'Men of Honor' is a crisp salute to character

By STEVE PERSALL

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 12, 2001

NEW RELEASES

Men of Honor

(R) Based on the true story of Carl Brashear, the first African-American master diver in the U.S. Navy. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Brashear with all of the underdog dignity he can muster and director George Tillman Jr.'s stirring drama does the rest. Robert De Niro adds another colorful character to his gallery as Navy chief Billy Sunday, at first prejudiced against Brashear like everyone else, then swayed by his perseverance.

First impressions: ". . . the kind of old-fashioned military rouser John Ford might have made after World War II. Lines between decency and deceit are clearly defined, almost to a fault . . . Brashear is even easier to cheer on because . . . (Gooding) performs here with the dignified frustration of Sidney Poitier's defining roles; a more-than-capable black man convincing others of that fact with bold deeds and carefully measured words. . .

"Men of Honor suffers from the tidy way Hollywood handles such complex lives. . . . This is merely a sketch of an American hero, but an involving one, thanks to two actors' talents and one man's courage."

Second thoughts: One of the sadly overlooked films of 2000, ready to command attention on home video.

Rental audience: Gooding's and De Niro's sizable followings; military movie buffs.

Rent it if you enjoy: Glory, Sergeant York, old Audie Murphy movies.

Bounce

(R) Ben Affleck plays a hot-shot corporate type doing anything to score in business and in bed. During a trip, he exchanges flight tickets with a man who is killed when the airplane crashes. Curiosity about the widow (Gwyneth Paltrow) left behind evolves into romance. The real-life romance between Affleck and Paltrow wasn't enough of a novelty to make it a hit.

First impressions: ". . . a predictable, altogether bland follow-up to Don Roos' dark, irreverent, independent-minded The Opposite of Sex. Those susceptible to the pleasures of sentimental tearjerkers, though, may find some pleasure in this weepy tale of a relationship built on the ashes of profound grief.

"But the trajectory of Bounce is clear about 10 minutes into the movie. Will the tough ad man discover his inner nice guy, feel sympathy for Abby, the harried widow of the writer, and do what comes naturally? Will boy get girl after all? One guess."

Second thoughts: This one bounced out of theaters fast.

Rental audience: Tabloid romantics, viewers looking for any excuse to cry.

Rent it if you enjoy: Random Hearts, Duets.

DVD: New and noteworthy for digital players

'Endearment' endures

Terms of Endearment: (PG) James L. Brooks' 1983 Academy Award winner is a witty, 3-hankie delight, a movie honestly earning every single smile and tear. This DVD version doesn't contain many extras, but this is one movie that doesn't need fancy wrappings to make it a gift.

Shirley MacLaine won an Oscar as Aurora Greenway, the mother of all mothers. She's a control freak, especially with regard to her daughter Emma (Oscar nominee Debra Winger). Emma's marriage to caddish Flap Horton (Jeff Daniels) is just one of their combative differences. Emma sees through Flap's infidelity and begins an affair of her own with a banker (John Lithgow).

Aurora is also starting to loosen up thanks to a devilish astronaut next door, Garrett Breedlove, played with crocodile charm by best supporting actor winner Jack Nicholson. Terms of Endearment tracks these parallel romances with Brooks' trademark humor in the face of tragedy. This is quite simply one of my favorite films of all time.

The DVD includes an alternate audio track with Brooks, co-producer Peggy Finkelman-Cox and production designer Polly Platt. None are particularly mesmerizing speakers, but much of the detail provided is very interesting.

For example, we learn the tony literary roots of Flap's term of endearment for Emma, calling her his "sweet-ass gal." And about the unknown actor instructed by Brooks to make outrageous passes at Nicholson between takes so their passing glance on-screen would contain more heat. Brooks also had an extra groping MacLaine to draw a properly miffed reaction.

Hearing Brooks admire his performers, pointing out those tiny decisions that make differences, will fascinate students of fine acting. I developed more respect than ever for Winger's portrayal by hearing Brooks' analysis of what she made appear so easy. That shouldn't surprise; Terms of Endearment makes everything it does great look easy.

REWIND: Movies worth another look

Bunnies good and bunnies bad

Here comes Peter Cottontail, arriving Easter Sunday with all sorts of goodies in his basket. Maybe even some bunny-inspired video picks. He can only watch Easter Parade so many times, you know. However, some of Hollywood's memorable hare-raising films aren't available on home video.

Night of the Lepus with its massive, marauding rabbits pops up occasionally on cable TV. Same with Bunny Lake Is Missing, a sordid Otto Preminger thriller. Rabbit, Run starring James Caan as John Updike's literary anti-hero has just about disappeared. Joan Rivers' Rabbit Test, featuring Billy Crystal as the world's first pregnant man, was so awful that VCRs might reject it.

You can check out these favorites, though, while contemplating the age-old question: Which came first, the Easter bunny or the eggs?

Harvey -- Jimmy Stewart's best friend is a 6-foot invisible rabbit. Maybe he's crazy, but wait until that final shot.

Bambi -- They should have named this movie Thumper for its cuddly, scene-stealing hare.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? -- Forget Roger. Where can we find Jessica Rabbit, the sexiest screen siren of the 1980s?

The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie -- That "cwazy wabbit" is at it again, introducing clips from several of animator Chuck Jones' looniest 'toons.

Alice in Wonderland -- The March Hare leads a girl through the looking glass into fantasy. Any of the 11 versions produced for theaters or television will do.

Watership Down -- A warren of rabbits searches for greener pastures, away from tyrannical bunnies and hunters. Based on Richard Adams' best-selling allegory.

Playboy bunnies -- Hugh Hefner's empire of hedonism has produced 89 -- count 'em -- 89 videos featuring beautiful women barely clad, or simply bare.

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