Men of Honor : He Just Break The Rules

Written By : Riri Oktriani

Film Identity
Title : Men of Honor
Year : 2000
Cast : Robert De Niro, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Hal Holbrook,
Charlize Theron, Aunjanue Ellis.
Director : George Tillman
Producer : Robert Teitel
Screenwriter : Scott Smith

“Promise me?”
“Sir?”
“Don’t end up like me.”
This promise take him to the top career in the USA Navy.

The persistence’s of a Negro, name’s Carl Brashear (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) makes him doesn’t miss his hope to be a Master Chief—a top position for USA Navy. Eventhough his father only a farmer who doesn’t have own field to work on, even he doesn’t care that he is Negro. “Colors, Nigger”. That’s the way of “white people” call him.

“Bust their old rules, if you have to do it,” said his father before he leaving, start to fight being a member of USA Navy. And he did it. Long enough stay at kithcen in the ship, make him uncomfortable with that situation. And like his father said: he just break the rules. Guess what, he breaks the rule about separation between black and white.

It’s start when he say, “I’m hot in Friday,”. He just don’t care with what his friend said: “We’ve only may swim on Tuesday.” And clearly, the white people shouting: “You have the wrong day, man!” But, this is Carl. He will break the rules. He just go down to the deck and swimming.

And then, a Navy ask him to go back for Cheif Ship’s command. But again, he doesn’t care. He swimming to a tower that far enough from ship. Just like competition, white people try to chase him. But who knows, Carl has good skill when swimming, reach the tower so fast. The Chief Ship’s just interested. And from behind the kitchen, his position up. He just being Petty Officer Second Class, and his duty is swimming and saving. Only that.

At the some time, tragedy in the ship makes Leslie William Billy Sunday (Robert De Niro), a Master Chief had to go down level being coach in the USA Navy Divers School. Without no doubt, Carl said to the Chief Ship’s that he wants to be a Master Chief. He want the Chief Ship’s giving him recomendation to go to the next position in Navy. “That’s hard to reach, man! Even, for the colors.”

But he never give up. Because two years later Carl succeed to follow a task in the Diving School, Bayonne, New Jersey. Unfortunately, because he’s a black, he had to stand, waiting in the morning until afternoon to get in the barracks. In a fact, actually he can get in easily because he had license letter. But, he can’t just because he’s a Negro.

Insults from white people just like “welcome greating” to him when he can get in to barracks. This situation worst than you can imagine. There’s no one white people want to be his roommates, execpt Snowhill. “I don’t want to stay here with Negro.” That’s what they said.

The differences clearly seen from the way of white people’s attitude, especially when exercise. At that time, Carl succeed saving Isert’s life—one of white people—when diving exercise. But, tomorrow morning, suddenly Rourke, who left Isert when he dying under the sea, get the award in a ceremony. But Carl, even Isert, can not do anything to proof what actually happen.

Carl’s diving performance was good than ever. Added with good result test makes him surely graduate to be a Navy Divers. But, Mr. Puppy—the Head of the Diving School—cast by Hal Holbrook, doesn’t want it happen. He says to Mr. Sunday, “Oil can soiled the water. It won’t happen, because of that, the oil can’t be one with the water.”

Just one last test can makes Carl being Navy Divers. But unfortunately, just because he’s black, he’s got cheated when the test start. His bag which full with tools to assemble a pipe under the sea, got torned by Mr. Sunday in command of Mr. Puppy. And then, Carl had to collect the screws and screwdriver to assemble the pipe. Eventhough the cold water around him, he just don’t give up. He’s still with his faith to proof that he can do it.

Eight hours and 31 menit. Perfect assembling! Mr. Sunday finally shouting.

The perfect assembling for the pipe can be done in eight hours and 31 menit under the sea. Have to admit, finally he became a Navy Divers. In 1968, he being a first African-America who became a Navy Divers with one legs (his left legs had to amputation because an accident in the ship). And in 1970 he’s got fulfill his promise to be a Master Diver. Until 1979 he retired as Navy Divers.

Actually, this film is long enough to review from its release time. But, I try to review this movie because their so many moral values that we can take from this film. How to be brave if we don’t have any mistakes and how to fight for our rights. And also we have to understand that all of human in this world are same. No racism.

This film setting in 1948 and inspired by true story of Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear. The director success to describe about the situation in USA at that time. Eventhough or maybe we can guess the end of the story, but it’s not about result or the end. But it’s about how its going, about process. How, Carl Brashear fight for his rights. Try to proof that skin color’s doesn’t mean anything. This film also make we realize that isn’t easy to make dream come true, but trust me—and this film—you can make it true when you brave and fight for it.