By 1992 we had seen Cruise work with Dustin Hoffman and Paul Newman, giants among film actors (not literally, but you know), and in A Few Good Men he does some work opposite another mammoth Hollywood figure, Jack Nicholson. Their pairing is interesting because they both have a unique brand of passion in their roles and remarkable firepower when called for. Seeing them go head to head is therefore akin to the whole irresistible force-immovable object mumbo-jumbo.
Of course he also has a script by Aaron Sorkin at his disposal, meaning he is afforded a number of delicious quips and grandiose statements, and the precise rhythm with which Sorkin writes is handled predictably well by Cruise. It’s not usually among the movies listed as his best but it’s a terrific story that depends largely on his strong performance, and he brings it.
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