Film Review: The General's Daughter

The story begins with a bang. John Travolta masquerades as a double dealing army gun dealer. As he is finishing the case of the missing arms, the base’s beloved and retiring General is told that his daughter has been killed in so horrible a fashion as can be imagined in a civilized society. Warrant Officer Paul Brenner (Travolta) and fellow officer/rape psychologist, Sara Sunhill (Madeleine Stowe), decide to keep the investigation in the family and conduct the investigation quickly before the FBI and the public become aware of the heinous crime.

Together, the two of them trounce through a maze of officers and enlisted men who are not-so-obviously lying about the General’s daughter character and personality. As the two of them discover more and more, we are horrified by what we find. We discover that our sweet murder victim has a few secrets of her own. Tension builds to an unbelievable pitch as the deception and the cover up of the deception mount the stakes higher and higher with each progressive scene.

Obviously I can’t be more specific because that would give too much away. What I can tell you is this: see the movie! Now I should caution you, this is a mature thriller. The Beavis and Butthead gang will find absolutely no use for this movie. Call me a yuppie snob but generation X hasn’t quite learned to appreciate the fine pacing and thrilling cinematic pacing this movie offers. For the more mature among you, you’ll be pleasantly thrilled by the end. You’ll damn yourself for your prejudices and hopefully come away with a sense that all things are not always what they seem. This film will alter your perception of family, loyalty, honor, and love replacing them with a macabre sense of unrequited anguish, misplaced allegiance, insane relationships, and worse, a world where right and rights are destroyed by the silent enemy of self-serving loyalty.

The General’s Daughter treats us the reprise of an old actor who is at his best. I’m referring to Clarence Williams III of television’s Mod Squad Fame. Williams plays Col. Fowler, the General’s adjutant with eerie excellence. The tie between the General and himself is something to see, is something to avoid. It’s a psychotic role portrayed with rare excellence in a performance that will make him in more demand than ever. While on the subject of excellent performances this review would not be complete with out mention of the venerable James Woods as Colonel Moore, the General’s daughter boss at the base. Early in the film Moore becomes a suspect and is arrested by Paul Brenner. The magic between Travolta and Woods is nearly electric as the two confront each other in one of the best quid-pro-quo bantering this critic has ever seen. The words between these two is steeped with sarcasm and wit as both walk the fine line between right and rights. Woods only has about thirty minutes of screen time but it is a rare treat to see these two together. Newcomer Leslie Stefanson who was one of the waitresses in As Good As It Gets, owes much to Director West for casting her in this film. I guarantee her performance here will get her noticed in Hollywood and you can count on seeing her in more robust roles over the next few years.

So what else can I say about The General’s Daughter? I can say that it was produced by Mace Neufield who gave us most of Tom Clancy’s books turned into movies. I can say that if you love a good story, well acted with lots of southern charm and hard driving substance, you will absolutely love The General’s Daughter. Again, forgive my intentional vagueness in describing the story but it is a mystery and you shouldn’t let anyone tell you the ‘catch’ before you see it. I loved this one and I’m sure you will too.

Some graphic violence, nudity, and sexual innuendo. Hey folks, it’s real life. Just sit back and enjoy the film.

See you at the movies