MovieChat Forums > A Soldier's Story (1984) Discussion > Questions....

Questions....

posted 18 years ago by jagaforce
12 replies | jump to latest

I've seen this film a few times and am surprised how underprofiled and underrated it is, considering the strong ensemble cast, and it is one of my favorites from the '80s featuring a then-unknown Denzel Washington.

Though without a doubt, Adolph Caesar magnificently overshadows everyone else in this movie with his rather villainous performance (a pity he didn't live any longer to make more movies). In spite of his character's seemingly inherent racial prejudice against other people of his own color who behave differently, we see his flaws as a human, especially towards the end when he becomes a drunkard, right before he is murdered.

As superbly as Caesar acts in this sequence, I had some problems with it. First of all, throughout the film, we see Sgt. Waters as somebody who is more than willing to take action against negros whom he deems unfit for a place in society because they act in such a way that make non-negros assume the black race are a bunch of fools. In the previous scenes where we see Capt. Davenport interviewing David Alan Grier at the training field, I remember them mentioning something about Sgt. Waters going down in a binge of uncontrolled drunkenness partly because of the suicide of CJ Memphis. If Waters really did start becoming a drunkard because of the death of CJ, I don't see why this would happen in the first place.

First of all, Waters despised CJ, and this was so plainly evident in the jailhouse scene where Waters tells CJ that he is now right where he belongs, where he cannot parade any more of his antics that would make the black race look like fools. If CJ's death meant a permanent assurance that such a racial embarassment would never happen again (at least from him), shouldn't Waters have been quietly rejoicing instead of going down on a drunken binge?

Unless of course, deep down inside, Waters did harbor some caring feelings toward CJ in the sense that perhaps his jail time experience would somehow force him to become a more "civilized" black man.

But in any case, I don't see how CJ's death could have profoundly affected Water's behavior towards the end. Anyway, for those who do have the time to contemplate my question, I would appreciate any insight or comment that would help shed more light on the matter. =)

[–] izzy5_rose 18 years ago

The other men Waters put in jail probably 'reformed', none killed themselves. He did like CJ at the beginning, so maybe some of that stayed with him. He held himself totally responsible for killing CJ, the men held him responsible as well, they just didn't vocalize it to him (though I'm sure he could sense it) and he couldn't deal with it, so he lost himself in the bottle.

[–] tonyismad 18 years ago

I never really thought of that. He may have felt guilty 'cause he didn't want CJ to die, but he did tell the story of the soldier they killed in France for putting a tail on etc. So, maybe he wasn't above killing an "undesirable".

[–] twistedude 18 years ago

...what izzy said...

"Thus began our longest journey together." To Kill a Mockingbird

[–] tabari 18 years ago

I may have interpreted this totally wrong, but....the mention that he first liked CJ, then changed. His whole attitude changed after he heard CJ singing the song that CJ was making about him, while he was intertaining the other men in the barracks. I think that Waters had heard more than than the men realized, as CJ was making fun of Sgt. Waters and said he was 5'2", etc.

[–] chalik360-1 18 years ago

I dont think he ever liked CJ. The story that we see in the movie about Waters talking to CJ, and asking him about where he learned to play guitar is from PVT. Wilke's perspective, which was a lie. Wilke then came clean and said that HE DESPISED CJ. There was never a transformation in thought on his feelings towards CJ. The only soldier that Waters halfway liked was Peterson, because he stood up to him.

[–] Lo-Baby 18 years ago

...or (simple answer) it could've just been a plot device or the whim of the writer/screenwriter/director/etc.

[–] daddyparts 18 years ago

Waters always despised CJ because he was uneducated and unashamedly back-woods.

CJ was a good natured, smiling, slow, simple negra. It tore Water's up inside to perceive him even accidentally play the jester to the white man's amusement.

You could see the embarrassment on Water's face when CJ began to tell the Colonel he was part bird. In fact, everyone black man in the barracks was embarrassed on some level, even the Colonel got a little flustered at the CJ's country innocence. I think it was right then when Sgt. Water's decided to end him.

CJ had become the sharp focus of every insecurity Water's had about himself and his inability to really become an equal peer of whites. He felt that whites would view all blacks by the weakest representative. Reform was never an option. It was about how Waters felt about himself that triggered his hate for CJ.

What makes this movie so powerful is that it is rooted in the absolute truth.

When the news reports a petty or violent crime, secretly blacks hope the criminal isn’t black, secretly all whites expect the criminal to be black, (or the minority du jour)

E.g. Drive-by, mugging, convenience store robbery.

Blacks are relieved; whites are surprised – when it isn’t
Blacks are a little ashamed, whites feel a little superior – when it is.

Conversely, when it’s a different kind of crime we all kind of expect the criminal to be white.

E.g. Serial Killers, investment fraud, pension fund raiding, government malfeasance.

The DC sniper blew a lot of minds, (no pun intended) I don't believe anyone anywhere thought he was black. We'd never seen that kind of violence from a member of our community violence is usually committed for personal gain, or personal rage.

Only white men had shown that kind of hubris to dispassionately decide who lived or died.

[–] Dreamer1 18 years ago

"CJ had become the sharp focus of every insecurity Water's had about himself and his inability to really become an equal peer of whites. He felt that whites would view all blacks by the weakest representative. Reform was never an option. It was about how Waters felt about himself that triggered his hate for CJ."

Actually, I think the screenwriter created the most pitifully and painfully self-conflicted character in Waters. The man has a conscious self-control that keeps his self-loathing in check through most of the harshest times. But, it's when he loses himself in drink that the inner self-loathing comes out to play. He's not a likable character but his frailty is there to be pitied. That's what I like about Jewison's films is that the characters aren't cut-and-dried, good or bad. Much more intriguing, more accessible that way

[–] mickieggie 18 years ago

The Sergeant realized he killed himself when CJ killed himself; sort of like peripheral self-flagellation. You have to remember what CJ said to Petersen about the sergeant in the mess hall when they won the game, then you will get a better understanding about why CJ's death affected the sergeant so. Also, remember what the sergeant told the two white officers in the jeep and Petersen and Smalls on patrol the night he died; it doesn't matter what you do for the white man it is never enough to be equated as a human being like he is and you are never appreciated. Self hatred is so deep rooted. I've seen it a million times with my people. Even had an ounce of it myself at one time. Living in New England cured me of that. I am proud to be who I am now.

[–] daddyparts 18 years ago

Those are both really good points.

Waters seeing CJ in himself and having more self loathing.

CJ's comments in the bar were very sympathetic for the self hate that Water's felt.

I believed that Waters acted in anger out of spite for the "Step-in-Fetch-it" CJ. To be self absorbed enough to kill because of a potential reflection on himself takes a lot of hubris.

To kill because of your own self loathing is very plausible.

[–] pangelboy2 18 years ago

Walter's felt bad over CJ's death, because CJ died for nothing. The Sarge must've thought that, as others have said, if we get rid of the "lower" black folks white people will have more respect for us. That's why his final words were, "they still hate us," or something to that effect.

[–] journalistever 12 years ago

There are a lot of good points in this thread and all of them have merit. My personal take on why Waters went downhill via the bottle after C.J.'s death is that Waters never intended for C.J. to kill himself. I base this on what Wilkie said to Captain Davenport the second time the captain was questioning him. Wilkie said something to the effect of "The sergeant just wanted put C.J. in jail for a few days to scare him, but then the kid hit him and he finally had C.J. right where he wanted him and then C.J. killed himself. The Sergeant never counted on that!"

That's not exactly word-for-word, but it leads me to believe that orginally Waters only intended to keep C.J. in jail for a few days until they discovered the gun was not his and he had nothing to do with the murder of the white MP. As for Waters' words to C.J. "They're talking about giving you five years," I think the sergeant was pulling his chain, just trying to keep him frightened. Only he pushed C.J. too far and he could not deal with his guilt, so he "stayed drunk all the time," as Cobb put it.

I've heard there is a Director's commentary on the DVD. If anyone knows what the director had to say about this, I would be interested in hearing it.