Rules of Engagement

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, Bruce Greenwood, Anne Archer, Blair Underwood, Philip Baker Hall, Nicky Katt
Directed by: William Friedkin
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
2000

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A retired army lawyer (Tommy Lee Jones) defends a soldier (Samuel L. Jackson) accused of ordering his men to fire upon innocent civilians.

Review:

Tim: I admit that I probably liked Rules of Engagement more than I should have. The film is a bit paint-by-the-numbers and predictable. Thinking through that, it surprises me that I was so forgiving. Most of the time, you watch a movie hoping to see something new and exciting. Sometimes, however, it can be comfortable to watch a movie you haven't seen before, but it certainly feels like you have. This movie felt like a throwback to many other movies, but it did just enough different to not feel like a rip-off. If people wanted to criticize this movie heavily, I would understand, but personally, I found it to be a good movie.

I really enjoyed the action that creates all the drama. A soldier is ordered to evacuate a U.S. ambassador. He and his troops come under heavy fire, and they return fire, killing dozens and dozens of civilians. An examination of the bodies reveals no weapons at all, and he's court-martialed for killing innocent people. The film does a superb job of putting us into the action- of feeling the danger this soldier found himself in, and revealing just enough to make us curious. Did he need to open fire like he did? Was he just looking for bloodshed? The movie wisely toes the line, and at various points in the film, I believed him innocent, and others, I was sure he was guilty. That was a bit of roller coaster ride, and it was fun to be on it.

The cast was quite good, too. I'm always a fan of Tommy Lee Jones, and he worked well in this film. He gets to be his dry, gruff self, so this is a role that is certainly in his wheelhouse. He worked well with Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson is such a ubiquitous actor (does he do anything but work?) that you sometimes forget he has some real talent. It was fun seeing him utilize that for this film. I also enjoyed seeing Jones and Jackson interact together on screen.

The supporting cast is quite strong, too. Guy Pearce was good as the opposing attorney. Ben Kingsley was criminally underused in his role as the U.S. Ambassador, but his presence was a welcome one. Bruce Greenwood is always fun to see and he was strong in a corrupt role. Even Philip Baker Hall and Nicky Katt, Anne Archer, and Blair Underwood had a opportunities to add to the film. The cast as a whole was quite good.

One of the big criticisms of the film is that it's a bit predictable. I read that the original script called for a great deal more ambiguity. I think I would have liked that. As the film goes on, more and more is revealed, and it mutes the level of suspense because the audience knows more than any of the characters. I would have liked this film to be a bit less clear-cut. I also thought the early scenes in Vietnam weren't as effective as they could have been. Neither Jones nor Jackson is exactly young, and I never believed for a second we were looking at them 30 years ago. Jones wears a hat over his eyes, but I wanted to laugh because he was so clearly not young in those scenes. That was just an awkward series of scenes handled somewhat ineffectively.

So, while the film has some flaws, it has some strengths as well. The early scenes of the troops under combat was quite intense. I really enjoyed the courtroom sequences as well- there's something so thrilling about courtroom dramas, and this film delivered a few strong moments. Add in a very strong cast and at least capable direction by William Friedkin, and I would consider this a good movie. I know many people were harsher critics than me, but I enjoyed Rules of Engagement and consider it a solid film.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Basic, U.S. Marshals, The General's Daughter