I saw the original Caine Mutiny starring Humphry Bogart so long ago I can’t remember the details so watching this remake was a pleasure. I love this kind of stage-play passion… a fiery, dramatic actors’ movie.

The film is about the court martial for mutiny of the first officer of a US Navy warship. Its stage-like presented is presented as a series of extended examinations and cross examinations of the various servicemen involved.

This is William Friedkin’s last film and he mostly gets out of the way. The actors are allowed to flex their skills in generously extended, dramatic monologues and fiery confrontations. Friedkin’s relatively static camera is allowed to rest on their faces with only subtle movements to add to their performances. You could argue anyone could have directed it, but it took experience to let the camera linger.

That said, there’s a directness bordering on flatness to the presentation that took a few minutes to get used to. I’m guessing it’s intentional to draw focus on the actors… though it could be a symptom of budget.

I was transfixed, mesmerized by the rapid fire, continuous dialog from top shelf actors. The pace and tone of the movie lured me into its web of fascinating details and reveals, letting me judge the credibility of the characters, the contradictions, the passion, the fluster, and the anger. We are confronted with details on the fly, each actor peeling away an onion until we get to a version of the truth.

Some of the acting was a bit distracting. I love me some Kiefer Sutherland but his Captain Queeg could be distractingly mannered. Sutherland was engaging, but he was a little too performative, a little too twitchy. There’s also a golly shucks ensign early on who was a little too on-the-nose clueless kid.

Jason Clarke and Monica Raymund as opposing counsel were fantastic. Both being a bit performative to the court while also steering the ship on legal grounds. Clarke got the juiciest role as he is tasked at tearing down great and confident professionals in order to acquit a man he’s not confident should be acquitted. It’s a tremendous balancing act with an awesome somber tone until it turns to fury.

I love the overall message of the film… it’s not what you’d expect from a courtroom drama where we’re usually programmed to see good guys and bad guys. Here we’re offered moral shades of gray, dubious motivations, and uncomfortable possibilities. I compare it to the firebrand populism of the good but faltering The Burial from earlier this month… they are night and day in their presentations.

I adored this film… I was more transfixed to my screen than I have been in years. It’s not the showiest final film from Friedkin but it’s a powerhouse for the actors which is what a good director should provide. This is a great film and fitting farewell.

Score: 92