The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

Last night, I saw an amazing movie at the Paramount + and thought I'd share a few thoughts about it. The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is a 2023 American courtroom drama film written and directed by William Friedkin. It is based on Herman Wouk's 1953 play of the same name, which, in turn, is based on Wouk's 1952 novel The Caine Mutiny. This film is the swan song for both Friedkin and Lance Reddick, who passed away before its release.

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Twenty-six years after his last remake, Friedkin once again revisits a classic. In 1997, he directed 12 Angry Men for television, featuring Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott in the lead roles, a production that, while not surpassing Lumet's iconic version, was still highly acclaimed. In The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Friedkin does not follow the path of the classic film but instead focuses on a theatrical approach. He creates an intense, psychological drama largely confined to the courtroom, with only two brief scenes in a corridor and a final scene elsewhere. The viewer feels like part of the courtroom audience or, thanks to Friedkin's mastery, one of the officers on the court-martial commission.

Lance Reddick delivers a solid performance, as always. The rest of the cast is utilized to showcase their facial expressions and reactions, making the audience feel intimately connected to the proceedings. The director elicits excellent performances from the supporting cast, not just through dialogue but also through body language, capturing the vulnerability and discomfort of the witnesses.

The lead performances are particularly noteworthy. Jason Clarke delivers a calm and flawless performance, avoiding any unnecessary theatrics and instead drawing the audience in with a subtle and hypnotic presence. Kiefer Sutherland once again proves his talent, portraying the "officer caravan" with meticulous attention to detail, from every blink of an eye to every subtle change in his voice. It is another perfect performance from Sutherland.

Interestingly, Guillermo del Toro was the backup director, though his involvement was not needed. Del Toro mentioned in an interview that Friedkin had a 15-day shooting deadline but completed the film in just 14 days. Trivia note: Friedkin's casting choices for 12 Angry Men later influenced his work on The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.

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