An Officer and a Gentleman from 1982 is a real classic Hollywood kind of movie. Even though it was released in the 80s, it feels like a story that could have been made in the 50s. I never actually saw this until I was an adult and I am glad as there is no way I would have appreciated this as a kid or a teenager. I had always heard that this was one of the standout Richard Gere movies and when I saw it cheap on Blu-Ray, I decided to check it out.
How to Download An Officer and a Gentleman
An Officer and a Gentleman was released on July 28, 1982. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. If you like Richard Gere, check him out in Pretty Woman (1990).
The Movie Review
A Deep Dive into the Story of An Officer and a Gentleman
This is the story of a young man called Zack Mayo whom Richard Gere plays. Zack has a troubled life as his mother kills herself when he is a child and he is sent to live with his dad who is an alcoholic, but he is also a Navy officer. This inspires Zack and once he is all grown up and has graduated, he heads to Aviation Officer Candidate School as he has dreams of becoming a jet pilot for the Navy.
Once he arrives at the training school, he meets three people who will become very important in his life. Zack meets his Sergent, Emil Foley who is played by Louis Gossett Jr who was someone who felt like they were in every other movie that was released during the 1980s! Sergent Foley is a hard-nosed, takes no-nonsense kind of guy who may seem strict and even harsh, but there is a clear respect here.
Sergeant Foley – The Hard-Nosed Mentor
Another important person that Zack meets is David Keith’s Sid Worley who is also in training. Sid and Zack strike up a real heartfelt friendship and the two of them try and help each other get through the rigors of the training. However, they also have another bond and that is the ladies!
Sid Worley – The Loyal Friend
Zack and Sid meet, Paula and Lynette. Zack starts dating Paula and Sid starts dating Lynette, even though Sergent Foley warned them about dating the local girls. They all seem to fall in love and things look good, but there is a lot of heartbreak in this movie and the stuff with Sid and Lynette in particular is really brutal, kind of shocking actually as I never in a million years expected what happened.
Outstanding Performances and Emotional Storytelling
I think the acting in this movie is fantastic and granted, it is certainly no secret that Richard Gere is a fantastic actor, but I honestly think his role as Zack has to be up there as the best that he has done in his career. While there is a lot of heartbreak in the movie, I do think that they wrap things up really well and it does leave you with a smile on your face. However, before that, it does take you through every part of the emotional spectrum.
Final Thoughts on An Officer and a Gentleman
An Officer and a Gentleman is one of those classic movies that I wondered if I waited too long to watch. I had heard that some people say this is their favorite movie of all time and that it is an absolute classic. While I would not say it is one of the greatest movies I have ever seen, I still had a fantastic time with this one and at some point, I can certainly see myself watching this again.
