Men of Honor [Special Edition]

Director: George Tillman Jr. George Tillman Jr.

Overview

The story of Navy diver Carl Brashear, the first African-American to achieve the rank of Master Diver, Men of Honor comes to DVD in an excellent Special Edition package. As DVDs pile up on the shelves, that phrase often gets tacked on to even the most sparse discs. Here, however, the title is richly deserved. Boasting a stellar transfer -- a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen picture -- this is another good buy to show off the visual attributes of the medium. Men of Honor isn't the kind of film that absolutely requires Dolby Digital Sound, but the 5.1 treatment puts the underwater action center stage. These are fine additions, to be sure, but the special edition moniker usually refers to one thing -- extras. Here, viewers get a great commentary from director George Tillman Jr., star Cuba Gooding Jr., and the producer and writer. There is also a bevy of deleted scenes, including an alternate ending. These are available with or without a commentary track from Tillman. Also included are a pair of featurettes, including a look at the real Carl Brashear's life. In addition, this DVD also offers an animatic storyboard, a music video for the film's theme song, and the usual trailers and TV spots. All in all, Men of Honor is a solid release and the excellent extras make it worth owning.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/10/2001
UPC:	0024543016663
Original Release:	2000
Source:	20Th Century Fox
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	2:08:00
Sales rank:	11,536

Special Features

Alternate ending; Deleted scenes; Animated storyboard; Commentary by director George Tillman Jr., Cuba Gooding Jr., and producer Robert Teitel; "Making of" featurette; "MasterChief: A Tribute to Carl Brashear" documentary; "Win" music video by Brian McKnight; Theatrical trailer and TV spots; Anamorphic widescreen [aspect ratio 2.35:1]; Audio: English 5.1 Surround, English Dolby Surround, French Dolby Surround; Subtitles: English, Spanish

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Robert De Niro	Billy Sunday
Cuba Gooding Jr.	Carl Brashear
Charlize Theron	Gwen Sunday
Aunjanue Ellis	Jo
Hal Holbrook	Mr. Pappy
Michael Rapaport	Snowhill
Powers Boothe	Capt. Pullman
David Keith	Capt. Hartigan
Joshua Leonard	Isert
Holt McCallany	Rourke
Dennis Troutman	Boots
Joshua Feinman	DuBoyce
Theo Pagones	Mellegrano
Carl Lumbly	Mac
Lonette McKee	Ella
Glynn Turman	Chief Floyd
Ryan Honey	Yarmouth
David Conrad	Hanks
Chris Warren Jr.	Young Carl
Lester B. Hanson	Adm. Yon
Jack Frazier	Rear Adm. French
David Richard Heath	Medical Officer
Demene E. Hall	Mrs. Biddle
Alimi Ballard	Coke
Shawn Michael Howard	Junie
Troy Lund	Blonde Gate SP
Henry Harris	Rescued Pilot
Matt Dotson	Marine Guard
David Meyers	Dr. Cudahy
Richard Perry Turner	Dr. Dinkins
George 'Chick' Rankins	Cab Driver
Richard Sanders	Bartender
Nasir Najieb	Black Inductee
Dennis Bateman	Navy Instructor
Eric Newsome	Naked Grunt
Steven Clark Pachosa	Navy Recruiter
Marilyn Faith Hickey	Pinch-Faced Woman
Bruce Burkhartsmeier	Presiding Officer
Michael Tyrone Williamson	Waiter
Michelle Guthrie	Therapist
Michael Patrick Egan	Sailor
Scott Kraft	Ropeleski
Tim Monsion	News Reporter
Dule Hill	Red Tail
Timothy McCuen Piggee	School Master
John J. Polce	Hospital Security
The Count	Band Leader
Allen Gerbino	Aerial Coordinator/Pilot No. 1
Art Gotisar	Pilot No. 2
Robert Blanche	Shore Patrolman No. 2
Ivory L. Dilley	Frantic Girl,Actor
Chad W. Smathers	Drowning Boy
Wayne Morse	Navy Orderly
Rachel Jahn	Candy Striper
Jon Du Clos	Sunday's Assistant
Leon Russom	Decker
Richard Radecki	Fan Tail Chief
Randy Flagler	Bomb Chief
Jeremy Taylor	Deckhand
Jason Bailey	Sonar Man
Salvador Pérez Jr.	Actor
Anna Behlmer	Actor
David Burk	Actor
George Tillman Jr.	Actor
Ted Caplan	Actor
Scott Marshall Smith	Actor
Derek Casari	Actor
Stacye P. Branche	Actor
Thomas R. Burman	Actor
John Carter	Actor
Keith Christiansen	Actor
Bill Cosby	Actor
Bari Dreiband-Burman	Actor
Lawrence A. Hubbs	Actor
Chris Jones	Actor
Ernie Orsatti	Actor
Salvador Perez	Actor
Anthony B. Richmond	Actor
Stanley Robertson	Actor
Mark G. Soper	Actor
Robert Teitel	Actor
Rich Thorne	Actor
Bruno Van Zeebroeck	Actor
Mary Verniell	Actor
Susan Zwerman	Actor
Mark Isham	Actor,Composer

Technical Credits

Scott Marshall Smith

George Tillman Jr.	Director
Scott Marshall Smith	Screenwriter
Bill Badalato	Producer
Bill Cosby	Executive Producer,Producer
Chris Jones	Special Effects
Ernie Orsatti	Stunts
Stanley Robertson	Executive Producer,Producer
Mark G. Soper	Special Effects
Robert Teitel	Producer
Rich Thorne	Special Effects
Bruno Van Zeebroeck	Special Effects
Mary Verniell	Casting
Susan Zwerman	Special Effects
Mark Blatchley	Special Effects
Jeff Bramstedt	Stunts
Anna Behlmer	Sound Effects
David Obermeyer	Sound/Sound Designer

Scene Index

Side #1 --
0. Scene Selection
1. Opening Credits/"don't End Up Like Me" [:25]
2. Big Future In The U.s. Navy [1:23]
3. Master Chief Sunday [:22]
4. "beware What You Wish For" [2:09]
5. Welcoming Bosun's Mate Brashear [3:10]
6. Passing The Test [7:20]
7. Salvage And Rescue [6:48]
8. Bad News [:25]
9. The Bet [5:03]
10. Be The Best [2:53]
11. Against All Odds [6:00]
12. Happy New Year [2:04]
13. Missle Rescue [4:24]
14. Never Gonna Dive Again [2:45]
15. To Be A Master Diver [3:51]
16. Trial Of Honor [5:06]
17. Twelve Steps [3:45]
18. End Credits [6:22]

Menu

Side #1 --
   Play
   Language Selection
      Languages
         English 5.1 Surround
         English Dolby Surround
         French Dolby Surround
         Feature Commentary
      Captions And Subtitles
         English
         Spanish
   Extra Features
      Commentary By Cuba Gooding Jr., George Tillman Jr., Scott Marshall Smith & Rober
      Deleted Scenes
         Beach Scene
         Carl Runs From Teacher
         Suiting Up
         Classroom Books
         Love Scene
         Dog Scene
         Telegram
         Detox Admission
         Harlem Club
         Officers Ball
         Outside Detox
         Alternate Ending
         Play All
         Commentary By George Tillman, Jr.
            Commentary On
            Commentary Off
      The Making Of Men Of Honor
      Masterchief: A Tribute To Carl Brashear
      Music Promo Spot
      Music Video: "win" By Brian Mcknight
      Animatic Commentary
         Commentary On
         Commentary Off
      Trailers
         Trailer 1
         Trailer 2
      Tv Spot: Change Their World
      Tv Spot: Defy Their System

Editorial Reviews

Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire) portrays real-life African-American hero Carl Brashear in Men of Honor, a rousing biography that celebrates virtue, courage, and integrity. Brashear, the illiterate son of a poor black sharecropper, joined the Navy soon after World War II and overcame systemic racism to become its first black man to serve as a Navy diver. Director George Tillman Jr. (Soul Food) presents the story as a duel of wits between Carl and his redneck instructor, Master Sergeant Billy Sunday (Robert De Niro), a bitter alcoholic who at first hates but eventually comes to respect the tenacious Brashear. Charlize Theron has limited screen time as Sunday's patient young wife, but she makes every second count with a skilled, subtle performance. The same can be said for Aunjanue Ellis, playing the librarian who tutors Carl in reading when he has trouble with written tests. As chronicled by Tillman, Brashear's heroism isn't flamboyant; this movie doesn't rely on action and thrills for its impact. Carl's is the quiet heroism of a man whose indomitable will drives him to surmount seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and his triumph makes Men of Honor a truly memorable and inspiring film. The DVD Special Edition includes commentary by Gooding, Tillman, and producer Robert Teitel, as well as an alternate ending, deleted scenes, documentaries on both the film's production and Brashear's life, and a music video.

Barnes & Noble - Ed Hulse