Rules of Engagement (2000)
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36% of critics liked it
(94 reviews) -
58% of users liked it
(48,859 ratings)
In this drama, two U.S. Marines who stood side by side on the field of battle are reunited in a court of law. Attorney Hayes Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones) once aspired to a career as an officer, but a serious injury in Vietnam put an end to his military future, leaving him bitter and resentful. Col.… More In this drama, two U.S. Marines who stood side by side on the field of battle are reunited in a court of law. Attorney Hayes Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones) once aspired to a career as an officer, but a serious injury in Vietnam put an end to his military future, leaving him bitter and resentful. Col. Terry L. Childers (Samuel L. Jackson) fought alongside Hodges and once saved his life; when Childers is threatened with a court martial for ordering his troops to fire on civilians during a raid on an American embassy, Hodges is the only lawyer that he can trust, and the case gives Hodges a chance for revenge against the military system that he feels has wronged him. Rules of Engagement also features Kim Delaney, Ben Kingsley, Blair Underwood, and Anne Archer. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- William Friedkin
- Written By
- Stephen Gaghan
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
- In Theaters
- Apr 7, 2000 Wide
- Studio
- Paramount Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
At the end we have a film that attacks its central issue from all sides and has a collision in the middle.
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Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Rules of Engagement never engages us.
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Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Written with such murderous gravity, certainty and gloomy solemnity ... that it tends to kill our interest.
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Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Both actors are excellent.
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Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What distinguishes Rules is its use of xenophobia to bolster its legal arguments, and presumably tap audience's deep-seated prejudices.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Tommy Lee Jones
as Col. Hayes Hodges
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Samuel L. Jackson
as Col. Terry L. Childers
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Guy Pearce
as Maj. Mark Biggs
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Bruce Greenwood
as William Sokal
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Blair Underwood
as Capt. Lee
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Philip Baker Hall
as Gen. H. Lawrence Hodges
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Anne Archer
as Mrs. Mourain
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Ben Kingsley
as Ambassador Mourain
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Mark Feuerstein
as Capt. Tom Chandler
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Dale Dye
as Gen. Perry
- Kim Delaney
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Ryan Hurst
as Corporal Hustings


