Men of Honor (2000)

About Men of Honor

"Men of Honor," released in 2000, is an American drama film inspired by the true story of Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear, the first African American master diver in the United States Navy. The movie reveals the struggles and triumphs of Brashear as he battles racism, bureaucracy, and personal adversity to fulfill his dream.

Making / Production

The movie was directed by George Tillman Jr. and written by Scott Marshall Smith. The plot of "Men of Honor" spans multiple decades, illustrating Brashear's career path that began in the deep-sea diving division right through to his promotion to master chief petty officer.

Actors

• Robert De Niro as Master Chief Petty Officer Leslie Williams: De Niro paints a compelling portrayal of a stern and complex master chief whose difficult relationship with Brashear is one of the film's main narratives.
• Cuba Gooding Jr. as Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear: Gooding Jr. delivers an inspiring performance, embodying Brashear's determination, resilience, and steadfast belief in his own capacity to overcome racial prejudice and physical hardship.
• Charlize Theron as Gwen Sunday: Theron's character is used as a love interest and plays a key role in bringing a human aspect to the gripping tale.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The real Carl Brashear visited the set a couple of times.
• The movie features actual Navy deep sea diving equipment from the 1950s.
• This was the first feature film for the director George Tillman Jr. which was not a personal project.

Awards

The performance of the actors were critically recognized, with Cuba Gooding Jr. receiving a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.

Quotes

• Master Chief Billy Sunday: The Navy Diver is not a fighting man, he is a salvage expert. If it is lost underwater, he finds it. If it's sunk, he brings it up. If it's in the way, he moves it.
• Master Chief Carl Brashear: Why do you want this so badly? Because they said I couldn't have it.

Music, Soundtrack

• "Win" by Brian McKnight
• "The Navy Diver" by Mark Isham
• "Training Montage" by Mark Isham