an outcast, but provides support for Brashere. The real conflict is between Brashere and Sunday, who quietly have a mutual admiration for each other, sighting their similar backgrounds. Brashere breezes thru the training, until the last obstacle. Pappy, the brash General who's aloofness is apparent when hunkering over the men in an oversized tower. Pappy (Hal Holbrook) is totally against Brashere graduating, and directs Sunday to halt his progress by all means. Without divulging an enormous amount of information Brashere remains the victor. During this period, Brashere's career is on the upswing and Sunday's is in a downward spiral. Sunday's hostility and drunkeness escalates during a party where he assaults a Naval officer. I love DeNiro's southern accent - it's almost similar to the Max Cady character in "Cape Fear" minus the decadence. Brashere's dedication and fearlessness is further tested when he is injured during a dive. He is forced to go against the grain again during a lengthy trial. Requesting re-admission into the Navy, versus the serious injury, Brashere's back is against the wall once again . Who's there to help him? None other than the raucous Sunday, who appears out of nowhere, to assist Brashere. Of course, we know the final outcome, but who cares!!! It's a feelgood movie..Director Tillman, seems adept at making these types of movies..ie: Soul Food..Plus it's a true story, making it more conceivable. Only drawback, in my estimation, are the scenes between Carl Brashere and his wife, which seem misplaced and not in tune with the picture. Regardless, Good Movie......
Rating:
Summary: The Most Intense Movie of 2000!!
Review: I don't hype a lot of movies, but this one deserves it! Deniro, and Gooding do a Marvelous job as Sunday (Deniro) and Brashaer (Gooding). The Supporting cast is fantastic as well: Powers Boothe, Charlize Theron, Michael Rappaport, they all performed their roles to perfection. Not only was the acting great but the special effects were way above par also. I won't go into great deatil because I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it, but there are some parts in this movie so intense, I caught myself holding my breath. Edge of your seat!! This is a must own. Don't even bother with the "Well let's rent it and see if we like it, then maybe we can buy it later." Just get it. The worst thing about this movie is, as I write this oscar nominations just came out and this movie was forgotten that's a shame.
Rating:
Summary: SEE IT!
Review: Anyone who is uninspired by Brashear's accomplishments against seemingly impossible obstacles has a heart of stone. The first two-thirds of this film is about as good as straightforward, old-fashioned filmmaking gets. Cuba Gooding Jr. is growing as an actor. Unlike his earlier likeably cute but cartoonish work in Jerry Maguire and As Good as it Gets, here he gives an emotionally honest portrayel of a simple but heroic man. As for Robert DeNiro, chewing his corncob pipe like Patton and barking at his young charges, we've seen him in this type of role before, and with good reason: he is excellent at it. (But was it just me or did it seem like his country accent waxed and waned in different parts of the film?) This film is so effective for the first two-thirds or so that it is disappointing to see how it unravels at the end. After having reached an exhilerating climax with Brashear passing his diving test, the film seems to drift, as the audience has no way to know that a second storyline is being set up. That storyline also is inspiring but is handled much less skillfully than the first storyline. All manner of Hollywood cliches pop up, including a stock villain who tries to end Brashear's career and a hokey courtroom ending. Another problem is that Men of Honor telegraphs its ending. With all that we've seen Brashear overcome without a single failure along the way, the "suspenseful" courtroom ending (Can he pass the physical test or not?) is about as unpredictable as whether the sun will rise tomorrow. Despite some reservations, I recommend seeing Men of Honor. It's a great and uplifting story, and when this movie is good, it's really good. If the DVD includes information about the real Brashear, that would be a delight. I would like to know the real story behind this remarkable man.
Rating:
Summary: Bruce Lee Pullen missed the mark
Review: Bruce appears to have lost track that this is based on a real person's experience. Mr. Brashear isn't a fictional character. He actually faced a determined Mr Sunday. Mr Brashear won over Mr Sunday because he WAS (IS) a Man of Honor (and that's where the title came from). The question then becomes; How closely does the film portray ACTUAL events. I suspect only Mr Brashear and Mr Sunday could answer that. My hat's off to Mr Brashear for his tenacity and to Mr Sunday for being honorable enough to change his mind.
Rating:
Summary: great movie
Review: Just finshed seeing Men Of Honor and I must say that I loved it because it is a great movie to see with a loved one. I thought De Niro and Gooding were great in this movie so if you are in the mood for a great movie then this is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Two Acting Heavyweights Salvage Sentimental Sub Biopic
Review: George Tillman Jr's blatantly syrupy and corny cinematic voyage into the tumultuous naval career of America's first African-American Master Diver Carl Brashear (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is an excessively blunt and fairly obvious attempt to felicitate massive emotions from the audience through another predictable man against the world formula. Essentially a rehash of any underdog coming-of-age sports movie (Rocky, Karate Kid, Rudy,) Men of Honor takes a typically idealistic but class challenged character and puts him through the paces of trying to prove himself in his own mind and, in spite of his ethnicity and personal background, validate his cause upon the hearts of others. As the audience follows Brashear on his predestined path, we meet a typically callous and hard-hitting commanding officer Master Chief Billy Sunday played marvelously by the always-authoritative Robert De Niro. Sunday is another stock De Niro character that is hot-tempered, violently impulsive, alcoholic, loud-mouthed, aggressively defiant against authority, and haunted by his human frailties on a daily basis. Through this unlikely union between these drastically varied men, Brashear eventually finds the will, determination, and persistence to succeed in the military amidst the initial resistance and eventual encouragement of Master Chief Sunday. Including an all-star supporting cast comprising Hal Holbrook (Mr. Pappy), Carlize Theron (Gwen Sunday), Powers Boothe (Captain Pullman), and Michael Rapaport (Snowhill), Men of Honor supplies the acting muscle necessary particularly in the leads to upgrade what could have been a gooey dramatic hokum into a sound military period piece that still slightly disappoints, by supplying more sentimentality than film needs, in remaining entirely real throughout. When this well-acted tale reaches DVD, I hope it contains a George Tillman Jr. commentary track, theatrical trailers, making-of documentaries, and much much more. If you're a fan of De Niro or of military period pieces than definitely by all means check it out.
Rating:
Summary: MEN OF HONOR IS SUPERB!
Review: Even though at times, Men of Honor was a little too melo-drama for my taste, Cuba Gooding Jr. is wonderful as Carl Brashear in this spectacular film starring opposite Robert DeNiro in one of a great performance (as usual)! A breathtaking film that is destined for the OSCARS! Not to be missed!
Rating:
Summary: Big Oscar Actors! Therefore great ratings right? DFINITELY!
Review: Why do you think Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. are academy award winners? Becuase they deliver! A true story, great plot and story line, emotions skyhigh! A totally great movie! It has my bessing of "Thumbs Up all the Way!" A++++++
Rating:
Summary: Compelling Story Of A True Hero
Review: A dramatization of the life of Carl Brashear, the first African-American diver in the history of the U.S. Navy, "Men Of Honor," directed by George Tillman, Jr., is an uncompromising examination of personal courage, integrity and honor. Cuba Gooding, Jr. portrays Brashear, a man of unabashed determination who simply would not be deterred from achieving his goal, even in the face of apparently insurmountable obstacles, the most prevalent of which was blatant racial discrimination. As brutal and incomprehensible as it seems, there were those, including at least one high-ranking officer, who would rather have seen him die than pass diving school. That he stayed with it, passed and went on, not only to an illustrious career with the Navy, but one in which his achievements were nothing less than remarkable, is a demonstration of heroics tantamount to those for which medals are awarded. It's men like Brashear that should make veterans everywhere proud of their heritage as members of the Armed Forces. Such a story is, of course, a natural for the movies; and, if done properly, has the makings of a great one. And this one is. Tillman tells the story of Brashear, the son of a Kentucky share cropper, in a decidedly straightforward manner, without pulling any punches as he illustrates the inane bigotry faced by the young seaman. The heroics of the man speak for themselves, and Tillman wisely avoids any attempts at superfluous dramatic embellishments, the siren's song to which a lesser director may have succumbed, and which could so quickly have derailed this project. Tillman's work more than passes muster, and his attention to detail, along with impeccable pace and timing, are a major factor in the success of this film. It should land him an Oscar nomination. Another factor is the incredible talent with which Tillman had to work. Gooding embodies the qualities that made Brashear a hero, and it is through his outstandingly credible performance that we get to know this man. There's a subtle pride in his demeanor, a personification of his determination, that brings him so vividly to life on the screen; it's an Oscar worthy piece of work that should be acknowledged by the Academy. And Gooding had, not only a terrific role, but the best co-star with which an actor could hope to work. Robert De Niro stars as Master Diver Billy Sunday, the adversary turned ally who ultimately helped Brashear realize his goals. On the surface, Sunday is tough and pridefully simplistic; but underneath lies a complex individual that De Niro mines to full advantage. Any time De Niro appears in a film, expectations are high, as well they should be; he is an actor of immeasurable talents. And here, with his portrayal of Sunday, he scores another triumph. It's a brilliant performance, for which he must be recognized with an Oscar nomination. The outstanding supporting cast includes Charlize Theron (Gwen), Aunjanue Ellis (Jo), Hal Holbrook (Mr. Pappy), Michael Rapaport (Snowhill), Powers Boothe (Capt. Pullman), David Keith (Capt. Hartigan), Holt McCallany (Rourke), Joshua Leonard (Isert), Carl Lumbly (Mac, Carl's Father) and Lonette McKee (Ella, Carl's Mother). "Men Of Honor" is a superb, memorable film that recognizes the kind of heroics that go largely unsung and too often unheralded. That Tillman and this fine assemblage of actors have been able to illuminate the life of a man like Carl Brashear so fervently is a tribute to them as well as the Motion Picture Industry. But more than that, it is a well deserved tribute to a true hero, Carl Brashear. This is a movie that must not be missed.
|
