When a poorly performing private is apparently killed at the Marine base in Guantanamo Bay, it is implied that senior officers in the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps) want the case to be disposed of quickly.
Given that in nine months Lieutenant Junior Grade Daniel Kaffee has plea bargained 44 cases, he was assigned to the case because he is more likely to end this case quicker than Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway.
In one of the most intense courtroom scenes in film history, Lieutenant Junior Grade Daniel Kaffee goes head-to-head with Colonel Nathan Jessup.
Who is Colonel Jessup? He is the base commander of Guantanamo Bay and a rising star and is is expected to be appointed director of operations and National Security Council
Lieutenant Kaffee is considered the best litigator his office but has never gone to trial. He successfully plea bargained 44 cases in nine months. For him, it isn't a matter of what he believes. It only matters what he can prove in court."
Col Jessup: I'll answer the question. You want answers?
LTJG Kaffee: I think I'm entitled to them.
Col Jessup: You want answers?!
LTJG Kaffee: I want the truth!
Col Jessup: You can't handle the truth!
Kaffee's gut tells him there is more to this case than it appears yet fear keeps him from pursuing the truth until he receives encouragement from Lieutenant (junior grade) Sam Weinberg who was assigned to help with the case.
You can't handle the truth!
Seeking The Truth
When the case against the soldiers seemed too tough, Kaffee wanted to quit and have new counsel provided for them.
Calloway challenges Kaffee by asking, "Do you believe they have a defense?"
He yells back, "You and Dawson both live in the same dreamland. It doesn't matter what I believe. It only matters what I can prove! So please, don't tell me what I know or don't know. I know the LAW!"
There are many people like Kaffee who don't want to believe in ideals. The ideal of have legal defense or the ideal that there is a God.
People stick with what the "know" but do they seek truth?
Finding The Truth
Kaffee knew the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
The Apostle Paul new the Law of Moses.
What Paul did was use the Law to prove to himself and others, that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.
Jesus declared in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Most people can't handle that truth.
We need to be able to walk them through Jesus' teachings and the ways in which He fulfilled the prophecies from the Old Testament.
We can't save anyone. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. But remember Romans 14, "How then will they call on Him[Jesus] in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"
We shouldn't be belligerent like Colonel Jessup was, but we do need to remember that people can't handle the truth of Jesus being the only way to God unless the Spirit opens their eyes.
Movie Information
Release Date: December 11, 1992
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon
Genre: Drama Thriller
Audience: Adults
MPA Rating: R
Runtime: 138 minutes
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Director: Rob Reiner
Producers David Brown, Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman
The Motion Picture Association gave this movie a rating of R for language.
As a Christian, there certainly portions of this movie that are the opposite of Philippians 4:8 where Paul tells us, "Finally, brothers [and sisters], whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
I am aware that some of my fellow believers may not watch this film in its entirety. Hopefully, the scene and quote used in this devotional post allows someone to hear a non-believer make reference to this movie or quote and you, my fellow believer, can then use this devotional to bring in the Biblical truth this devotional shares.
Reel Devotions Rating and Review
My Review
I give this movie a thumbs up and 5 stars.
It is a fantastic procedural film that has highly talented actors protraying interesting characters. The courtroom drama is a masterpiece. Most everyone knows the line, "You can't handle the truth!"
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Disclaimer
This is a fan site and is in no way associated with any of the companies that produced or distributed the movies. The views are mine and mine alone. Unless you count comments or a guest post. But you get the idea.
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