Cadence (1990)

You're a bully, and I hate everything you stand for. Cadence (AKA: Stockade) is directed by Martin Sheen and written by Dennis Shryack. It stars Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen and Laurence Fishburne. Music is by Georges Delerue and cinematography by Richard Leiterman. Upon the death of his father, Pfc. Franklin Bean (C Sheen) gets drunk and assaults an MP. Sentenced to 90 days in an army stockade run by bigoted bully MSgt. Otis V. McKinney (M Sheen), Bean finds he is the only white prisoner in the facility... Better than it has any right to be visually, and rising above what looked to be scratchy themes on the page, Cadence rounds out as a more than enjoyable character study. After a poor opening suggests the picture is going to be an hour and half of Charlie Sheen over doing the brat packer persona, picture then settles into its stride once Sheen Junior encounters the aggressive Sheen Senior and is thrown in clink with the Laurence (here credited is Larry) Fishburne led "Soul Patrol Brothers". True enough to say that basic formula sets in as Sheen Junior can't fit in with his new "roomies", whilst he stays firmly in his broody bubble much to the ever increasing consternation of the agitated McKinney. No way is Bean going to let McKinney break him, even as the gruff voiced warden starts to come down hard on his newly adopted brothers, this merely serves as the catalyst for some black and white unity, which if given a chance can always be powerful. At the centre of the character hot pot is a broken water windmill that serves as a beacon of hope for the prisoners, but sure enough we know where this is going and it will form the basis of the last quarter of the story as things invariably go bad before a ray of hope springs from the narrative. It's all very predictable and obvious, but Shryack's screenplay allows the characters depth, with much detailed emotion afforded the lead protagonists. Bonus, too, is that the secondary roles don't just serve as props, they impact hard on proceedings, something all too rare in prison/institution set movies. Smart sound-tracking as well, with Harry Stewart (Sweetbread Crane) singing his own beautiful composition "End of My Journey", a song that lands in your chest and stays there for quite some time. Sheen Junior has rarely been better away from Oliver Stone's guidance, no doubt spurred on by his father's presence in front of and behind the camera. However, Sheen Senior's direction is only safe and basic, while his acting is the films only real weak acting link. You have to feel that with his subsequent non directing career, Martin Sheen found it wasn't for him, certainly blending both acting and directing appears to have been a step too far for the otherwise very talented actor. Fishburne is quality, while F. Murray Abraham shines in one of the smaller roles. A drama with touches of comedy, and full of good honest intentions to offer hope and inspiration, Cadence is a very good movie. That comes on proviso, though, if one can accept it on its formulaic terms. 7/10