Men of Honor (2000): Dir: George Tillman Jr. / Cast: Cuba Gooding Jr., Robert De Niro, Charlize Theron, Michael Rapaport, Hal Holbrook: A film about traction between two men from different backgrounds and how unity brings about peace. Based on a true story of the first black diver to graduate from the Navy. He is played by Cuba Gooding Jr. and seen by Master Chief Billy Sunday as the best diver on board. Sunday abuses those around him and has been discharged many times. Gooding succeeds and is tutored with the academic elements by his future wife. There are obvious issues involving race but the screenplay becomes distracted with Gooding's romance, and the introduction of Sunday's wife who is constantly drunk. Fine setup follows regrettable clichés and a conventional ending that isn't totally on par with Sunday's change of heart. Directed by George Tillman Jr., who previously made Soul Food. Gooding is superb as a guy who beats the odds even at the cost of losing a leg. De Niro steals his scenes as Sunday. Charlize Theron and Michael Rapaport are featured in flat roles that seem written as plot conveniences as oppose to personalities. While the film proves that a person can beat the odds, it also proves that any subject with potential can be brought down with clichés and unnecessary footage that could have deemed the material no honor. Score: 6 / 10
Review of Men of Honor
