The Majestic

2001

Director: Frank Darabont

Distributor: Warner Brothers

Key Elements: Characters – Message

My Review:

One of the most under appreciated movies I’ve ever seen.

Its premise is fun. A blacklisted man gets amnesia and is mistaken as a war hero. But that simple premise leads a story with a completely moving conclusion.

When Peter realizes the truth about who he is, he has to answer to a comity about his “un-American activity” It is here that the light-hearted story dives to real depth as Peter stands up for what he believes is right. He calls out the McCarthyists and compels them to respect the Constitution because so many have died for it. Very moving.

Clip:



Quotes:

• Do you remember me?
  - No, but I'll sure try.
• Just a guy trying to figure things out.
• Aside from the fact that this is a free country, and you can be a Communist if you want to be, leaving that aside, if you're accused falsely you have a duty as well as a right to stand up and suggest they drop dead.
• I'm sorry… It occurs to me there's a bigger issue than whether or not I'm a Communist.
• ...Fact is, I've never been a man of great conviction. I never saw the percentage in it. And quite frankly - I suppose - I lacked the courage. See, I'm not like Luke Trimble. He had the market cornered on those things. I never met the guy, but I feel like I've gotten to know him. The thing is, I can't help wondering what he'd say if he were standing here right now. I think he'd probably tell you the America represented in this room is not the America he died defending. I think he'd say your America is bitter and cruel and small. I know his America was big. Bigger than you can imagine! With a wide-open heart! Where every person has a voice! Even if you don't like what they say-- If he were here, I wonder how you'd respond if you could explain to him what happened to his America.
• …There is another Amendment I'd like to invoke. I wonder if anyone here is familiar with it. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion… or prohibiting free exercise thereof . . . or abridging freedom of speech, or of the press . . . or of the right to petition for a redress of grievances. " The First Amendment. It's what we're about, if we'd live up to it. It's part of the contract every citizen has here. Even though the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are just pieces of paper with signatures on them they're the only contracts we have that are definitely not subject to renegotiation. Not by you, Mr. Chairman. Not by you, Mr. Clyde. Not by anyone, ever. Too many people have paid in blood. People like Luke Trimble and all the sons of Lawson, California. When you get right down to it, fellas that's all I have to say to you.
  -Damn right. And they deserve better than this. All you boys do.

Still: