Displaying items by tag: Kiefer Sutherland

JUROR #2

US, 2024, 114 minutes, Colour.

Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, Chris Messina, Zoe Deutch, Kiefer Sutherland, J.K.Simmons, Cedric Yarborough, Amy Aquino, Gabriel Basso.

Directed by Clint Eastwood.

A Clint Eastwood film. The multi-Oscar-winning director made this film when he was turning 93. A strong acting career, a musician, and then a director as he turned 40, and the extraordinary variety of themes, principally westerns, police dramas, psychological dramas, American history, the music…

As with one of his key moral-themed films, Gran Torino, this film is rather small-scale, from the American suburbs. But, as with many, it is a film of reality and conscience.

Nicholas Hoult plays Justin, a reformed alcoholic, married to the teacher (Zoe Deutch) who helped him in recovery, expecting a baby. Then he is called to jury duty, wanting out because of the imminent pregnancy but, as with other jurors who protest, is compelled to serve.

The case concerns the death of a woman, on the highway at night, her body down the cliff face. The accused is her partner, a violent man, drug convictions, and all the evidence against him, an argument in the bar, his pursuing her, the dark night.

There is an interesting supporting cast. Toni Collette is the determined prosecutor, believing in the guilt, but also involved in campaigning for political election. The defence lawyer, sympathetic to the man accused, is played by Chris Messina. Kiefer Sutherland plays a friend who runs the AA meetings and offers advice. J.K.Simmons is a retired policeman who decides to investigate aspects of the case himself.

But, in this setting, there are complications for Justin, juror #2. He realises that he was in the bar that night, remembers some of the interchange, was tempted to drink but didn’t, drove home disturbed, hit a deer on the road, had not thought about this afterwards. As he listens, disturbed, beginning to question what had happened that night, pressured by the discussions of the jurors, sensitive to his wife and the imminent birth, interactions with the prosecutor, the members of the jury going as a group to the site of the death…

It is interesting to see that Clint Eastwood after so many films has decided to go for a smaller scale drama, a look at family life, interactions and a small town, the significance of the law and jury duty and decisions, the conscience of the prosecutor who had a fixed opinion on guilt but is challenged by the lawyer for the defence and an interview with the accused, challenged to do her own investigations.

Justin is also challenged in his conscience and makes decisions. So, a challenge to the audience as well, sympathies, justice, conscience, extenuating circumstances, and Clint Eastwood leaving what could be his final film with a conscience-challenge to his audience.

1. The films of Clint Eastwood? Themes of justice, crime, police? Filmed in his 90s?
2. The Georgia setting, homes, the courts, bars, the countryside, the highway, the scene of the death? The musical score?
3. The title, the focus on Justin Kemp, his marriage, pregnant wife, the loss of earlier babies, the third trimester, his concern? The gradual revelation of his life, alcohol, the accident, rehabilitation and AA, the courts and social work, teaching, meeting his wife, the marriage? His reform, going to AA meetings, the encouragement of Larry Lasko? The chance encounter with the DEA?
4. The case, the accused, in the court, his manner, the flashbacks, his reputation, drug dealing, tattoos, his girlfriend, drinking in the bar, the argument, following her outside, the altercation, her leaving in the rain, his driving away? The evidence against him? The patrons videoing the altercation, played in court? His reputation? Driving away, the identification by the old man?
5. Justin, called to jury duty, his background of writing articles, not wanting to be away from his wife, the judge ordering him to stay, the other jurors and objections overruled? His sitting in the court, listening to the case, place in times, the beginnings of the flashbacks? The cumulative effect of the flashbacks, his reason for being in the bar, not drinking, upset, driving away, lack of attention, hitting what he thought was the deer, his looking around, driving away, no report? The issue of the repairs to the car and Faith checking out possible suspects, the visit to the house, Justin’s wife and her testimony?
6. The skills of the prosecution, her determination, personality, interactions with the defence counsel, her ambitions, the interviews, politics and her role? Her manner in the court, assured, convinced of guilt? The contrast with the defence counsel, his manner, presentation, the arguments, cross examinations? The role of the judge?
7. The effect on Justin, his conscience, his talking with the Larry? Larry giving the worst possible scenario? Later meeting with Larry, issues of conscience?
8. The personalities of the jurors, the jury taking charge in managing the discussions, the angry man and the death of his brother, condemnation of the accused? The variety of personalities, age, the discussions, the medical student and her analysis of the wounds?
9. The pressure on Justin, to protect himself, fairness to the accused being innocent? His raising questions after the almost unanimous decision? The range of discussions, angers, shifts of attitude, questions, the revival reliability of the old man and his identifying the accused? The weather, hit run? The interactions amongst themselves, the interactions with Justin?
10. The surprise that the verdict did not coming quickly? Justin, going home, reassurances for his wife, the tensions, her asking the truth?
11. The request to visit the site, the strictures, in the bus, the angry juror and his eye on Justin, analysing the situation, the pressure on Justin? The need for a verdict?
12. The audience surprise at the verdict of guilty? Justin absent from the reading, being with his wife, the birth? The result for the prosecutor, defence, the prisoner himself, his declarations?
13. Faith, the discussions with the defence, his pleading that the accused was not a murderer, the issue of the juror, former policeman, his contributions, going to the scene of the death, aware that Justin was there, his collecting all the documents about repairs? Including Justin’s? Justin contriving to drop the documents, the consequences, the former policeman dismissed? Justin to stay?
14. Faith, her checking out the repairs, the interview with Justin’s wife, the aftermath of the decision, her discussions with Justin outside? The meeting with the accused and the defence present, her checking whether she believed him guilty or not?
15. Her success, her role as DA? Her conscience, justice?
16. The audience’s attitude toward Justin, saving himself, the guilty verdict, his attitude towards the accused?
17. The final moment of the film, the knock on the door, faith present, the focus on Justin? His wife and the baby? The future?

THE CAINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL

US, 2023, 108 minutes, Colour.

Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Clarke, Jake Lacey, Monica Raymund, Lewis Pullman, Jay Duplass, Tom Riley, Lance Reddick, François Baptiste, Gabe Kessler.

Directed by William Friedkin.

In 1954, audiences worldwide were very impressed by Edward Dmytryk’s film adaptation of Herman Wouk’s celebrated novel, The Caine Mutiny. With a very strong cast including José Ferrer, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray, the attention was on Humphrey Bogart as Captain Queeg, not the usual kind of character that he played. He was the captain of the ship, his subordinates accused of mutiny against him, the revelation of his character, his fixations, his nervousness…

In 1988, Robert Altman made a television version of the play based on the novel, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.

2023 saw a new version of the play, filmed for television, and, in fact, the last film by celebrated director William Friedkin (The Exorcist, Oscar for The French Connection). He directed the film in his late 70s.

Time and location for this story has been updated to the 2020s, specific dates, a situation of mines in the Persian Gulf. And there is all the contemporary technology to draw on. And, another change, the prosecutor has been changed from male to female, now played by Monica Raymund.

There is a very interesting male cast, Jason Clarke at his best as the defender, Jake Lacey in a much more serious role than usual as the officer accused of mutiny, Lewis Pullman as the sinister presence.

The film is dedicated to veteran actor, Lance Reddick, who appears as the presiding judge, a strong role, his last film role.

Where this version differs is that Captain Queeg is not presented initially so strongly neurotic as in the other versions. Here he is played by Kiefer Sutherland, defending himself, speaking forthrightly, the touch of the trembling hands. However, he is later called as a witness for the defence, the defence badgering him, and all his neuroses revealed – especially in the context of the testimony of eccentric behaviour explained by the main witnesses for the defence.

While Captain Queeg is condemned, the defence lawyer gives a speech honouring his service to the country over so many decades, the lawyer drinking, going to a celebratory party, and denouncing the sailor, the novelist, who, insinuating, brought on the fall of Queeg. And the film stops.

It is over to the audience, to relive their experience of the trial, the various testimonies, contradictions, denials, personal motivations, integrity… and make their own assessments and judgments.

1. The long popularity of the novel and the film? The stage play the court-martial, Robert Altman’s version? William Friedkin’s version? The updating to the 2020s and contemporary technology?
2. The film based on a play, the emphasis on dialogue, interactions? The audience imagining the episodes talked about? The end, leaving the courtroom, in the street? At the party? The musical score?
3. The episode, the relieving of Captain Queeg of his office, the situation with the mines, Maryk taking responsibility? The episode seen as mutiny?
4. The introduction to Maryk, age and experience, discussions with Barney Greenwald, his appointment a few days before, accepting him as defence?
5. The proceedings of the court, the presiding judge, his focus of attention, decisions about objections, his interrogating the witnesses, the decision about reprimanding Greenwald or not? The other members of the bench attentive?
6. Greenwald, his background, his tactics, his interviewing the range of witnesses, turning Queeg into the equivalent of the accused, little interrogation of him, awaiting his return? The eliciting of information, description of the episodes about Queeg? The cumulative effect?
7. Challee, the prosecutor, a woman in this version, the attitudes, his determination, the questioning of witnesses, the defensive Queeg, her objections, not always sustained? The cumulative effect, her final speech and criticisms of Greenwald?
8. Queeg, his presence, the impact, issues of his mental stability, his answers to questions, his explanation of the situation? Maryk listening to him, looking at him?
9. Keith, his friendship with Maryk, his explanation of the range of stories about Queeg? Greenwald drawing him out? The contrast with Keefer, the novelist, advising Maryk, friendship with Maryk, the decision to go to the higher authorities, backing out?
10. The young sailor, 20 years old, awkward, not familiar with court proceedings, his testimony?
11. The witnesses for mental health, the psychologist, the defensive Queeg and his abilities? The intricacies of the cross examination? The doctor, limited experience in his work, of the Navy, his defensiveness?
12. Maryk and his testimony, the prosecutor hostile, indicating his limitations of education and comprehension? Greenwald, drawing out the stories, Queeg’s strange behaviour, the stories, the key, the searching of the personnel naked, his testing out all the keys, the bucket of keys? The story of the banning of films? The banning of water because of one man having a shower? The persecution of the men? Maryk and keeping his log, quoting from it, Keefer’s advice?
13. Queeg going on the stand, booking, the denials, issues of memory, his nervousness, twiddling his thumbs, the balls in his pocket, Greenwald and his further interrogations, the tangle of the stories, the cheese, the strawberries, his further entangling himself, his beginning to rant, self-justification, his condemnation of the men, their lack of discipline, order, his extremism, shirt hanging out…? Greenwald getting him to read out his positive testimony about Maryk?
14. The final effect of Queeg testimony? The prosecutor and her business? Greenwald and his final comments? Talking with Maryk, saying he had murdered Queeg? Doing his duty as a defence lawyer?
15. Discussions of mental health, sanity and insanity, signs and symptoms, control, paranoia, self-esteem, self-justification? Perfectionism?
16. The aftermath, the issue of the party, whether Greenwald would go or not, his drinking, arrival, his harsh words, the confrontation with Keefer, exposing him as the power behind the throne, Keefer wanting to get Queeg, writing the novel, the money? And throwing the drink and his face?
17. The finale, the sudden stop, leaving the audience to assess what they had seen, the defensive Queeg and his long service, yet his failure in command? The role of Maryk, respect and disrespect? Experience? And the malice of Keefer?