An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

hyped garbage

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Once upon a time in the early 80's, a film directed by Taylor Hackford was released called An Officer and A Gentleman. Many enjoyed it, and since it's release it has remained a classic and has gained fans over the years. I was looking forward to this film, however despite how much I wanted to see it, my expectations were still blown away.First off, the editing in this film is brilliant. I won't spoil another scenes, but The opening scene when Zach Mayo flashbacks to his past was absolutely brilliant. That one scene is criminally underrated, and as I watched the opening scene, I knew I was in for a really good movie. The way the takes fold together feels all like one take, it's superb. I had to go look up who the editor for this movie was, and, no surprises, it's the same pal who edited The Godfather! No wonder the editing was good...The cinematography was also very good, but in order to keep this review short so to not occupy your time, I think the film remains realistic as it develops an emotional story that remains handled well under the careful hands of the director. This film is not another simple romantic movie, it's an emotional look at the life of being an aviator, the hardships and humour and grief of it all without being overly sentimental or melodramatic. The pacing, editing, cinematography and story all combine into an absolute masterpiece and it's safe to say that you won't be wasting any of your time watching this. Respect goes to Taylor Hackford for making this masterpiece. Go watch it.

I've never served in the armed forces, so I can't vouch for the accuracy of the events depicted in "An Officer and a Gentleman". What I can say is that it's an intense movie but the ending has to be one of the corniest endings ever scripted and filmed. Otherwise it's a good movie, as Richard Gere's new recruit enlists in the US navy and experiences a grueling regimen at the hands of gunnery sergeant Louis Gossett Jr. (Fiddler on "Roots"). The whole part about the local women wanting to hook up with the navy men doesn't stick in my mind as much, but if you're looking for great shots of the Olympic Peninsula, this is the movie for you.The rest of the cast includes Debra Winger, David Keith (the dad in "Firestarter"), Tony Plana (the dad on "Ugly Betty") and Robert Loggia.

Zack Mayo (Richard Gere) has a dysfunctional relationship with his drunken Navy father (Robert Loggia). He joins the Navy to fly jets. His father thinks he won't complete the needed six years. He arrives at Port Rainier with a chip on his shoulder and schemes to make money. Sgt. Emil Foley (Louis Gossett Jr.) aims to break down the class. He befriends fellow recruits Sid Worley (David Keith) and Casey Seeger (Lisa Eilbacher). He's physically superior but lacks the school skills. Paula Pokrifki (Debra Winger) and Lynette Pomeroy (Lisa Blount) are local factory girls.Richard Gere fits this character. He has the perfect blend of cockiness and vulnerability. David Keith is great and Louis Gossett Jr. embodies the classic hard-nosed mentor role. I also love Seeger's journey. Debra Winger adds substance to a possible weak point. This is a classic romance of the era.

Zack Mayo is the son of a US Navy Petty Officer; a drunk who had abandoned his mother when she became pregnant. When she killed herself Zack followed his father to the Philippines where he got on in life the hard way. Now he is an adult he is determined to make more of himself than his father did… to become a naval aviator… to become an officer and a gentleman. Before he can do that though he must pass the thirteen week course at the Aviation Officer Candidate School where those who don't have what it takes are weeded out. His instructor Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley doesn't think he has what it takes but he will push him and the rest of the class to the limit to find out. Zack befriends fellow student Sid Worley and the two of them start dating Paula and Lynette, a pair of local girls, despite Foley's warning that the local girls are all trying to get married to a pilot by fair means or foul.This film may be well known as a romance, largely due to the famous final scene, but it is far more than just that. In fact the most important relationship in the film is that between Mayo and Foley; Foley may be pushing Mayo to quit but without him he'd never get through the course; what at first appears to be bullying turns out to be the impetus needed to get through the gruelling training programme. Louis Gossett, Jr. certainly earned the Oscar he won for his performance as Foley and Gere is at his best as Mayo whose character develops from a selfish loner to that of somebody willing to help his classmates at his own expense. The rest of the cast are pretty good too; most notably David Keith who plays Sid and Debra Winger who plays Paula. For the most part we can guess how the story will ultimately end but that doesn't make it an entirely feel-good film; there is tragedy too and that comes as quite a shock. Overall an enjoyable film; well worth watching especially if you are a fan of Richard Gere.