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Rules of Engagement (2000)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 2/25

RulesEng
2/25: William Friedkin delivers a quality film once again, and this time, it's called Rules of Engagement.

What a strong cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Kingsley, Anne Archer, Guy Pearce, and Philip Baker Hall, among others. Even more important is the story. Sure, I'm reminded of Man in the Middle, Breaker Morant, and A Few Good Men, but the genre is always compelling: military courtroom drama.

It's possible the director had to make a tough choice to whether or not include what happened. I say this because if that isn't offered all we have to go on with are witness testimonies and pictures, making it hard for us to arrive at the correct verdict. Since we already know the truth, it's easy to conclude that Colonel Childers didn't do anything wrong and that he and his men acted in self-defense. The following terrific logical deduction by his defense lawyer is what won the case:

"But the camera on the embassy roof had the same point of view. The government would have you believe there's no tape from that camera. I have shown you that that tape was delivered to the State Department. Do you believe that tape got up and walked out of the State Department on its own? By not producing that tape, the national security advisor, Mr. Sokal, has brought dishonor into this court. Without that tape, I cannot show you that the crowd fired first and that Colonel Childers is innocent. But without that tape, they cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he's guilty!"

Yet think about it...what reason does the United States have by masking the truth? Why do that when Colonel Childers had done nothing wrong? All evidence is there for the taking. The Yemenis were throwing rocks and shooting at people in the embassy. In fact, the military didn't engage for a long while which means women and children had plenty of time to change their minds and walk away from the situation. By not doing so, they declared themselves "hostile."

All in all, Rules of Engagement is a fast two-hour picture that's excellent in every aspect.