Men of Honor [Blu-ray]

Director: George Tillman Jr.

Overview

This military drama is based on the true story of Carl Brashear, who was the first African-American to serve as a diver in the United States Navy. Brashear (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) was born to a poor farming family in the deep South, and joined the Navy in hopes of bettering himself. When Brashear applies for diving school, he first encounters Master Chief Billy Sunday (Robert De Niro), a gruff and tyrannical diving instructor who holds absolute sway over his charges. Sunday does little at first to encourage Brashear's ambitions, and the would-be diver discovers racism in the military is an ugly fact of life when his white comrades refuse to share barracks with him. But Brashear's courage and determination make an impression on Sunday, and the two men become allies as Brashear must fight prejudice, military bureaucracy, and even a crippling injury in order to realize his dreams. Originally announced under the title Navy Diver, Men of Honor also features Hal Holbrook, David Keith, Michael Rapaport, Charlize Theron, and Powers Boothe; Bill Cosby served as an executive producer for the project.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/06/2015
UPC:	0024543023012
Original Release:	0000
Language:	English
Sales rank:	14,075

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 P?rez 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

Scott Marshall Smith	Screenwriter
Bill Badalato	Producer
Bill Cosby	Executive Producer,Producer
Chris Jones	Special Effects
Ernie Orsatti	Stunts
Stanley Robertson	Executive 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
Anna Behlmer	Sound Effects
David Obermeyer	Sound/Sound Designer

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.