Men Of Honor

Cuba Gooding Jr (As Good As It Gets, What Dreams May Come) and Robert DeNiro (Wag The Dog, Jackie Brown) give stunning performances in this movie, inspired by the true story of Carl Brashear, the United States Navy’s first black Master Diver. Coming from a life of poverty and despair, having been raised on a dirt farm in Kentucky, Brashear voluntarily enlisted to serve in the navy in the early sixties; a time when black people were shunned and segregated from white society. This practice was worse in the military, where blatantly prejudiced attitudes and slurs were not only accepted by the white majority, but often encouraged by peers and command alike.

With the promise of a secure and bright future offered by his recruiter ringing in his ears, Brashear found himself serving in the South Pacific aboard the USS Hoist as a ship's cook. In this dark period of Naval history, the only positions the majority of blacks were allowed to hold were that of cook or Officer’s Valet.

After witnessing an accident involving his ship and a mail helicopter, and the attempted rescue of the helicopter crew by divers aboard the ship, Brashear is inspired to become a Master Diver; a rank achieved by very few of those of who attempted to reach it, and never before by a black man.

Personally, I cannot imagine being able to overcome the incredible odds faced by Brashear, and for that reason, I found myself totally taken away by this film. The story grips you from the beginning, and doesn’t let you go until the very end - an ending preceded by a plot twist that will leave you wanting to stand up and cheer.

Brashear retired from the Navy in 1979, ending a career that not only opened doors for many people of color, but also one that put him the record books as well as the hearts and minds of many Amercians

The movie is totally engrossing, and Gooding and DeNiro are supported by an all-star cast that includes veteran actor Hal Holbrook, (Judas Kiss, Hush) David Kieth, (Invasion Of Privacy, Deadly Sins) Aunjanue Ellis, (Map Of The World, In Too Deep) Michael Rapaport, (Lucky Numbers, Chain Of Fools) and Powers Boothe. (Crime Of Passion, Nixon).

More than just a story of heroism, this is a movie about Courage, Perserverance and Honor. I highly recommend this one!

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