Men of Honor **** (2000, Cuba Gooding Jr, Robert De Niro, Charlize Theron) – Classic Movie Review 2303

Director George Tillman Jr’s 2000 drama stars Cuba Gooding Jr as the real-life hero Carl Brashear, who comes up against tough, embittered US Navy Dive School instructor Billy Sunday (Robert De Niro) and a load of nasty prejudice on his way to becoming the US Navy’s first African-American diver in the Fifties.

The result is a richly enjoyable, inspirational and, above all honourable movie, with two stalwart, charismatic performances and an intelligent script lifting it out of the TV movie-style rut.

Gooding Jr splendidly conveys both the physical skills and grit needed to get him to graduate from diving school and De Niro is on fine form as the mercurial oddball who first opposes Brashear, then becomes his staunchest supporter. Charlize Theron plays Gwen Sunday, while Hal Holbrook, Aunjanue Ellis, David Keith, Michael Rapaport, Powers Booth and Joshua Leonard co-star.

Written by Scott Marshall Smith, this is a reliable feel-good entertainment, with a strong, well-aimed anti-racism statement.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2303

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