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G.I. Jane

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G.I. Jane
Directed byRidley Scott
Written byDanielle Alexandra
David Twohy
Produced byRoger Birnbaum
Demi Moore
Ridley Scott
Suzanne Todd
StarringDemi Moore
Viggo Mortensen
Anne Bancroft
CinematographyHugh Johnson
Edited byPietro Scalia
Distributed byHollywood Pictures
Release dates
August 22, 1997
Running time
124 min
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$50,000,000

G.I. Jane is an 1997 action movie that tells the fictional story of the first woman to undergo training in U.S. Navy Special Warfare. Although often believed to be U.S. Navy SEAL training, the character of Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil is selected to undergo SEAL/CRT Training for the fictional Combined Reconnaissance Team of the U.S. Navy. Unlike actual U.S. Navy SEAL training, the SEAL/CRT course depicted in the film is offered at the fictional Catalano Naval Base (meant to be located near Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Florida), rather than at Coronado Naval Amphibious Base in California. Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil (played by Demi Moore) is hand-picked by a U.S. Senator Lillian DeHaven (Anne Bancroft) to go through the rigorous training right along with the men. Jordan O'Neil faces sexism and physical challenges as well as the horse-trading by the Senator who selected her for the experimental program.

Plot

The film begins with the public interview, by the House Armed Services Committee, of a candidate for the position of Secretary of the Navy. Senator Lillian DeHaven (Anne Bancroft) from Texas criticizes the fact that the Navy is not gender-neutral. Behind the curtains, a deal is struck: If women compare favorably with men in a series of test cases, the military will integrate women fully into all branches of the Navy. The first test case is for the training course of the U.S. Navy Combined Reconnaissance Team (similar to U.S. Navy SEAL BUD/S). Senator DeHaven hand picks Lt. Jordan O'Neil (Demi Moore), because she is physically more feminine than the other, more "butch" candidates.

To make the grade, Jordan has to survive a grueling selection process, often called "hell week," in which 60 percent of all candidates wash out. The enigmatic Command Master Chief John Argayle (Viggo Mortensen) runs the brutal training program that involves 20-hour days of grueling physical tasks designed to wear down recruits physical and mental strength, running, marching, and crawling through obstacle courses under the worst weather conditions while carrying landing rafts - not to mention eating out of a garbage can during breaks. Along with the best of the men, the soon shaven-headed Jordan handles the punishment, including a water boarding scene and a bizarrely-motivated beating from Argayle during SERE training, where he tries to convince the other trainees that the presence of a woman will make them more susceptible to surrendering vital information. Jordan fights back against the Master Chief and wins the respect of her team.

The top brass, also confident that a woman would quickly drop out, becomes concerned as Jordan's ability to handle training becomes evident. Soon she must contend with trumped-up charges that she is a lesbian, and is fraternizing with women. O'Neil decides to "ring out" (she rings the bell three times, signaling her washout). Apparently, those in the top echelon of government never intended for her to succeed. The senator begins receiving threats that military bases in her state may have to be closed, but Jordan threatens the Senator with exposing the test program. The Senator restores O'Neil's SEAL trainee status.

The final phase of training (operational readiness exercise) is interrupted and we are to assume is replaced by, an emergency situation that calls for soldiers of their skill and proximity. The situation involves a reconnaissance satellite powered by weapons grade plutonium that fell into the Libyan desert. A team of US Army Rangers is sent to retrieve the plutonium, which they managed, but their evacuation plan fails so O'Neil's team is sent to assist the Ranger team. During the mission, O'Neil displays a definitive ability in leadership and strategy while rescuing the injured Master Chief, who is shot in the leg multiple times during the retreat.

Upon their return, all those who participated in the mission are accepted to the Combined Resconnaissance Team. MCPO Argayle also gives Jordan his Navy Cross award and a poem book as acknowledgment of accomplishment and in gratitude for rescuing him.

Cast

External links

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