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Rules of Engagement (2000)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5/10
Reviews Counted: 93
Fresh: 34 | Rotten: 59

The script is unconvincing and the courtroom action is unegaging.

Average Rating: 5/10
Critic Reviews: 24
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 15

The script is unconvincing and the courtroom action is unegaging.

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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 47,788

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Movie Info

In this drama, two U.S. Marines who stood side by side on the field of battle are reunited in a court of law. Attorney Hayes Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones) once aspired to a career as an officer, but a serious injury in Vietnam put an end to his military future, leaving him bitter and resentful. Col. Terry L. Childers (Samuel L. Jackson) fought alongside Hodges and once saved his life; when Childers is threatened with a court martial for ordering his troops to fire on civilians during a raid on an

R, 2 hr. 8 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

Directed By: William Friedkin

Written By: Stephen Gaghan

In Theaters: Apr 7, 2000 Wide

On DVD: Oct 10, 2000

Paramount Home Video

Rules of Engagement Trailer & Photos

Cast

Tommy Lee Jones
Col. Hayes Hodges
Samuel L. Jackson
Col. Terry L. Childers
Guy Pearce
Maj. Mark Biggs
Bruce Greenwood
William Sokal
Blair Underwood
Capt. Lee
Philip Baker Hall
Gen. H. Lawrence Hodges
Anne Archer
Mrs. Mourain
Ben Kingsley
Ambassador Mourain
Mark Feuerstein
Capt. Tom Chandler
Dale Dye
Gen. Perry
Kim Delaney
Ryan Hurst
Corporal Hustings

Critic Reviews for Rules of Engagement

All Critics (112) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (60) | DVD (22)

At the end we have a film that attacks its central issue from all sides and has a collision in the middle.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

There is little suspense.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Elvis Mitchell

New York Times

Top Critic

Both actors are excellent.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee

| Comment

Joe Baltake

Sacramento Bee

Top Critic

What rescues the movie, time and again, is the strength of Jones' and Jackson's performances ... and the capable direction of William Friedkin.

January 1, 2000 Comment

John Hartl

Film.com

Top Critic

Nothing can redeem this film's deep immorality.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Peter Brunette

Film.com

Top Critic

The two actors are soldiers of hard-headed substance at attention in a field of milder actors at ease.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Top Critic

If the makers hadn't stuck so closely to the rules, this film would have been far more engaging.

January 4, 2010 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

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Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Feels more like the classroom component of boot camp. Hey, dazzle us with a movie, don't shove it down our throats.

August 2, 2007 Full Review | Comment

Prairie Miller

Long Island Press

Not exactly a triumphant return to form for maverick director William Friedkin, but it's not bad, either.

June 23, 2003 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Whereas a TV version of the same material might flounder, this slick, big-budget film works because there is legitimate doubt as to both the level of guilt of the accused and the outcome of the trial.

November 13, 2002 Full Review Source: Pitch.com

| Comment

Jon Niccum

Pitch.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Rules of Engagement

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A mostly enjoyable distraction big on capturing the style of the marines but one that's a little short on plot; in a post-CSI world, I feel like they could have just done the 20-minute forensics and told us where the fire was coming from, and not needed half a movie of trial coverage to predictably get to the bottom of

April 16, 2007