Cadence (1990)

42% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(6,855 ratings)

When a young Caucasian military man is thrown into an all African-American barracks for punishment, he slowly earns the respect of his peers while they all are forced to contend with the prejudicial acts of a racist sergeant. Charlie Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, Martin Sheen (who also directed) and… More When a young Caucasian military man is thrown into an all African-American barracks for punishment, he slowly earns the respect of his peers while they all are forced to contend with the prejudicial acts of a racist sergeant. Charlie Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, Martin Sheen (who also directed) and others appear in this well-intentioned drama. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: Martin Sheen
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1989 Wide
On DVD: Dec 19, 2000
Studio: Republic Pictures Home Video

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin, New York Times
There is no indication that Mr. Sheen ever yelled "Cut!" when he had a chance to send one of his actors over the top.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
A sluggish comedy of race relations from the sappy Sheens, it's instant fodder for In Living Color's satirical Wayans.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Emotions in this film operate on a made-for-TV level; they don't engage you.
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
The cast builds genuine characters out of stock situations.
, Time Out
There's no real feel for period (the mid-'60s), and that dull Sheen psychodrama doesn't go away.
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
A fine look at the racial differences of the armed forces of that era.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Father and Son give the performances of their careers
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Not half-bad military drama.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Laurence Fishburne is a capable performer, but he's not asked to do much here. On the other hand, Charlie Sheen is unconvincing as his character experiences crises and moral dilemmas galore.
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Cadence is a more modest film that never seems to reach very high, settling for superficial characterizations and an overly familiar series of circumstances.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jason O

I finally saw "Cadence" while I was visiting my family in Texas awhile back and it was a great movie. Charlie Sheen has to go to military camp for 90 days after hitting a cop. Martin Sheen plays the role of the sergeant at the base. "Cadence" features one of both… More
I finally saw "Cadence" while I was visiting my family in Texas awhile back and it was a great movie. Charlie Sheen has to go to military camp for 90 days after hitting a cop. Martin Sheen plays the role of the sergeant at the base. "Cadence" features one of both Charlie's and Martin Sheen's best performances in my opinion. Charlie Sheen must survive the 90 days in the camp in order to get out alive. He has to go to Vietnam afterwards. This movie will keep you interested while you watch to see if Franklin Bean, (Charlie Sheen), can learn to get along with his black roomates and how he will put up with the sergeant, (Martin Sheen), while he's there. You will remember "Cadence" for the performances that all the actors put on and some of the other sequences such as getting the windmill to work. But you'll remember it even more for the song "End of My Journey" after you hear it at the end of the movie. There's no doubt that it's the best Christian song I've ever heard. If you like movies that deal with the Army, you'll like "Cadence." In my opinion, it's one of the best movies of the decade and one movie you can't miss. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. Yet another rather overlooked great by Sheen, along with The Chase and to a lesser extent, Beyond The Law.
Dean M

Well-meant film about the evils of racism is skewed by director-star Martin Sheen's overly sympathetic portrait of a prejudiced stockade commander who attempts to use newcomer Charlie Sheen to spy on his cell mates, all of whom are black. More notable for good intentions than… More
Well-meant film about the evils of racism is skewed by director-star Martin Sheen's overly sympathetic portrait of a prejudiced stockade commander who attempts to use newcomer Charlie Sheen to spy on his cell mates, all of whom are black. More notable for good intentions than dramatic power.

Cast

            Charlie Sheen as Franklin Bean Jr.

            Martin Sheen as Sergeant Otis V. McKinney

            F Murray Abraham as Capt. Garcia

            Laurence Fishburne as Stokes

            Michael Beach as Webb

            Blu Mankuma as Spoonman (Bryce)

            Harry Stewart as Sweetbread (Crane)

            James Marshall as Lamar

            Ramon Estevez as Gessner

            John Toles-Bey as Lawrence

            Jay Brazeau as Mr. Vito

            Alec Burden as Abel Fox

            Roark Critchlow as Brooks

            Ken Douglas as Kramer

            Linda Francis
            
            Robert Gazzola as Bean-Age 8

            David Glyn-Jones as Funeral Director

            Deryl Hayes as M.P. in Bar

            Steve Hilton as Colonel Clark

            Doug Judge as MP in Bar

            Samantha Langevin as Mrs. Vito

            Joe Lowry as Cecil Haig

            Allan Lysell as Sheridan

            Tom McBeath as Principal

            Weston McMillan as DeLuc

            David Michael O'Neill as Sager

            Tony Pantages as G.I. (Bar)

            Brent Stait as Psych. Ward M.P. #2

            Matt Clark as Bean Sr.

            Don S. Davis as Haig

            Michelle Anton Allen
            
            Jennifer Griffin as Tattooist

            Lochlyn Munro as Bartender
See full cast