GI JANE
US, 1997, 124 minutes, Colour.
Demi Moore, Viggo Mortensen, Anne Bancroft, Jason Beghe, Daniel von Bargen, John Michael Higgins, Morris Chestnut, James Caviezel.
Directed by Ridley Scott.
One of the anomalous phrases of the English language is 'war games'. And what about the contrived intensive training for crack corps, a theme powerfully dramatised a decade ago by Stanley Kubrick in Full Metal Jacket? With G.I.Jane, we have all the fierceness of Navy Seals' training, exhausting just to watch, but interesting because of the gender issues. Demi Moore, quite credible in the role, is chosen as the first officer to undergo the training, to break through equality barriers and to overcome sexual discrimination, (as well as be the victim of power politics).
What the film highlights is the brutality inherent in the training and in the aggressive authoritarianism of the trainers. It makes one wonder if there can be a different model for training fighters rather than this domination model.
Director Ridley Scott is obviously interested in these issues as he made Alien as well as Thelma and Louise.
1.A feminist film of the 1990s? The issues of equal opportunity? Men and women in the services? Capabilities? The same norms for men and women? Political implications?
2.The work of Ridley Scott, his interest in the services, war films?
3.The Washington locations, the locations for the boot camps? The Mediterranean and North Africa? Authentic? The atmosphere for the 1990s? The musical score?
4.The title, the focus on the women in the services? The background of World War Two, subsequent wars? The actual history of equality in the services or not? Equal opportunity? Physical training and testing? The credibility of the plot – realism, or a message for things to change?
5.The focus on Washington, the politics? Theodore Hayes and his hearing to become Secretary for Defence? Senator Lillian DeHaven? and her southern style, questions? Her interrogation, insinuations? Her easy manner? The politics of the hearing? The discussions for the opening and closing of bases? The issue of women and equal opportunity? The compromises between Hayes and DeHaven? The later discussions, Texas and the staying open of bases? The nature of politics and deals?
6.The senator, her character and manner, her assistants and their support? The nominees for somebody to train in the navy? The choice of Jordan? The photos? Her sports record? Her stamina?
7.Jordan, her work in control, the advice that she gave for the crisis situation? Men’s reaction to her? Her standing her ground? Her success?
8.The message from Washington, the officer thinking it was for him, Jordan and her taking it in her office? Going to Washington? Meeting with the senator? The proposal?
9.Her going to the camp, the interview with the officer in charge, the polite language, his disapproval, resenting being manipulated by the senator? The equality? Yet treating her with courtesy? The later inspections, his speeches? Complaints to him? Her coming to voice complaints, her demands that she be treated in the same way as the men? The final accusations about sexual misbehaviour?
10.The meeting of the men, the master chief, the naval professional, his attitude towards Jordan being present? The other members and the training? The prejudice against women?
11.The extended detail of the training, the hardships, the weather, the water, the swimming, exercises, physical condition, psychological implications? The people opting out? The taunts of the master chief? Jordan and her standing her ground? Shaving her head, accommodation with the men, being treated equally in the tests and the training?
12.The mock-battle, her being in charge, the men and their reaction, not obeying her? Their being captured? The torture of the men? The master chief and his brutality towards Jordan? The men and their support of her? His justification that he was saving her life and theirs?
13.The film’s presentation of this kind of immediate obedience, rote behaviour, physical and psychological humiliation?
14.The photographing of Jordan and her work? Authorised by the senator? The relaxation with the women? The accusations of sexual misbehaviour? The nurse and her role? Accusations? The irony that these pictures were taken on behalf of the senator? Royce and his finding them? Alerting Jordan?
15.Jordan, her character, ambitions? Determination? Her standing up to the master chief? To the commanding officer? Her interactions with the various members in the group, especially Slovnik? With McCool? and the discussions? Her relationship with Royce, his hesitation about her career? His helping her with the photos?
16.Going to Washington, looking at the senator in action, the approvals? Her confrontation, her threats? The motivation of the senator, not expecting Jordan to succeed? The hold that Jordan had over the senator, her backing down? The role of Theodore Hayes, the bargains with the senator?
17.Jordan, her activity in the mission in Libya, in charge? The role of the master chief? The political implications? The death of the Libyan soldier? The master chief and his having to escape? Jordan and her decisions about where he would go, the rescue? His injuries? The final meeting? His leaving her the poem about self-pity?
18.The achievement, the role of the armed services? The place of women? The political background within the armed services? Within Washington?
19.An interesting film about training, achievement, the services?
