Film Snail

G.I. Jane
G.I. Jane

6.5

G.I. Jane

R·1997·125m

Summary

In response to political pressure from Senator Lillian DeHaven, the U.S. Navy begins a program that would allow for the eventual integration of women into its combat services. The program begins with a single trial candidate, Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil, who is chosen specifically for her femininity. O'Neil enters the grueling Navy SEAL training program under the command of Master Chief John James Urgayle, who unfairly pushes O'Neil until her determination wins his respect.

Cast

Demi Moore

Demi Moore

Lt. Jordan O'Neil

Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen

Master Chief John James Urgayle

Morris Chestnut

Morris Chestnut

McCool

Josh Hopkins

Josh Hopkins

Flea

David Vadim

David Vadim

Cortez

Jim Caviezel

Jim Caviezel

Slovnik

Boyd Kestner

Boyd Kestner

Wickwire

Kevin Gage

Kevin Gage

Instructor Pyro

David Warshofsky

David Warshofsky

Instructor Johns

Jason Beghe

Jason Beghe

Royce

Anne Bancroft

Anne Bancroft

Senator Lillian DeHaven

Scott Wilson

Scott Wilson

C.O. Salem

Daniel von Bargen

Daniel von Bargen

Theodore Hayes

Angel David

Angel David

Newberry

Lucinda Jenney

Lucinda Jenney

Blondell

John Michael Higgins

John Michael Higgins

Chief of Staff

Stephen Ramsey

Stamm

Gregg Bello

Gregg Bello

Miller

Ted Sutton

Ted Sutton

Flag Officer

Gary Wheeler

Flag Officer

Donn Swaby

Yeoman Davis

Jack Gwaltney

Jack Gwaltney

Goldstein

Neal Jones

Neal Jones

Duty Officer

Rhonda Overby

Rhonda Overby

Civilian Secretary

Stephen Mendillo

Stephen Mendillo

Admiral O'Connor

Dan DePaola

Cook Compliments

Susan Aston

Civilian Girl

John Seitz

John Seitz

JAG

Kent Lindsey

JAG

Harry Humphries

Harry Humphries

Artillery Instructor

Michael Currie

Michael Currie

Commission Speaker

Steve Gonzales

Steve Gonzales

Press Hound

Arthur Max

Arthur Max

Barber

Billy Dowd

Photographer

Duffy Gaver

Duffy Gaver

Instructor

Scott Helvenston

Instructor

Phil Neilson

Phil Neilson

Hostile Rat

Dimitri Diatchenko

Dimitri Diatchenko

Trainee

David Bruce

Trainee

David Overton

Trainee

Hashem Shaalan

Trainee

Chris Soule

Trainee

Joseph Makkar

Joseph Makkar

Libyan Sentry

Rick Cramer

Rick Cramer

Scorpion Leader (uncredited)

Mel Mede

Scorpion Team Member (uncredited)

Jesse G. Martin

Pilot (uncredited)

Rocky Essex

Humvee Driver (uncredited)

Jim Pearson

Instructor (uncredited)

Wyatt Werneth

Wyatt Werneth

Trainee (uncredited)

Daniel Link

Daniel Link

Trainee (uncredited)

Raymond H. Johnson

Senator (uncredited)

Dani Englander

Dani Englander

DeHaven's Aide (uncredited)

Irene Ziegler

Irene Ziegler

DeHaven's Aide (uncredited)

Michael Wayne Thomas

Michael Wayne Thomas

C-SPAN Reporter (uncredited)

Rodney J. Hobbs

Rodney J. Hobbs

C-SPAN Technician (uncredited)

Diandra Newlin

Diandra Newlin

Jane's Neighbor (uncredited)

Thomas Reid

Thomas Reid

D.C. Police Officer (uncredited)

Bob Moore

WNM Reporter

Crew

Director

Ridley Scott

Screenplay

David Twohy

Screenplay, Story

Danielle Alexandra

Reviews

John Chard

John Chard

May 16, 2020

5

Listen, you moron! I am here to stay and if you don't wanna be in my life, you've got two choices. Move out or Ring out! That's it! End of File!

G.I. Jane is directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Twohy and Danielle Alexandra. It stars Demi Moore, Vigo Mortensen, Anne Bancroft, Jason Beghe, John Michael Higgins and Kevin Gage. Music is by Trevor Jones and cinematography by Hugh Johnson.

A female Senator succeeds in enrolling a woman into Combined Reconnaissance Team training (Navy Seals) where everyone expects her to fail.

Having made a telling feminist mark with his excellent Thelma and Louise in 1991, Ridley Scott picks up the lady baton once again only to drop it half way through. This is a film of confused messages, what starts out as a worthwhile story involving a woman trying to overcome extreme prejudices in one of America's elite fighting forces, ends up as a gung-ho hoorah movie with Jane having "manned" up.

Things aren't helped by the sheer ridiculousness of the treatment meted out to Jane by her superior in training, Master Chief John James Urgayle (Mortensen suitably vile), so much so you would like to think if that sort of stuff goes on then arrests should be made. Daftness also comes by way of the superior officers prancing around training camp in the world's tightest shorts, one would think they must be on their way to "The Blue Oyster Bar"...

Things are further compounded by the fact that as committed as Moore is in the title role, and she is and gives it her all, one can't buy into the characterisation because you simply are watching Demi Moore the actress. Shaved head and beefed up she may be, but this is still one of the highest paid actresses of her era, the characterisation thin on the ground with no depth. The political machinations at work barely get time to breath in fact the key mid-point tonal political shift is given short shrift.

Stylisation as one would expect from Scott, is super, as is his control of top draw action sequences. But the cock-eyed view of a woman in a man's world is hard to swallow, and although it mostly entertains, it's ultimately a shallow exercise. 5/10

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$50,000,000.00

Revenue:

$48,169,156.00

Keywords

gulf war
helicopter
middle east
libya
u.s. navy
sexism
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sexual discrimination
proving oneself
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