Military operates on different principles than the rest of society; even the most liberal democracies that pride themselves on equality and freedom must recognize the need for subordination and hierarchy in their armed forces. For a variety of reasons - economic, demographic, cultural, biological, etc. - the military is simply unable to reflect society as a whole. In 1990s USA, with the Soviet Empire gone and a bright future where the word "war" became associated with short, painless, and seemingly bloodless high-tech gadgetry, there was a widespread belief that its armed forces should reflect society - in other words, be more inclusive. One of the hot issues was the role of women in the military, specifically their participation in combat operations. Hollywood had already taken a stance in this debate, driven less by noble principles of gender equality and more by the realization that young male teenagers - the most valuable part of its audience - tend to be drawn to the sight of attractive women in uniforms. This truth contributed to the production of G.I. Jane, a 1997 action film directed by Ridley Scott.
The heroine of G.I. Jane is Lt. Jordan O'Neill (played by Demi Moore), a US Navy intelligence officer who was not allowed to take part in combat during the Gulf War. Years later, she is the perfect candidate for Lillian DeHaven (played by Anne Bancroft), a powerful US Senator who is currently advocating for the full integration of women into the military. DeHaven manipulates the Navy into allowing O'Neill to become the first female trainee in the SEALS, an elite Navy commando force. Given the grueling conditions during training and the fact that 60% of candidates never finish it, nobody expects O'Neill to succeed. But when her perseverance and toughness prove to be beyond expectations, she realizes that her drill instructor and nemesis, Master Chief John James Urgayle (played by Viggo Mortensen), is not her only enemy.
G.I. Jane is one of those Hollywood projects that was supposed to be many different things to many different people but ended up being many different disappointments instead. Feminists who may have viewed G.I. Jane as a celebration of feminine strength and superiority may take issue with Demi Moore's enhanced appearance and the fact that, even with a shaved head, she looks more suited for a catwalk in Milan than a tough military camp. Those expecting a serious exploration of political issues in contemporary America will be disappointed by the weak plot and predictable twists. Action film enthusiasts will have to settle for a completely unnecessary battle scene at the end, in which Ridley Scott again shows his inability to direct such material. The only redeeming quality of the film comes from the acting, particularly Viggo Mortensen's portrayal of the tough drill instructor, the only multi-dimensional and believable character in the film. Ultimately, the debate about the issues hinted at in G.I. Jane will continue, undoubtedly fueled by recent tragic events in Iraq.
RATING: 3/10 (+)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on November 24, 2003)
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