Annapolis

Annapolis is set in the Naval Academy of that name in Maryland. As with the images in the promotional poster above the characters are so air-brushed that they are barely recognizable as the people they represent. It was Jake’s Mother who instilled in him the motivation to assay an appointment to the academy—since this relationship was so instrumental in driving the plot I’d have liked to have met this lady in flash-back. Seeing Jake share a smoke with her as he sits beside her gravestone doesn’t seem enough. I’d have also liked to have seen a bit more interaction between Jake and his union-boss father and older brother.

As with most movies involving military training I get hung up on the brutality, degradation, racism, and verbal and physical abuse that still appear to be part of it. Apparently it’s contrary to his human rights to refuse entry to a grossly overweight plebe but it’s alright to demean and humiliate him because of his lack of physical fitness. As I’ve said before, if this is how the military treats its own; is it any wonder that atrocities get perpetrated against the enemy. Again we run into the honour code and are shown how any law can be perverted to serve the ends of those who manipulate it.

One way or another boxing occupies a majority of this film. As a metaphor for character building I find it a stretch—that learning the discipline to succeed in the ring will carry over into a military career seems overly hopeful to me. But then so does breaking down a man’s dignity to mould him into a member of the unit. Finally, no matter how many candy bars he consumed, Jake doesn’t appear to be in the same class as the massively muscled behemoth he meets in the ring. On the other hand, the buff physique that James Franco displays in this film is almost enough to make one go out and hire a personal trainer. Somehow I don’t think he gained it by eating sugary treats.