Review of An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) by Stuart K — 30 Apr 2014

Directed by Taylor Hackford (Dolores Claiborne (1995), The Devil's Advocate (1997) and Ray (2004)) and written and produced by Douglas Day Stewart (The Blue Lagoon (1980)), this is an emotional drama that would end up being referenced to high heaven by many films and TV shows in the years to come, but it's impact has not been diminished one iota, it's a great story and well made too.

Zack Mayo (Richard Gere) has lived in the Philippines with his alcoholic Navy chief father Byron (Robert Loggia) since he was a boy, and not wanting to end up like his father, Zack enrols in the Navy's Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) to become a Navy pilot.

There, he's put through a hellish training regime by Marine Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley (Louis Gossett, Jr.) Foley is determine to see his candidates quit or fail, as he wants the best of the best.

But, Zack will not give in, will won't give in to Foley's taunting and put downs, and his confidence is boosted when he meets factory worker Paula Pokrifki (Debra Winger) at a Navy hosted dance.

While it might look like a romantic film on the surface, it's actually a lot tougher and hard-nosed than people give it credit for, mostly down to Gossett's put downs and abuse, (he rightfully won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar), but it's a film which highlights the underdogs who want to do right in the world and succeed.