October’s Paramount+ release slate snuck in a world-class filmmaker, featured this year at the Venice International Film Festival. The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, rife with recognizable faces led by Kiefer Sutherland, showcases the first direction credit from William Friedkin in years and the first solo writing credit since 1987. Even if this director’s name does not sound familiar, anyone could identify his impressive catalog of work spanning five decades.
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Synopsis
Kiefer Sutherland plays Lt. Commander Queeg, the strong-willed captain from Herman Wouk’s 1952 novel The Caine Mutiny. Adapted multiple times (including by Wouk as a stage play), the story follows the actions of sailors aboard the U.S.S. Caine, who took over the ship during a violent storm when their captain showed signs of instability. The officer at the head of the alleged mutiny (Jake Lacy) stands trial for his decision, where a naval lawyer (Jason Clarke) has to decide whether he acted appropriately in this controversial moment.
The Shadow of William Friedkin’s ’70s and ’80s Masterpieces
Friedkin’s screenwriting and directing career began with several inauspicious films in the ’60s; The French Connection, the Best Picture-winning cop thriller that features what many consider the best car chase scene of all time, changed his life’s path completely. His follow-up, The Exorcist, became even more notorious for its graphic nature and chilling scares. Though he continued making films prolifically through the late ’70s and ’80s with underappreciated, gritty features like Sorcerer, Cruising, and To Live and Die in L.A., he never again saw the commercial, critical, or creative success of his first two breakout films.
Fast-forward to this year and Friedkin’s return to filmmaking hardly makes a splash outside of cinema devotees. Rest assured, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial restores Friedkin’s reputation after a generally negative later career, capping his filmmaking output better than the slightly underwhelming but still solid previously final picture Killer Joe. Sadly, Friedkin died in August 2023 at age 87, so The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial ended up as his last completed work.
Lance Reddick, Dale Dye, and Kiefer Sutherland in ‘The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial’
Friedkin’s Last Film is a Minorly Brilliant Work
Putting its underrated status aside, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is a testament to Friedkin’s mastery of film craft in any decade. The one-room court drama’s power has waxed and waned over time, with many following the same clichés and cringe-inducing over-dramatizations; however, this new film shows that a seasoned adapter/director can infuse new life into classic tales. The excellent cast choices also uplift the proceedings, with Lance Reddick’s posthumous appearance proving his immortal abilities. Ultimately, this is a Friedkin showcase through and through, purposely selecting a small but formidable work to adapt to highlight his direction skills. Even in his advanced age, he displays in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial his confrontational, rousing filmmaking style that made many of his works fearless and gripping.
While few would consider The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Friedkin’s best film of all time, the essential filmmaker’s final movie is a treat for those who appreciate anything the man has brought to the art of the craft. Whether looking for another Friedkin film, an underappreciated new work, or a solid new trial-based movie, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is a heavily recommended choice to all.
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is streaming now on Paramount+ with Showtime.
