User Reviews

Military training films are becoming so common that they are becoming a genre unto themselves. Among the more prominent we have, `Officer and a Gentleman', `Top Gun', `GI Jane', and now `Men of Honor'. The fact that this one happened to be true doesn't change the fact that the formula is the same. This film is probably most like `GI Jane' since it focuses on the desegregation angle.

The story is actually quite inspirational and is probably the best human-interest story among those mentioned above. Carl Brashear (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) is unquestionably a man of great courage and principle, and his strength of character shines through brightly in this film. Unfortunately, director George Tillman has tunnel vision in presenting the characters and eschews character development of various characters other than Brashear in favor of showing Brashear in a constant state of adversity. Billy Sunday (Robert De Niro) is a central figure, and except for the initial scene, the fistfight and a couple of scenes with his wife, we don't know much about him. For instance, Brashear sees the scars on Sunday's palms and we are to assume that he worked a plow, but there is no follow-up on that point. Mr. Pappy (Hal Holbrook) gets only one short scene by which we can judge him. The rest of his screen time shows him pacing around and ranting. If a director is going to make a human-interest story, he needs to humanize the characters.

Cuba Gooding Jr. gives an outstanding performance as Brashear. This is probably the best I've seen him. This is a role and a character that is far more complete than any part he has played before, and he rises to the occasion. In `Jerry Maguire', Rod Tidwell was a fascinating, but one-dimensional character with the depth of a rain puddle. Brashear is much more complex and grounded, and the issues he faces are life crises, making the part far more challenging. This is an excellent recovery from Gooding's last role in `Chill Factor', a film so dreadful that it was almost an act of professional suicide to take the part.

After a stint trying his hand as a comedian (`Analyze This', `The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle', `Meet The Parents'), Robert DeNiro is back to his dramatic roots with an outstanding performance. DeNiro isn't a bad comedian, he is just such a great dramatic actor that it seems like he shouldn't waste his time doing comedy. DeNiro endows Billy Sunday with a rock hard personality belying a tortured soul. It is a pleasure watching him work.

It seems every film I watch lately has Charlize Theron in it. I saw `The Legend of Bagger Vance', `Men of Honor' and `The Yards' right in a row and I was beginning to wonder if she had a part in every film in 2000 (actually, she only did five). This was a minor role for Theron, but she carried it off well and managed to stay with DeNiro step for step. David Keith, who co-starred with Richard Gere in `Officer and a Gentleman', has a cameo here

The DVD has some interesting special features, including reflections by the real Carl Brashear and some deleted scenes.

I enjoyed this film despite the hackneyed plot and the one-dimensional presentation. I rated it a 7/10. I'm a sucker for underdog stories and I have a fondness for stories where strength of character is the central theme. This film is particularly strong in both areas and brings us two memorable acting performances that compensate for some of the director's shortcomings.

This well-acted story of the end of segregation in the military is told through the true experiences of Carl Brashear. Ultimately it is a story of human honor and dignity triumphing over smallmindedness, bureaucracy, and prejudice. Some of the scenes are deliberate attempts at crowd-pleasing, but they are nevertheless effective.

This one is a great one! Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding have teamed up to make a powerful and very influential film. This is the true story of the first black US Navy diver and the obstacles he faced in attaining his certification at the hands of a racist Master diver. Along the way, he must also face plain old bigotry from all of his classmates, none of whom want him in their class. They move out of the barracks when he arrives. Ultimately, he becomes certified and goes on to have a great career as a US Navy diver. Watch this one! It's a great tale of courage and honor. As the story unfolds, we get to watch racism slowly dissipate and everyone begins to respect men one at a time.

Men of Honor stars Cuba Gooding Jr., as real life Navy Diver Carl Brashear who defied a man's Navy to become the first African American Navy Diver. Sometimes by his side and sometimes his adversary there was one man who Carl Brashear really admired. His name was Master Chief Billy Sunday (Robert DeNiro). Sunday in a lot of ways pushed, aggravated and helped Carl become the man he wanted to be.

I loved Cuba in this film. His portrayal here is as liberating and as powerful as Denzel Washington was in The Hurricane. Through every scene we can see his passion, motivation and stubbornness to achieve his dream. We can see the struggle within in him as he embarks to make his father proud. I also loved how the director created and brought forth a lot of tension in some of the key diving scenes. Brashear's encounter with a submarine during a salvage mission is heart-stopping and brilliant.

The only fault I could see would have to lie in the supporting cast. Cuba and DeNiro's characters are very intricate and exciting to watch. Which does make you a little sad when they have to butt heads with such two-dimensional supporting characters. The evil Lt. Cmdr. Hanks, Sunday's wife (Charlize Theron), the eccentric diving school colonel (Hal Holbrook) and Cuba's love interest are the characters I found to not have very much depth. What could have made these characters more substantial and more effective was a little more time to develop them. Why was that colonel always in his tower? How come Sunday's wife was so bitter and always drunk?

Another curious question has to be this. What happened to Carl Brashear's wedding? I mean if this film is chronicling this man's life wouldn't his wedding be an important event? Maybe it's just me. Men of Honor, however, is a perfect example of the triumph and faith that the human spirit envelops. This film will inspire and make you feel for this man's struggle. Which I do believe was the reason this powerful story was told. My hat goes off to you Carl Brashear. I really admire your strength.

This film is an excellent military movie. It may not be an excellent Hollywood Movie, but that does not matter. Hollywood has a reputation of sacrificing accuracy for good entertainment, but that is not the case with this movie. Other reviewers have found this movie to be too slow for their taste, but – as a retired Soldier – I appreciate the pace the movie crew deliberately took to tell their story as completely as possible given the two hours and nine minutes allotted. The story itself has been told and retold several times over, but it remains for a professional soldier – and an African American at that – to report on the story as presented by the movie crew, and as it presents the US Navy to the world. The story of Brashear's work to become a Navy Diver, and his life as a Navy Diver beyond his graduation, is not the only story that is presented. There I also the story of how Master Chief Petty Officer Sunday defied the illegal order of his Commanding Officer that Petty Officer 2nd Class Brashear not be passed in his test dive no matter how well he did, and paid the price of a loss of one Stripe and a change of assignment. It also told the true story how Brashear found the third Hydrogen Bombs lost in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Spain in the 1950's, and how he saved the life of another seaman who was in the line of the snapped running line that would have snapped him in two if Brashear had not shoved him out of the way and took the shot himself. This was a complex story that was worth telling, and I will admit that two hours and nine minutes was not enough to tell the full story, and I can tell from the deleted scenes on the DVD that the crew tried their best to tell a story as full as possible. As a professional soldier, I was proud to see such a great story told in such a comprehensive manner, and to see the traditions and honor of the navy preserved in such a natural and full manner.

I'm certainly glad that a film was made about Carl Brashear's amazing life story. Coming as it did during the Civil Rights era, Brashear became an inspiration for people of all minority groups not willing to settle for a status expected.

Brashear as played by Cuba Gooding, Jr. leads by example in the conduct of the life he has chosen. Very similar to Jackie Robinson who integrated baseball and made it stick by his character and conduct. As Brashear, Gooding knows that he does not want the sharecropper life that his father Carl Lumbly has and Lumbly makes it real clear to get more out of life than he's gotten.

But while Harry Truman integrated the Armed Services after World War II, the Navy still has its restrictions. A black man can only be a cook or an officer's valet, the real fighting parts are denied him. That's not good enough for Gooding who applies to become a Navy deep sea diver.

Once at the diving school at Bayonne, New Jersey, Gooding gets it all thrown at him, mostly by the Master Chief Petty Officer in charge, Robert DeNiro. DeNiro may have some leftover prejudices, but he's nevertheless a hero and one who can inspire if one can get passed racial divide.

The best thing about Men Of Honor is the chemistry between DeNiro and Gooding. They certainly come from different places, but as they get to know each other, both turn out to be Men Of Honor.

Other good performances to note are Charlize Theron as DeNiro's wife and Hal Holbrook as the head of the diving school, a guy the Navy just wish would retire for reasons you'll see.

Men Of Honor is an inspiring story about people with courage to spare and the ability to change.

TIllman Jr.'s drama about the first African American Navy Master Diver (Gooding Jr.), who defies all odds and achieves his goals despite a strict embittered trainer. The screenplay is not bad, a bit extreme at times, but the direction and acting is first-rate, and this film is inspiring and achieves what its supposed to do. I liked DeNiro in the lead, although its not on par with his masterful works (taxi driver, godfather and all the others) it is as good as his other good performances such as in King of Comedy or Angel Heart. DeNiro is always convincing and believable here, very good performance, Gooding Jr. is not bad, definitely one of his better performances. --- IMDb Rating: 6.6, my rating: 9/10

Familiar but triumphant true story set in the 1950s about a man and his determination to defy the odds. Gooding gives a rock solid performance as an ambitious Navy diver whose iron will leads him to fight discrimination and try to become the first ever colored master diver. Along the way he matches wits with—and eventually gains the respect of—his belligerent, hard-nosed superior (De Niro). Considering the film's definite Rocky formula you'll probably be a step ahead of the story at every turn, but it's well-directed, acted with such great conviction, and has a finale so powerful and moving that you almost have to go along for the ride. A compelling and gripping story of will and determination. ***

The inspiring story of Carl Brashear (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), a black man who grew up in poverty in Kentucky and then joined the US Navy, aspiring to be the first black Master Diver in Navy history. We are shown the series of struggles from boyhood on that Brashear has to overcome to make his dream come true (and then to keep it alive.) Not the least of the challenges was Master Diver Bill Sunday (Robert DeNiro), the head trainer at the diving school the Navy sends Brashear to, who is not especially sympathetic to Brashear's goals, but who ultimately becomes an unlikely friend and supporter.

This is a good movie; fast paced and with a lot of action, although not an "action" pic in the normal sense of the word. There's a very human story here as well, and an interesting study of racism and the struggle to overcome it; there's also a sense of the struggle that took place in the 1960's between older and younger naval officers (the "old navy" vs the "new navy.") The performances are quite good - particularly Goodings'. I thought DeNiro was perhaps a bit over the top in his portrayal of Sunday (although, who knows, Sunday might well have been this extreme kind of loose cannon) and the portrayal of Sunday's wife Gwen (by Charlize Theron) also made me question whether these parts were "jazzed up" to provide entertainment value.

A good movie, though. I never once wondered if it was worth tuning into.

7/10

A very powerful and emotive film with both Cuba Gooding Jnr and Robert De Niro excelling in their respective roles. One of my "Whisky films"........perfect to watch with a dram. Don't miss this one.

An epic story inspired by the life of Carl Brashear, a man who battled the obstacles of racism, and intolerance , in spite his lack of education . The film starred Oscar winning actors Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Robert De Niro with a well ensembled support cast . This is the stirring story of Carl Brashear (Cuba Gooding Jr , his magnifent acting certainly does the man justice) , being a straight-forward tribute to this historical hero , the first African-American U.S. Navy Diver in line of duty who broke barriers in the diving program . Regarding his problematic existence , being shown his rise from a simple sharecropper's son to a brave military man . Embodying the strength of will never to take for an answer , and furthermore , dealing with the man (Robert De Niro as coach captain Sunday) who trained him , a racist training officer whose discrimination nearly kills him on several occassions before Carl earns Sunday's respect . Carl come across the very embodiment of perseverance and he goes on his advanced career with a big success until a fateful accident . Tough enough for any able-bodied man , but even the loss a limb on a shipboard accident doesn't deter Carl from his dedication into line to duty .

This is a solid biography and old school biopic with fine performances at a tale of fight and self-improvement ; as he battles obstacles as well as the loss of his leg to become the United States Navy's first African-American Master deep sea diver. As Carl often uses pig-determination and guts , this farmer's son signed up for the US Navy in the early 50s and worked his difficult way to improve oneself through the entrance exam to train as a tough , savage driver , becoming the first ever blackman to qualify . Wonderful acting and interesting screenplay by Scott Marshall Smith lend the proceeding its sturdy narrative fibre . A moving real story of overcoming in which the main role surmounting difficulties, as Carl understands what it means to work your way up , even when he loses his half a leg and the now-recovered Sunday helps him retrain using a prosthetic leg . This is an attractive , charming story in which an African-American getting better oneself to surpass his competitors and contenders ; and by the way he has to overcome the institutional racism . It is hardly a surprise to deal with ordinary bigotry against blackmen and this occassionally stodgy movie offers the striking reminder of the terrible conditions under which underwater divers worked . Excellent interpretation by Robert De Niro as Sunday , a rigid commander , a hard-nosed master captain Instructor under pression to fail Carl , declining his pursuit due to insubordination as well as drunkenness and along the way growing of respect between two ordinary adversaries . Sunday role results to be actually a composite drawn from various men in Carl Brasher's life . Elsewhere the secondary characterisation is less sure with the regular abandoned wife well played by Charlize Theron , Hal Holbrook's racist commander-in-chief , a too-obvious looney , Carl's faithful colleague : Michael Rappaport , his wife : Aunjanue Ellis ; besides : Holt McCallany , David Keith , Powers Boothe , Glynn Turman ,Joshua Leonard , Carl Lumbly as father , Lonette McKee as mother , among others .

It contains an adequate and evocative cinematography by Anthony B Richmond . As well as a rousing , sensitive and epic musical score by Mark Isham . This better than average motion picture produced by Bill Cosby was competently directed by George Tillman Jr . He is a good writer , producer and filmmaker . His first feature film, Scenes for the soul , it was shot entirely in Chicago, using local talent and resources. Following the momentum of this success, George began to write a script, loosely based on his own life , Soul Food . George's next directorial effort was Men of honor . Going on other successes as Faster , Roll Bounce , Inevitable defeat of Mister and Pete . In addition to directing features, George helmed the pilot Love is a four letter world for NBC, along with episodes of Starz' Power , Netflix/Marvel's Luke Cage , and NBC's dramedy This is us , among others . Rating : 7.5/10 , above average .

"Men of Honor" is a movie inspired by the navy career of Carl Brashear. What 'inspired by' means is that the story is mostly true but in Hollywood tradition, certain story elements were made up or embellished. The character played by Robert De Niro, for example, was not a single person but an amalgum of two...and Brashear's multiple marriages aren't discussed. However, compared to many Hollywood biopics, it's pretty close to the true story of the man...and an inspiring story it is.

Carl Brashear was a black man who became the first to become a certified navy diver. the racism and hatred he experienced along the way is highlighted in the movie. Then, due to his determination, he became quite the hero and was involved in finding a lost atomic weapon (yes, this actually DID happen). However, in an accident, he lost his leg and the final portion of the picture is his fighting to be reinstated to his old position instead of being medically discharged. All in all, an amazing story and one well worth seeing. It's made better by excellent direction, acting, music and realistic sets. Well worth your time.

(2000) Men of Honor BIO-DRAMA

The best Cuba Gooding JR film I've seen so far- better than "Jerry McGuire" and is more inspirational film than the self- indulgent story line of the "Blindside". Also based on fact (although, not completely accurate but is not necessary for the theatrical audience) about the impossible odds made against him by the name of, Carl Brashear, had to endure to become the first African American deep sea diver and serve his country during WWII. The build up toward the end is perhaps one of the best I've ever seen!! I have no idea why this film got a 40% rating, the fact that some are saying that it's like a high school special is an insult to anybody who may have also have to overcome stereotypical obstacles I assume would've been more effective had these same critics that gave it a bad rating would also endure those same situations as Brashear, whether the story been inaccurate or not!! Ridiculous. What is preventing this film from receiving a perfect rating for me is the miscasting of Charlize Theron to whom I feel is a great actress but this role seems kind of unconvincing.

I loved this movie. It is a definite inspirational movie. It fills you with pride. This movie is worth the rental or worth buying. It should be in everyones home. Best movie I have seen in a long time. It will make you mad because everyone is so mean to Carl Brashear, but in the end it gets better. It is a story of romance, drama, action, and plenty of funny lines to keep you tuned in. I love a lot of the quotes. I use them all the time. They help keep me on task of what I want to do. It shows that anyone can achieve their dreams, all they have to do is work for it. It is a long movie, but every time I watch it, I never notice that it is as long as it is. I get so engrossed in it, that it goes so quick. I love this movie. I watch it whenever I can.

Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jnr are the shining lights in this movie and they make the film what it is,which is a very entertaining flick that could do better. De Niro has been critisised recently for the films he has chosen and even some of his performances. His performance in this is outstanding but i do question the the movie he has picked again. Men of Honor has the potential to be a great film but it never quite gets there. The script is ok, nothing special,and the story could have told in far more interesting way. The first half of the film is very uninspiring and slow but it does pick up a head of steam and finishes on a high that leaves the viewer satisfied. 8 out of 10 (just)

Love this film no matter how many times I watch it I'm always moved at the end. I know some people don't like how it's not 100% factual but I think they did a good job getting the overall story told. Cuba Gooding Jr is outstanding in this, well worth a watch.

I was lucky I could see it, mainly cause I always follow De Niro's work; and as usual, he didn't disappoint me.

It has been a long time since a movie "moved" my guts like this one did. It's a very strong story, and its strength does not come from the screen but from inside it. They made it with no special visual effects or explosions, but it certainly makes your heart feel them more than once.

Something very powerful is felt. The guy just can't give up to a dream, and he will give anything from him to achieve it. It's an inspiring story, at least it did inspire me. If you don't give everything for what you want most, then what are you?. And that's no other thing than the power of life.

The inspirational and true tale of one black man who tries his hardest to become a deep sea military diver. Cuba Gooding Jr. is this man and the hard ass who is training him is none other than Robert De Niro.

Men of Honor seemed like another boring military film that focuses on one character who must overcome adversity while training to become a part of a special unit in the service. Then of course there will be the officer who trains them, he will be a hard ass who doesn't take any B.S. from anyone. The more he pushes you, the harder you become, the two usually hate each other at the beginning, but then come to terms and respect each other. In some cases they even end up liking each other. The third act of the film usually details the life of the character after he graduates the class. Men of Honor follows this criteria to a capital T.

With that being sad, I still found myself interested in the characters and the performance. This is an interesting film that pits two leading men who seem to have had bad luck with roles in this recent generation. Cuba Good Jr. can't seem to find his footing after winning an Oscar for Jerry Maguire, today the poor guy is in the direct to video market. In this performance he tackles it with true pride. His determination to provide the role with some credibility shines through. I usually find his work to be more or less with every film. Men Of Honor is one of his better performances. Robert De Niro has taken a big hit since his heyday. It seems that ever since the one role in Rocky and Bullwinkle, his script choices have been pretty dull. Some people refer to his roles post 2000 to be the sell out years. Men of Honor might be an exception, he brings his usual De Niro self to an otherwise thankless role. We don't know much about his character, other than he has a short temper and refuses a lot of orders.

The film has a one dimensional presentation and it hurts the plot and characterization. Despite this, it does hold together well for most of the running time. I always find that after the training sequences of the film are over, they tend to drag on afterwards. This film is no different. The most interesting part of the film is over and yet we are still sitting here watching events unfold that we have little interest in. The romance between Cuba and his gal is thin and Charlize Theron is given so little to do I wondered why she was even in the film.

Men Of Honor has everything that an inspirational film that is based on a true story should have. Our man character is black and has to overcome the racism of everyone around him. Nothing new, but knowing that it was based on a true story does lend to some moments where we respect that character for what he accomplished. Some scenes are really well done, specifically one where one character receives a medal of honor, which should have went to Cuba, but because he was black they gave it to the one guy who didn't deserve it.

The film is long and drags after the more entertaining parts are finished, but it's not a total loss. I can recommend it for people who are into the military film genre, this one has great performances that overcome a lazy script.

Based on the true story of diver Carl Brashear, Men of Honor tastes like "I've seen this movie before". Little or nothing adds to other productions of the genre, but it manages to move and teach us valuable life lessons. The story revolves around the obsession of sailor Carl (Cuba Gooding Jr., Oscar for supporting role for Jerry Maguire) to become a diver responsible for special missions, in the United States Navy. However, no matter how hard he studies and strives to achieve his goal, Carl will always have two big obstacles ahead. First, the fact that he is black and wants to rise in life within a racist institution like the Navy. Second, the presence of the unbalanced teacher and commander Sunday (Robert De Niro, grimace as usual), willing to do anything to stop young Carl's paths.

Men of Honor is a duel between two stubborn characters and two talented actors. Carl represents freedom, the change of air from a rigid militaristic scheme, willpower. Sunday wears the shirt of an old-fashioned, racist and reactionary Navy, personifying intolerance to the limit of the unbearable. Between the two, however, a Manichean script emerges, which polarizes its main characters in a juvenile way and fails to work the theme in depth. No pun intended. Director George Tillman Jr. Wastes a potential cast with two-dimensional characters that border on the caricature.

Although Men of Honor is based on Brashear's real life, and the production had his advice, De Niro's character is the fruit of fiction, as he was created from the combination of several men that the officer has met in his career. This makes the character bear a heavy load, single-handedly representing all the prejudices and hostile attitudes that Brashear faced. D Niro is an actor who needs no comments, doing another good performance. Managing to fluctuate between the extremely contrasting personalities of his roles, the actor gives the correct timing to the character Leslie Sunday (Billy). It's not his best career performance, not even close, but a job well done.

Cuba Gooding Jr. It presents itself in great shape. The actor already had some experience with the naval service by virtue of A Few Good Men (1992), when he played a supporting role. Later he would still appear, very well, at Pearl Harbor. Playing Carl Brashear is a difficult task, considering that the film presents several temporal advances and behavioral changes of the character, something that Cuba did very well.

The approach to prejudice suffered by blacks is one of the main points raised in the script, by society in general and, as shown here, among US Navy officers between the 1950s and 1960s. This prejudice of other sailors is personified in the role of Rourke (Holt McCallany), a candidate of far inferior ability and character to Carl, but who enjoys prestige and privileges in the eyes of the naval command. The scene that best represents this difference in the treatment received by Rourke, to the detriment of Carl's attitudes, is one in which, during a training session where they simulated a repair on a sunken ship's hull, which ends up giving way, the air hose of the companion of Rourke is trapped and he can't leave the place.

Carl, in a heroic act, dives with another air hose, so they can leave the place. Rourke ends up abandoning his partner, not believing there is time for the hose change to be made. Carl, not only manages to make the switch, but saves the other man's life. Sunday's look at Rourke as he resurfaces sums up the situation well. The next day, Rourke is awarded the Medal of Bravery and Honor for "having risked his own life to save another teammate" straight from the White House. This scene is emblematic, as we note Rourke's shame in receiving the medal and Sunday's contempt for handing him such an honor.

Carl Brashear still suffers from several prejudices, but always overcoming all challenges with a lot of determination, such as the test of assembling a part underwater that Carl stays more than nine hours, because he had his tool bag cut by the chief diver, or else in another scene it clearly shows the excessive rigor that the head diver challenges him to a dispute in which the two are with the wetsuit and with the helmet full of water, where Carl wins by staying more than four minutes without breathing causing envy and surprising the all of the crew. We also see that after losing a leg in an accident, he is forced to walk in a wetsuit weighing approximately 132 kilos in a courtroom where everyone looked at him with suspicion if he would be able to prove that he would be able to walk the twelve steps determined by the superior, with your courage and honor.

Another problem with the film's script is the insertion of the protagonists' wives in the story and the relationship between the couples. Jo (Aunjanue Ellis), a public library employee who studies medicine, helps Carl with his studies so he doesn't fail his theory exams. Jo and Carl see each other two or three times and already love each other and plan to get married and build a life together in the blink of an eye. That simple. Gwen (Charlize Theron), Sunday's wife, appears in the middle of the film, in a scene of conflict, where it is clear that the couple goes through many problems, although these problems are not clarified right away. With no important role in the story, Gwen and Jo are only there to highlight how the characters are victims of themselves, their addictions, their egos, their dogged pursuit of the top. But everything is handled too quickly, almost superficially. Sunday's alcoholism is not even mentioned until the fight with Gwen, for example.

You never know, in movies based on true history, how much truth there is. But the prejudice is not mitigated by director George Tillman Jr., who, incidentally, is also black. This is the filmmaker's second film, which debuted with the equally melodramatic "Always on Sundays," which focuses on an African-American family's Sunday lunch tradition. Despite being "formulaic" and too long, the script hits the nail on the head, which, of course, takes place in a military court. After losing a leg in an accident, Carl is forced to walk around in a wetsuit weighing more than 100 kilos to prove that he is still capable of staying in the profession. And you thought his life was an ordeal.

There is no explicit sex and some light verbal sexual references. There is a lot of offensive language in the film - both profanity and racial epithets - but this story takes place in the military world and most men, pardon the cliché, swear like sailors. The public should be more offended by the unfair treatment Brashear suffered in his quest to be a chief diver. This is, ultimately, a story of triumph over prejudice and adversity, as well as redemption. The film reflects our life and ends up showing us how weak we are sometimes, we need claw, humility, strength and the will to win from a man in a totally different environment from where he always lived. In addition, he had to face racism at the time portrayed in the film. The plot of the drama is a great lesson of life, where we must keep in mind that we should never be beaten by people who "think" that they have power and shows that in order to overcome adversities, in the pursuit of a goal, self-esteem must come first. Place, always wanting to learn.

Carl Brashear grew up in Sonora, Kentucky. His father is a poor tenant farmer. Carl (Cuba Gooding Jr.) joins the Navy and gets stuck in the kitchen. He shows his swimming prowess and Captain Pullman (Powers Boothe) makes him a rescue swimmer. Diver Master Chief Billy Sunday (Robert De Niro) is injured after a heroic rescue. With perseverance, Carl finally gets a shot two years later at diving school. Sunday is his tough racist instructor. The camp commander (Hal Holbrook) is even worst. All the other recruits walk out on him except for Snowhill (Michael Rapaport). He struggles academically since he only finished 7th grade and he gets help from Jo (Aunjanue Ellis). Gwen (Charlize Theron) is Sunday's wild drunken wife.

This is a very formulaic inspirational melodramatic biopic. I accept the formula. I just wish it has more pep to it. Cuba is passable but he keeps trying too hard. There is an overt sincerity to his performance that he can't quite corral. De Niro has great intensity but he needs to direct it more surgically at Cuba. There is so much racism being depicted that he needs to be worst than everybody else at least in the beginning. It takes him a little too long to get there and the 1966 incident at the start of the movie really misdirects his character. In the end, the sincerity of the film and its subject triumphs over any problem that it may have.

In the beginning, this is a Robert de Niro movie,so if you are a fan of him you will enjoy it more and more.... This was the movie that made me fall in love with cinema. Everytime I see it I see anew side of it. I hope people see this movie from my point of view... It's a true story about the suffering of a black "naive man".. It will really touch your soul.. At last, I think that this movie is one of the most underrated movies of all time

A good yarn is never out of fashion. Cuba Gooding Jr. does an outstandingjob of acting.