The Navy Seal trainee

Rating: 7/10 (28 August 2006)

Not having seen this film when it first was released, we had the opportunity of catching up with it recently. In spite of our misgivings, "G.I. Jane" turned out to be an entertaining picture. Let's not forget this is a Ridley Scott film, which assures the viewer a well crafted product. The screen play is based on a story by Danielle Alexandra, who co-wrote it with David Twohy.
The movie mixes the world of politics and the armed forces, in this case, the US Navy. At the center of it all is Jordan O'Neil, a lieutenant that has seen other people get ahead of her because the Navy rejected her in serving aboard a submarine because at that time there were no facilities for a female in that all male environment.
Jordan is tapped to go into the Navy Seal program because an ambitious US senator, Lillian DeHaven, from Texas, wants to prove a point. She wants to send a female to integrate an exclusive group of the Navy. The Navy Seal is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. As such, Jordan O'Neil must go to a grueling training, in which, only about forty percent of the people that start, will finish. Jordan proves to have what it takes to be accepted at that high classification. However, things get in her way when her own mentor, who has the closing of some bases in her own state to deal with, decides to take indiscreet photographs of Jordan at a beach party with other female personnel.
During the confrontation that ensues, Jordan shows she will not take the senator's BS; Jordan will do anything and will tell the press about what is really happening. Standing up to Sen. DeHaven assures Jordan she will go back to finish what she started.
The casting of Demi Moore for the lead role pays off. Ms. Moore, who is in excellent shape shows she can conquer any obstacles that stand in her way. Viggo Mortensen plays the enigmatic, and brutish, Master Chief Urgayle. This man is hard on everyone under his command, but there is a softer side of him as we watch him reading J. M. Coetzee and D. H. Lawrence's poems. Anne Bancroft plays the ruthless senator with relish. David Vadim and James Cavaziel are seen among the recruits going through the hard training. Scott Wilson plays the Commanding Officer of the base where Jordan undergoes the training and he makes no bones about how much he hates the idea of a female breaking the sex line.
Ridley Scott directs the film in an almost documentary style, since most of the picture depicts the training aspect. Hugh Johnson's cinematography works well with Piero Scalia's editing. There is even some Mozart and Puccini in the background that are not out of place in the context of the movie.
Ridley Scott delivers again in this action packed movie.