Review of Rules of Engagement (2000) by Bob V — 10 Oct 2007

When one sits down and begins to watch William Friedkin's (The Exorcist, The French Connection) flick "Rules of Engagement" everyone inevitably compares it to "the" military courtroom drama "A Few Good Men". Well, doing so will only make you dislike this film more because "Men" was way better. So just try and take the film on its own for what it is.

Stephan Gaghan rewrote the script over James Webb's original draft. Webb was furious how much it was changed to make for the Hollywood "dramatic effect", so he got the story credit. It's understandable why he would be mad because this film was strictly made for a commercial audience but really how many movies aren't.

Fueled by the leading performances of Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones and backed up by Philip Baker Hall and Guy Pearce among others, the acting is top notch. So there is nothing wrong with that at all, in fact it may be the best part of the film.

Another strong part was the direction of veteran filmmaker William Friedkin, who brought classic, contemporary, and conventional ways of directing into one to make for an overall satisfying feeling to the film. Especially those great action scenes, which were slowed up to emphasize the horrific and hostile environments the soldiers were actually in. Friedkin also kept it together in the courtroom where he let his actors go free and erupt in fury adding a bit of realism to the scenes.

All in all, what can I say, I was entertained. Yeah, it was filled with clichés and at times a bit rough in the script but rarely in the delivery, which is usually what counts. If you don't have good lines might as well deliver the bad ones with taste, style, and charisma.

Not something I will really sit down and watch again but I've seen way worse films in my days. Namely, because I have a soft spot for crappy films and a belief that almost every movie deserves to be watched at least once.