Better than I expected

Rating: Null/10 (21 May 1999)

I saw this after all the bad press had died down and was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I thought Demi Moore's performance was gritty, emotional and even believable (although I'm not a military expert). Her character was strong yet human showing how determined some people get the more others knock 'em down. Given Demi's alleged reputation for vanity, she showed little of it here and that warmed me to her. She expressed a woman torn between ambition and circumstance who doesn't want to be a figurehead - just a a good soldier. Do you think she saw "Aliens" before?? Just curious
But the standout performance for me was Viggo Mortensen. It is so easy for actors to portray military figures as one dimensional. As Argayle, he was strong and smart - showing excellent tactical cunning and physical stamina. I'm not sure how many SEALS read Pablo Keruda but Mortensen showed more than your average "grunt" with his D.H. Lawrence quotations. This shows that brains and brawn are needed but it did stretch the imagination a little. Not sure about the moustache though ..... that's from a feminine perspective.
Okay - it was far fetched in many ways;I doubt it would be likely that O'Neil would have survived being brutally kicked in the face by the Master Chief's big boots with just a few bruises (shattered cheekbones or broken jaw seems more accurate)..... but hey - its the movies! I even liked the "she must be a lesbian plotline". But Ridley Scott is a fine film maker and it shows.
And if Charlie Sheen can be a Navy SEAL - so can Demi. She'd whip his pampered ass!!!