Men of Honor

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Men of Honor

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Men of Honor

Robert De Niro, Cuba Gooding Jr., Charlize Theron, Aunjanue Ellis, Hal Holbrook, Michael Rapaport, Powers Booth, David Keith, Holt McCallany, Carl Lumbly, Glynn Turman, Lonette McKee

Men of Honor presents a great role model for younger viewers, yet it's rated R due to abundant use of the F word. With appropriate discretion, parents should allow their preteen and teen...( read more  read more... )aged children to see this rousing if altogether conventional biopic inspired by the life of Carl Brashear. Played with gravity and gumption by Cuba Gooding Jr., Brashear was the first African American to become a master diver in the U.S. Navy, despite the lingering effects of segregation, opposition from Navy brass, and the amputation of his left leg following a tragic on-duty accident. Robert De Niro adds marquee value and salty bluster as Billy Sunday, the drunken, redneck (and fictionalized) Master Chief who watches, with gradual admiration, as Brashear attains his ultimate goal through sheer force of will.

This is all quite uplifting on its surface, but in attempting to hit the requisite highlights of an inspiring biography, director George Tillman Jr. (Soul Food) reduces Brashear's achievement to a succession of clichés, forcing Gooding and De Niro to battle sentiment with their noteworthy performances. As Sunday's neglected wife, Charlize Theron is completely extraneous; Hal Holbrook's diving-school commander is a ranting caricature; and newcomer Aunjanue Ellis barely registers as Brashear's wife (in part because their obligatory romance is handled with an utter lack of finesse). There's no question that Brashear's efforts are heroic and worthy of recognition, so Men of Honor serves its basic purpose. Still, one can't help but wonder if Brashear's story would be even more impressive with a more authentic treatment. --Jeff Shannon

Id: 10898776

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Recent Reviews

Men of Honor Recent Reviews
  • sanjurosamurai
    November 30, 2009
    sanjurosamurai
    a bit melodramatic for me at points. somewhat inspiring but in the end mostly average.
  • SirPant
    November 12, 2009
    SirPant
    It was good but it suffers from too much schmaltz, I like Cuba Gooding Jr. but really struggle to think of a really good film he's been in.
  • thmtsang
    January 31, 2009
    thmtsang
    Cuba Gooding Jr's character Carl is the first African American to become a master diver in the US Navy.
  • kiriyamakazou
    August 14, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    Typical of Hollywood to water down a brilliant story. Rather than being a passionate and moving film it's just schmaltzy manipulative drivel. De Niro and Gooding, Jr. are wonderful in their respective roles but the films writing turns it into just another triumph over adversity s...( read more)tory. It makes you want to stand up and applaud during the court room scenes. It builds no suspense as Gooding takes on different tasks as if he ISN'T going to make it. Some parts really are worth the time, such as De Niro's expression when he must award a white man the medal that Gooding earns, and Powers Booth who unfortunately disappears early on. It often feels like a parody due to it's familiar nature and as such fails to be a story that stays with the audience.
  • QueenCityFilms
    March 5, 2008
    QueenCityFilms
    Fantastic final scene
  • WoodlandSandiG
    November 28, 2009
    WoodlandSandiG
    Awesome a must C......
  • ythelastman89
    November 22, 2009
    ythelastman89
    While I wasn't particularly impressed with the story all that much, it is a decent film. The great casting of Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. truly sold the movie. It has great performances and is a well composed period piece.
  • rochandre
    November 12, 2009
    rochandre
    almost cried...this guy knows what he wants!
  • formerwowaddic
    November 3, 2009
    formerwowaddic
    great story, love movies based on true events
  • YoungDenze1
    November 3, 2009
    YoungDenze1
    Believe it or not IT'S A TRUE STORY!

    dey're both get Award from me too!
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