Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Men of Honor is an overly predictable biopic which boasts a strong performance, the best of intentions, and a truly terrible and out of place (but short) sub-plot. The true inspirational and important story of Carl Brashear, deserves to have a film made of it and writer Scott Marshall Smith and Director George Tillman Jr. have fashioned an above average, biopic here.

It's unfortunate so much of the film is utterly predictable and several supporting characters are utterly one dimensional. If one is looking for a solid inspirational true story about a man over-coming obstacles which include education, racism and prejudice, and physical challenges –you'll find it in this film.

Carl Brashear is an American Hero who over-came tremendous odds and obstacles to become the U.S. Navy's first black Master Chief Diver. Carl was a sharecropper's son who joined the newly integrated Navy and became a glorified dish-washer. He dreamed of becoming a Navy Diver but Navy Divers were white and usually highschool graduates. Carl was black and quit school in the 7th grade. The story of his determination, and persistence to achieve his goals, is the main focus of the film. We watch him struggle against seemingly impossible odds and obstacles to get his chance to become a Navy Diver. We pretty much know from the start the film would not exist if Carl had not succeeded in his goal. We've seen this story, before in both numerous fictional and based on a true story type films. However, Carl becomes a hero, but nearly loses his leg in the
process. Will he choose to become an amputee so that he can continue on his quest to be a Master Chief Diver or will he retire a hero to be with his wife and raise his family? I'll bet you can guess what he decides and what happens next.

Instead of focusing solely on Carl Brashear and becoming an in depth character study, the film-makers chose to focus a majority of the film on both Brashear and the man who becomes his diver instructor (twice) Billy Sunday (Robert DeNiro). We also spend more screen-time then necessary on the overly familiar Navy school (boot camp) hazing of Brashear and his friendship with a stuttering trainee (Michael Rappaport)

In diluting the focus from Brashear to Brashear and Billy Sunday, the film-makers expand Sunday's role to include some details about his life which lead to a sub-plot in which he deals with his health problems, alcoholism and his wife (played by Charlize Theron). The sub-plot is entirely un-necessary and superfluous to the Carl Brashear story. Perhaps having Robert DeNiro was too big a temptation or perhaps it necessitated giving him a larger part. It's a shame, because we could have learned more about Brashear, rather than more about Sunday. DeNiro is good in the role, but he's not particularly challenged. He uses a Mississippi accent (avoiding a repeat of the Arkansas accent he used for Cape Fear) to bring us his portrayal of a frustrated Navy lifer who eventually over-comes his prejudices in dealing with Brashear. He's given a lot of scenery to chew on and gets to play a character who can be a mean drunk bigot, a hard nosed task master, and a stand-up guy. It might seem dangerously close to a cliche'd character but DeNiro never lets it become that. However, the film really flies off track when it briefly explores Billy's odd relationship with his very devoted wife played by Charlize Theron. The scenes simply don't work and they have nothing to do with Carl Brashear. I think someone put a little pressure on the film-makers to give Theron a little extra screen-time (and perhaps DeNiro too).

Racism is one of the most difficult obstacles that Carl Brashear must over-come. He is the only black man trying to become a diver. No one really wants him to succeed. It's unfortunate we have to have the character Mister Pappy who runs the Navy Diving school portrayed as a border-line insane racist lunatic who keeps himself mostly sequestered from people because of his fear of germs. After Carl Brashear touches his dog, Pappy orders the dog scrubbed down with Lye !!!. His living quarters is elevated far above the grounds of the Diving School and he is a compulsive clean freak who spouts trivia like : "Did you know that common household dust is 80 percent human skin particles?" Hal Holbrook tries to take part more seriously than it deserves.

Added to the list of obstacles thrown in both Brashear and Sunday's path , is a high ranking Navy pen pusher who has a grudge against Billy Sunday and is also a bit prejudiced as well. The character is made to be almost cartoonishly evil which detracts from being able to take the film as a serious biography.

My disappointment in the film is based somewhat on the fact it could have been and should have been a less predictable film with more of a focus on Carl Brashear's life. Somehow, however, the film isn't as utterly maudlin and manipulative as Remember the Titans is. Cuba Gooding Jr. gives us, not a brash wildly charismatic performance (ala Jerry Maguire), but a restrained and utterly believable one. I also have to mention how effective Carl Lumbly is. He briefly appears in a couple of early scenes as Brashear's father. The presence Carl Lumbly makes is felt throughout the entire picture which is a testament to what a powerful and effective actor he truly is. Aunjanue Ellis who plays Jo Brashear,( Carl's wife) is also quite good, although she is not given enough to do. DeNiro also turns in an effective and entertaining performance. Theron is adequate but wasted.

Both Carl and his wife Jo Brashear are portrayed as excellent African-American role-models who deserve to be looked up to because of their courage , strength and persistence. The film is entertaining and despite being rated R for some realistic usage of four letter words is probably best suited to a teenage audience who will be entertained by this familiar but not formula, inspirational message film.

MORE ABOUT THE R RATING THIS FILM RECEIVED:

Although the film has a couple of intense scenes, the reason for the R rating is because of some salty sailor talk aka several instances of the F -word, Mother F word as well. The film is an inspirational biopic which deals with racism. When worthless films like 6th Day are rated PG-13 and feature more violence, and a couple of uses of the F word as well , you really wonder what the ratings board was thinking rating this one R. Only the most sensitive of viewers and the most overly restrictive of parents would deem the offensive language serious enough to deprive teenagers from seeing a film with such a strong positive inspirational message as this film delivers. There is no nudity, a few hot passionate kisses, very little gore, and restrained violence. The film's flaws will also be less noticeable to younger viewers.

Christopher Jarmick,is the author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder a steamy suspense thriller which is now available (glasscocoon@hotmail for details).

Original portions of this review Copyright© Christopher J. Jarmick 2001. The above work is protected by international copyright law.


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older