Assault at West Point

by Rose

If you've ever been curious to see Mr Waterston  act MEAN-- I mean really MEAN--I'm talking not a likeable bone in his body, no how, no way!, THIS is the movie for you to see.

The year is 1920 and a reporter and a black man [Al Freeman, Jr.] are held under siege while the local good old' boys whoop, holler, shoot up the place and burn a cross. Since they have a lot of time, and nowhere to go, the man begins to tell the reporter of the time he was court-martialed from West Point for assaulting himself.

The young cadet [incredibly played by Seth Gilliam] is defended by a racist [Mr. Waterston] and a Harvard educated guardian angel [Samuel L. Jackson] When these acting Titans clash, the vibes are felt right through the tv screen. One finds themselves wondering if they are actually defending the same young man.

This is a docu-drama, so the usual liberties, I'm sure, are taken. but the court room scenes are taken directly from the trial transcripts that are preserved at the National Archives at the Library of Congress. This gives the entire movie a sense of reality and immediacy. [This also provides a nice comparison for the fans of L&O, in a number of different areas]

We know of Mr. Waterston's good works with RI, and have heard of his liberal politics and tolerance of others. NONE OF THIS IS EVIDENT HERE!  This character has none Mr. Waterston's traits, whatsoever, and one finds it difficult to separate character from man.

This movie will be of interest to anyone who enjoys history, and definitely anyone who enjoys great acting.