William Friedkin’s last film, The Caine Mutiny Court docket-Martial is a good actor’s showcase for Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Clarke.
PLOT: A Naval officer (Jake Lacy) is on trial for mutiny. His court-appointed legal professional (Jason Clarke) should show that his captain (Kiefer Sutherland) was dangerously unbalanced and that mutiny was the one answer to guard the crew.
REVIEW: The Caine Mutiny Court docket-Martial is an attention-grabbing last movie for the late William Friedkin. Whereas most know him for his seventies epics, having directed at the very least three or 4 of the best movies ever made (The French Connection, The Exorcist, Sorcerer and To Reside and Die in L.A), many don’t know that he began his profession with a few movies primarily based on stage performs: The Birthday Get together and The Boys within the Band. His most up-to-date work, Bug and Killer Joe, have been additionally stage variations (of works by Tracy Letts), however The Caine Mutiny Court docket-Martial is extra historically mounted than these. That is mainly a stage play put to movie, with no exteriors, no music and solely two units.
The play was written by Herman Wouk in 1953 and was tailored from his personal novel, “The Caine Mutiny”. That ebook was became a traditional movie starring Humphrey Bogart because the neurotic Captain Queeg. Kiefer Sutherland, who performs the function right here, appears to be nodding in direction of Bogey’s efficiency a bit right here, with out ever resorting to an impression.
Going into The Caine Mutiny Court docket-Martial, it’s a must to hold your expectations in test. That is an actor’s showcase, with Friedkin mounting it in a no-frills type of means. But, you possibly can really feel his ardour for the fabric, which is comprehensible. Captain Queeg is a traditional anti-hero in that he’s a problematic, flawed man who – regardless of being mistaken – deserves some measure of respect. Should you learn a few of Friedkin’s extra notorious tales from on-set, together with filming the French Connection chase with out permits and slapping a priest whereas making The Exorcist, you possibly can guess that Friedkin maybe sees a lot of himself in Queeg. But, his work stands the take a look at of time like few different administrators as a result of he all the time had loyalty from his collaborators, which Queeg by no means had. The mutiny itself was justified, however, because the play and earlier movie all the time introduced, it was mistaken in some ways.
Two powerhouse performances anchor the movie, Sutherland’s and Jason Clarke’s as defence legal professional Barney Greenwald. Within the authentic film, as performed by Jose Ferrer, he was a supporting character, however within the play – and right here – he’s the star. Greenwald’s huge speech on the finish of the movie drives residence the entire thought, culminating in a climactic act punctuated by the film’s solely music – Boz Scaggs’ Lowdown. The remainder of the forged is stuffed out with a bunch of professionals, together with Lance Reddick in his last display efficiency as the pinnacle of the navy tribunal. Lewis Pullman, a useless ringer for his father Invoice, performs Tom Keefer, the manipulative officer who pulled the strings of his extra thick-headed superior, Jake Lacy’s Maryk, who comes off far much less sympathetic right here than he does in different variations of the story.
Notably, Friedkin has up to date the story to 2023. The unique play was set within the Second World Conflict, however right here Queeg is in a really fashionable Navy, with the prosecuting legal professional feminine (excellently performed by Monica Raymund) and Queeg, a veteran of heavy fight in Iraq. But, the play is timeless sufficient that solely just a little wanted to be modified, with Friedkin penning the up to date script, which makes use of lots of Wouk’s dialogue.
Whereas extra of a filmed play than a function, Friedkin nonetheless provides his viewers loads of substance to chew on whereas offering Sutherland and Clarke glorious showcases for the type of “huge” performing neither will get an opportunity to do a lot of today. Satirically, the movie drops on Paramount Plus the identical day The Exorcist: Believer hits theaters. Even in his previous age, Friedkin was defiantly himself and has made exactly the movie he needed to make. Whereas it gained’t be confused with considered one of his masterpieces, it’s nonetheless well-assembled and expertly acted by all concerned.
The Caine Mutiny Court docket-Marital is now streaming on Paramount Plus.
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