G.I. Jane (1997)

A female Senator succeeds in enrolling a woman into Combined Reconnaissance Team training where everyone expects her to fail.

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers:

Danielle Alexandra (story), David Twohy (screenplay)

Stars:

Demi Moore, Viggo Mortensen, Anne Bancroft

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Demi Moore	...	Jordan O'Neill
Viggo Mortensen	...	Master Chief John James Urgayle
Anne Bancroft	...	Lillian DeHaven
Jason Beghe	...	Royce
Daniel von Bargen	...	Theodore Hayes (as Daniel Von Bargen)
John Michael Higgins	...	Chief of Staff
Kevin Gage	...	Instructor Pyro
David Warshofsky	...	Instructor Johns
David Vadim	...	Cortez
Morris Chestnut	...	McCool
Josh Hopkins	...	Flea
Jim Caviezel	...	Slovnik
Boyd Kestner	...	Wickwire
Angel David	...	Newberry
Stephen Ramsey	...	Stamm

Storyline

When a crusading chairperson of the military budget committee pressures the would be Navy secretary to begin full gender integration of the service, he offers the chance for a test case for a female trainee in the US Navy's elite SEAL/C.R.T. selection program. LT. Jordan O'Neill is given the assignment, but no one expects her to succeed in an inhumanly punishing regime that has a standard 60% dropout rate for men. However, O'Neill is determined to prove everyone wrong.

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Plot Keywords:

feminism | military | training | strong female character | soldier | 

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Taglines:

Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil wanted to join in, everybody else what's her to fail

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and combat violence

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 August 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Matter of Honor

Filming Locations:

Beaufort, South Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,094,241, 24 August 1997, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$48,169,156

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$97,169,156

Company Credits

Production Co:

Caravan Pictures,First Independent Films,Hollywood Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Real Navy S.E.A.L. training (BUD/S) is conducted in Coronado, California. After graduating BUD/S, trainees will go on to complete Airborne training, cold weather training in Kodiak, Alaska, and the S.E.A.L. SQTs before being deployed. It can take up to two years before a S.E.A.L. sees combat.

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Goofs

In the closing combat sequence, the Cobra gunships use totally unrealistic tactics against the pursuing Libyan troops. Rather than use the Gatling cannons, which are most effective against individual troops, they fire rockets, which are better suited for use against tanks, hardened defensive positions, and large gatherings of troops.

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Quotes

Master Chief John Urgayle: The Israelis tried it. Women in combat. Seems men couldn't get used to the sight of women blown open. They'd linger over the wounded females, often trying to save those who obviously couldn't be saved. Often to the detriment of the mission.
Lt. Jordan O'Neil: You were given the Navy Cross right? May I ask what you got it for?
Master Chief John Urgayle: Since it bears on this conversation, I got it for pulling a 240-pound man out of a burning tank.
Lt. Jordan O'Neil: So when a man tries to rescue another man, he's a hero, but if he tries to rescue a woman, ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Robert Downey Jr/Fiona Apple (1996)

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Soundtracks

Dimples
Written by John Lee Hooker and James Bracken
Performed by John Lee Hooker
Courtesy of Vee-Jay Ltd. Partnership

User Reviews

No problem with it, it just could have been 30 minutes shorter

I was really looking forward to G.I. Jane, because I always tried to think of it when I was renting movies, but it always slipped my mind, then I just saw I love the 90's on VH1 and was reminded one more time, so I just stuck it in my head and finally watched it tonite. I have to say that actually I enjoyed G.I. Jane, I think that the rating on IMDb is a little unfair, but I can let it go. My problem with the film was the way it ended, it just turned into those big twist stories that wasn't really needed, because you are just rooting for Demi to make it throughout training and there is always some kind of block to make the audience "interested".

Jorden O'Neil has been given a very special assignment, the army does not feel the need for equal opportunity for women when it comes to their jobs. But Sen. Lillian DeHaven wishes for them to give one woman a chance to prove herself that she can do a man's job, she gives this assignment to Jorden, Jorden isn't just given any average boot camp, but the SEALS, which is the toughest boot camp around. Of course no one will accept her into their teams, but she pulls her way through to prove that no one will hold her down.

I loved how hard Jorden kept pushing herself, Demi did a great job in showing the hardships of what it is still like to be the outsider in a man's world. Like I said, the only main problem was that it just didn't need a little twist, you'll see what I mean, it just could have been cut like 30 minutes shorter. But I would still recommend this movie, it was a good one to watch.

7/10