\"Men of Honor" is an old-fashioned, against-all-odds, true-to-life militaristic yarn in a somewhat similar mold to numerous films prior. However, this particular film elevates itself from the common by sporting a set of skillful performances by its two leads, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Robert De Niro.
Men of Honor - R
Starring:
Cuba Gooding Jr., Robert De Niro and Charlize Theron
Directed by:
George Tillman Jr.
Now playing:
Showplace East 11
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\"The film chronicles the harrowing experiences of Carl Brashear (Gooding) in his goal of becoming the Navy's first black master diver. After three years of almost constant petitioning, Brashear is inevitably if begrudgingly admitted to the dive school he must complete in order to achieve his dream. Circa 1948, this was a huge feat.
Once there he encounters taunts, threats and rejection from his bigoted classmates, and worse yet, the unwavering abuse of his instructor Master Chief Billy Sunday (De Niro, doing his typical, yet highly entertaining shtick), a booze-swilling, dream-killing man with a racist streak.
De Niro does wonders in yet another role of insanity (mild as it might be in this particular scenario). Although the tormented Sunday occasionally harkens back to the roles of psychos past, he's ultimately revealed to be a man of conviction and decency. Sunday is a character who in the hands of a lesser actor would be reduced to a sketchy shadow of an actual figure. But De Niro enables him to chew scenery much like Sunday chews a corncob pipe.
Gooding does something few actors are capable of; he actually makes the rounds with De Niro, and in the process turns in his best and most heartfelt performance since his Oscar-winning work in "Jerry Maguire." Brashear is an extremely likable and inspirational character, and the audience should have no problem understanding his plight.
The film as directed by George Tillman Jr., while thoroughly enjoyable, isn't perfect. The women of the film, Carl's med student love interest (Aunjanue Ellis), and Billy's youthful better half (Charlize Theron) are given the short shrift, placed firmly in secondary roles. However, lest we remember the flick is not called "Women of Honor."
Aside from that small complaint, "Men of Honor" is a truly enthralling piece of work elevated by its two leads, both men of skill.
