Review of An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) by Omar L — 01 Oct 2010

This is Richard Gereâ??s best. I canâ??t say enough great things about this film. Gere plays an arrogant self centered officer candidate whoâ??s trying to make the cut to become a naval aviator. In the opening scenes we find out that his mom took her own life when he was a child which forced him to live with his drunken sailor dad who always seems to have prostitutes around him. He grew up with debauchery and from the looks of it on the surface he seems to be pretty well intact. His dad laughs when he learns of his sonâ??s plans to become a pilot in the Navy. To become an officer he must become a gentleman which is something far removed from his nature. We sympathize with Gereâ??s character as he starts to fall in love with the local town girl Paula. Paula is played by Debra Winger and the chemistry she has with Gere is as real as it gets.

Louis Gossett plays the hardcore Marine Drill Instructor who often butts heads with Gereâ??s character Zach Mayo. Gossett won Best Supporting Actor for his role and deserved it. This film is solid from start to finish with more than a few classic scenes. If you want to watch a real Romance film thatâ??s true to life then I highly recommend this. A great story about self discovery. 10/10 from me.

Foley: You can forget it! You're out!

Mayo: Don't you do it! Don't! You... I got nowhere else to go! I got nowhere else to g... I got nothin' else.