Bulwark Takes: "A Few Good Men: How ‘You Can’t Handle the Truth’ Became America’s Favorite Lie"

Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Sonny Bunch with Sarah Longwell & Jonathan V. Last (JVL)

Overview

This episode of the Bulwark Movie Club dives into the 1992 courtroom drama "A Few Good Men" as both an iconic American film and a touchstone for discussions about military ethics, authority, and the allure of the “strong man” mythos in politics and culture. Prompted by recent real-life political events, the hosts—Sonny Bunch, Sarah Longwell, and Jonathan V. Last—unpack the film’s enduring relevance, its memorable cast, Aaron Sorkin’s writing, gender dynamics, and what the movie can teach us about contemporary debates over power, standards, and moral codes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Backstory and Cultural Impact of "A Few Good Men"

• Aaron Sorkin’s Career Launch: Sonny recounts Sorkin’s origin story, writing the play on cocktail napkins during his waiter shifts. The screenplay was optioned before the play was ever produced, leading to a star-studded film with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. [(00:30)]
• The "Walk and Talk" Origin: Jonathan and Sonny joke that this film (at Rob Reiner’s suggestion) birthed the famous Sorkin walk-and-talk scenes. [(01:44–02:56)]
• Blockbuster Status: The film grossed about $260 million—equal to $600 million today—cementing its status as a modern classic.

2. Why Discuss Now? Connecting Film to Current Events

• JVL points to the recent episode where the Secretary of Defense, echoing Colonel Jessup, gathered U.S. flag officers—citing real-world examples of "powerful men seeing themselves as law unto themselves." [(03:36–05:12)]
• The "Punisher" ethos in official circles is likened to Jessup’s brand of militaristic authority, prompting a broader reflection on the dangers of unchecked command and the breakdown of the rule of law.

3. Plot Recap and Moral Dilemma at the Heart of the Film

• Sonny summarizes the plot: At Guantanamo Bay, two Marines, following orders, kill a fellow Marine via an illegal "Code Red" hazing. Tom Cruise’s JAG lawyer character is roped into defending them, uncovering a cover-up sanctioned by Colonel Jessup (Nicholson). The crux: When law, orders, and personal codes clash, which should prevail? [(09:17–13:01)]
• JVL: "The law matters the most, and if it conflicts with your own personal code, then you leave your position. You don’t supplant your code for the law." [(13:01)]

4. Justice, Loyalty, and Gray Areas

• Sarah reflects on how she used to find Jessup appealing as a young conservative, but sees him as a more dangerous figure now—recognizing the allure and perils of the "warrior on the wall" ethos. [(06:57–08:40)]
• The panel explores the two accused Marines as exemplars of devotion to the code—even if it means refusing plea deals for acts committed under orders. Sarah notes, "There is a specific kind of person that says, I cannot say that I did this thing wrong when I don’t believe I did anything wrong. I just followed an order and that’s what I have to do." [(13:44–15:54)]

5. Sorkin’s Characters: Flaws, Daddy Issues, and Morality

• Tom Cruise’s character is discussed as callow and ambitious—more interested in career advancement than justice, a departure from Atticus Finch or Jimmy Stewart types. [(17:45–18:20)]
• JVL jokes: "All of Sorkin’s men and moral lights have these daddy issues." [(18:28)]

6. Cast Exploration and Critiquing Supporting Characters

• Stacked Cast: The film features a loaded ensemble—Noah Wyle, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak, Kiefer Sutherland, Chris Guest, and the ever-unnerving J.T. Walsh as Lt. Col. Markinson. [(18:34–23:17)]
• Markinson’s Arc: Panelists find the Markinson subplot (disappearing, guilt-ridden suicide) both memorable and implausible, serving only to "move the plot two minutes forward" in an unnecessarily dramatic way. [(19:03–21:46)]

7. The Demi Moore Character: Feminist Reading and Moral Scold

• Sarah critiques the way Sorkin writes Demi Moore’s character (Lt. Commander Joanne Galloway), seeing her as sidelined, undercut, and serving primarily to push Cruise’s character into greatness. [(24:31–33:23)]
  • Sarah: "Her role in this movie is to help Tom Cruise see what a brilliant little boy he is and to sort of chastise him… but she does everything wrong in this movie and she’s diminished at every turn." [(29:37–33:23)]
  • JVL admits he likes her as a "moral scold," believing her role is to shame the other characters into acting morally.
  • Sonny argues that star power goes a long way: "Whatever problems and softness there is in the writing is kind of covered up by how good she is in it." [(27:17–28:27)]

8. The Moral Endgame: Who is Ultimately Right?

• Sarah is struck by Galloway’s climactic justification for the accused Marines—"because they stand on a wall and they tell you, no one's gonna hurt you tonight"—echoing Jessup's rhetoric and exposing the film's moral ambiguities. [(36:10–37:46)]
• The panel debates whether Jessup’s "code" insulates or exposes him to authoritarian temptations, especially in a political landscape where figures like Hegseth valorize raw power above all. [(42:27–48:53)]
• JVL: "Jessup believes that he should be a law unto himself and that the Constitution does not bind him." [(48:04–48:11)]

9. Military Standards, Hazing, and Excellence

• The trio wrestles with when the drive for excellence and unit cohesion becomes abusive ritual—comparing Code Reds to Band of Brothers, high-level sports, and recent military scandals. [(55:08–59:54)]
  • JVL: "These are sociopathic rituals which have nothing to do with actual performance… It’s just will to power." [(57:46)]
  • Sarah: Advocates high, universal standards, but is wary of how standards can be used to exclude or harm.
• They agree that Jessup’s fatal flaw is refusing to take responsibility for the unintended tragic consequences of his leadership, falsifying evidence, and acting above the law. [(53:43–54:07)]

10. Pop Culture Nostalgia and Appreciation for Craft

• The final moments are lighter: appreciation for DC location shoots, the excellence of Jack Nicholson’s later-career "third act," and a wistful look at Hollywood legends who are still with us. [(65:10–67:48)]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sorkin’s Influence:
  "He lays at the center of my blame for why American Xennials and elder Millennials don’t have a realistic view of American government, because The West Wing just like destroyed while everyone is there to be a perfect public servant."
  —Sarah Longwell (16:02)

• On Military Codes:
  "The law matters the most, and if it conflicts with your own personal code, then you leave your position. You don’t supplant your code for the law. You say, this is against my code. I’m sorry, I can’t do this. I am retiring."
  —Jonathan V. Last (13:01)

• On Gender & Character:
  "Her role in this movie is to help Tom Cruise see what a brilliant little boy he is and to sort of chastise him… but she does everything wrong in this movie and she’s diminished at every turn."
  —Sarah Longwell (29:37)

• On Jessup and Authoritarianism:
  "We now have at the head of the American government the Colonel Jessup ethos, which boils down to might makes right. I am the commander, and so I am allowed to give the Code Red."
  —Jonathan V. Last (42:30)

• On Group Power Plays:
  "All the shit about, well, that’s how we make the best soldier… No, it isn’t… That is just looking to make excuses for people who like doing psychotic [stuff]."
  —Jonathan V. Last (57:22)

• On Current Events vs. Movie Ethics:
  "I think personally that Jessup would… resist this sort of thing from Hegseth or Trump much better than almost any other character in the movie, except for maybe Demi Moore."
  —Sonny Bunch (47:45)

• On Standards:
  "Having high standards is good… but the standards should have something to do with the actual job."
  —Sarah Longwell & Jonathan V. Last (61:28–62:12)

• On Jack Nicholson:
  "We should appreciate him as an actor while we have him, because he’s something else. He’s great."
  —Jonathan V. Last (66:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Aaron Sorkin Backstory / Sorkinisms: 00:30–02:56
• Connection to Current Events: 03:36–05:12
• Plot Summary: 09:11–13:01
• Debating "Code Red" and Morality: 13:44–15:54
• Discussion on Demi Moore's Character: 24:31–33:23
• Military Code vs. Rule of Law: 36:10–38:05
• Comparing Jessup to Modern Authoritarians: 42:27–48:53
• Military Standards Debate: 55:08–62:44
• Pop Culture Wrap-Up/Jack Nicholson Appreciation: 65:10–66:57

Final Thoughts

The episode combines sharp criticism, personal reflection, and dry humor to show why "A Few Good Men" remains a resonant story—serving as a mirror for America’s evolving relationship with power, integrity, and the dangerous romance of "tough guy" leadership. The movie’s most famous line, "You can’t handle the truth," becomes a springboard for the panel’s exploration of how convenient lies and mythologizing about strength persist in American culture—from Hollywood to the halls of power.