Only recently did I discover that this film even existed. It is strange that I never came across it before, because normally these kinds of films are among my favourites. That is probably part of the reason for my reasonably good review of this film.
This came early on in the directorial career of Harold Becker, but then he hasn't got that many credits to his name. What you can see in TAPS though is some of the momentum that carries the viewer from one set piece scene to another. This was used later in my favourite Becker film, "City Hall".
The performances from Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn and even Tom Cruise are quite decent. Especially the former two. George C. Scott could have had a bigger role in this film, seeing as how his characters' influence is so overwhelming to the story being told.
I liked this film. Nothing too fancy. I enjoyed the way Becker brought us to terms with the characterisation with his ending.
I can only suggest that a film such as this would have benefited from a little more in the centre. What I mean is that the disbelief of the central premise would have been slightly easier to suspend if the plot were hatched at a military college and not at a military high school. The characters could have been older and wiser. They would also have had more invested in the outcome of their adventure.
Although, perhaps the screen writers (even the novel - I haven't read this), in all their wisdom believed that only young and naive kids could think they would get away with something like this.
A solid 7/10.
This came early on in the directorial career of Harold Becker, but then he hasn't got that many credits to his name. What you can see in TAPS though is some of the momentum that carries the viewer from one set piece scene to another. This was used later in my favourite Becker film, "City Hall".
The performances from Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn and even Tom Cruise are quite decent. Especially the former two. George C. Scott could have had a bigger role in this film, seeing as how his characters' influence is so overwhelming to the story being told.
I liked this film. Nothing too fancy. I enjoyed the way Becker brought us to terms with the characterisation with his ending.
I can only suggest that a film such as this would have benefited from a little more in the centre. What I mean is that the disbelief of the central premise would have been slightly easier to suspend if the plot were hatched at a military college and not at a military high school. The characters could have been older and wiser. They would also have had more invested in the outcome of their adventure.
Although, perhaps the screen writers (even the novel - I haven't read this), in all their wisdom believed that only young and naive kids could think they would get away with something like this.
A solid 7/10.