A Tom Cruise movie without Tom's magic smile, an Arnold Schwarzenegger adventure without the muscular machismo, Sharon Stone crossing her legs: Imagine more of the same, star vehicles with the star's best assets not used.
Thus marches out Hollywood Pictures' "G.I. Jane", Demi Moore as a Navy S.E.A.L. trainee with her head sheared bald and her body completely covered in military gear. Although there is novelty in seeing the one spot of Moore's anatomy we haven't been exposed to, this formulaic movie is not likely to detonate more than mediocre boxoffice for Buena Vista.
Basically "Top Gun" without the high-flying acrobatics and the good-old-boy charm, "G.I. Jane" is an ultra-serious tract about an underdog's battle against the big bad establishment, in this case, the first female Navy S.E.A.L. vs. the institutional harassment of the military machine.
In general, "G.I. Jane" marches out in predictable lockstep as screenwriters David Twohy and Danielle Alexandra chart a narrative mission for her filled with obstacles, both psychological and physical. As one would expect, there's plenty of bad blood between Jane and some of her macho superiors, and, to boot, some opposition from entrenched female establishment-types. But she's a gutty survivor and gives as good as she gets.
"G.I. Jane" is at its most exciting and involving during Jane's hellacious training regimen: The rigors are so exhausting and emotionally draining that one almost feels as if one is in boot camp with her. Credit to director Ridley Scott for generating some dynamic and powerful images: "Jane"'s action cadence, is, perhaps, the film's best asset.
Where it missteps is in its human dynamics; the dialogue is utterly shrill and emanates from a squadron of largely stereotypical characters. Unlike life, and detracting from its realism, is the story's general lack of surprises and predictable character etchings.
In the titular role, Moore's ferocious intensity and moxy are credible character ingredients, but despite the inherent compassion one might feel for "Jane" as an underdog, that feeling is missing owing to the character's grunty demeanor.
Overall, the players are well-selected, particularly Viggo Mortensen as Jane's chief tormentor, her merciless master chief. Anne Bancroft does a nice turn as a senator with a hidden agenda that can hit like a torpedo-load.
Technical contributions fit the bill, with special praise to cinematographer Hugh Johnson for the charged scopings and Trevor Jones for the ear-blasting score.
G.I. JANE
Buena Vista Pictures
Hollywood Pictures presents
in association with Scott Free
and Largo Entertainment
A Roger Birnbaum/Scott Free/
Moving Pictures production
A Ridley Scott Film
Producers Ridley Scott, Roger Birnbaum,
Demi Moore, Suzanne Todd
Director Ridley Scott
Screenwriters David Twohy, Danielle Alexandra
Story Danielle Alexandra
Executive producers Danielle Alexandra,
Julie Bergman Sender, Chris Zarpas
Co-producer Nigel Wooll
Director of photography Hugh Johnson
Production designer Arthur Max
Editor :Pietro Scalia
Costume designer Marilyn Vance
Music Trevor Jones
Casting Louis Di Giaimo, Brett Goldstein
Associate producers Terry Needham,
Diane Minter Lewis, Tim McBride
Special effects coordinator Steve Galich
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jordan Demi Moore
Master Chief Viggo Mortensen
Lillian DeHaven Anne Bancroft
Royce Jason Beghe
Theodore Hayes Daniel Von Bargen
Chief of Staff John Michael Higgins
Instructor Pyro Kevin Gage
Running time -- 112 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Thus marches out Hollywood Pictures' "G.I. Jane", Demi Moore as a Navy S.E.A.L. trainee with her head sheared bald and her body completely covered in military gear. Although there is novelty in seeing the one spot of Moore's anatomy we haven't been exposed to, this formulaic movie is not likely to detonate more than mediocre boxoffice for Buena Vista.
Basically "Top Gun" without the high-flying acrobatics and the good-old-boy charm, "G.I. Jane" is an ultra-serious tract about an underdog's battle against the big bad establishment, in this case, the first female Navy S.E.A.L. vs. the institutional harassment of the military machine.
In general, "G.I. Jane" marches out in predictable lockstep as screenwriters David Twohy and Danielle Alexandra chart a narrative mission for her filled with obstacles, both psychological and physical. As one would expect, there's plenty of bad blood between Jane and some of her macho superiors, and, to boot, some opposition from entrenched female establishment-types. But she's a gutty survivor and gives as good as she gets.
"G.I. Jane" is at its most exciting and involving during Jane's hellacious training regimen: The rigors are so exhausting and emotionally draining that one almost feels as if one is in boot camp with her. Credit to director Ridley Scott for generating some dynamic and powerful images: "Jane"'s action cadence, is, perhaps, the film's best asset.
Where it missteps is in its human dynamics; the dialogue is utterly shrill and emanates from a squadron of largely stereotypical characters. Unlike life, and detracting from its realism, is the story's general lack of surprises and predictable character etchings.
In the titular role, Moore's ferocious intensity and moxy are credible character ingredients, but despite the inherent compassion one might feel for "Jane" as an underdog, that feeling is missing owing to the character's grunty demeanor.
Overall, the players are well-selected, particularly Viggo Mortensen as Jane's chief tormentor, her merciless master chief. Anne Bancroft does a nice turn as a senator with a hidden agenda that can hit like a torpedo-load.
Technical contributions fit the bill, with special praise to cinematographer Hugh Johnson for the charged scopings and Trevor Jones for the ear-blasting score.
G.I. JANE
Buena Vista Pictures
Hollywood Pictures presents
in association with Scott Free
and Largo Entertainment
A Roger Birnbaum/Scott Free/
Moving Pictures production
A Ridley Scott Film
Producers Ridley Scott, Roger Birnbaum,
Demi Moore, Suzanne Todd
Director Ridley Scott
Screenwriters David Twohy, Danielle Alexandra
Story Danielle Alexandra
Executive producers Danielle Alexandra,
Julie Bergman Sender, Chris Zarpas
Co-producer Nigel Wooll
Director of photography Hugh Johnson
Production designer Arthur Max
Editor :Pietro Scalia
Costume designer Marilyn Vance
Music Trevor Jones
Casting Louis Di Giaimo, Brett Goldstein
Associate producers Terry Needham,
Diane Minter Lewis, Tim McBride
Special effects coordinator Steve Galich
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jordan Demi Moore
Master Chief Viggo Mortensen
Lillian DeHaven Anne Bancroft
Royce Jason Beghe
Theodore Hayes Daniel Von Bargen
Chief of Staff John Michael Higgins
Instructor Pyro Kevin Gage
Running time -- 112 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
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