Ridley Scott's G.I. Jane Storms Back to Streaming June 1
As many critics dismissed Ridley Scott's polarizing GI Jane, one stood firmly in its corner: Roger Ebert.
If you remember the 90s at all, you probably recall Demi Moore with a shaved head barking 'suck my socks' at a bunch of tough guys in boot camp. Yep, I'm talking about Ridley Scott's G.I. Jane—one of the most hotly debated action movies of its time, and about to make a comeback on streaming. Before we get distracted by Scott's next sci-fi project (The Dog Stars), let's take a second to revisit why this particular movie still gets people riled up.
Moore, Mortensen, and a Lot of Mud: What Was 'G.I. Jane'?
Back in 1997, Ridley Scott decided to go full Hollywood with G.I. Jane, a movie trying (and maybe straining) to imagine what would happen if the U.S. Navy let women try out for their elite special ops program. Demi Moore landed in the starring role as Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil and, honestly, gave it more intensity than a lot of guys did in the genre at the time. Supporting her: Viggo Mortensen (years before he picked up Aragorn's sword), Anne Bancroft, Scott Wilson, and a not-yet-super-famous Jim Caviezel.
Here's the rundown, in case you blanked it out:
- Budget: $50 million
- Box office: $98 million worldwide (so, not exactly a flop, but also not getting anyone a yacht)
- Critical reception: Divided doesn't even come close. Critics couldn't agree if it was trying too hard or not enough. Rotten Tomatoes has it sitting at a pretty 'meh' 55% from critics and an even sadder 53% from audiences. Some called it 'pseudo-feminist,' some just called it forgettable.
Roger Ebert Had Opinions (Surprise: He Liked It)
Most reviewers gave G.I. Jane the side-eye, but Roger Ebert was having none of it. He actually thought the film worked, especially the training sequences. His words (and this is about as glowing as Ebert got in the '90s):
'They are good cinema because Ridley Scott, the director, brings a documentary attention to them, and because Demi Moore, having bitten off a great deal here, proves she can chew it. The wrong casting in her role could have tilted the movie toward "Private Benjamin," but Moore is serious, focused and effective.'
He gave it 3.5 out of 4 stars. Honestly, not the popular opinion at the time. Most notably, the Razzies doubled down against Moore, giving her 'Worst Actress' two years in a row—first for Striptease and The Juror in 1996, and then for G.I. Jane in '97. Honestly, a bit harsh, but the 90s were a weird (and often brutal) decade for female-led genre movies.
Where to Watch Now: Back for Free in June
In case you want to revisit—or gawk at—the chaos, G.I. Jane is headed back to streaming. It bounced off Peacock a while ago and has been MIA on every other U.S. platform since. That changes on June 1, when it lands on the free streaming service Tubi. Not bad for a film many considered lost to late-night cable reruns and the $1 bin at Walmart.
Bonus: Tubi's bringing a bunch of other 90s/00s flicks along for the ride next month, including Fincher's Seven, The Equalizer, Speed, and Bad Boys—a real 'whoa, they don't make 'em like this anymore' selection.
Main Cast
For people who love seeing familiar faces before they got huge (or took some career detours):
- Demi Moore as Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil
- Viggo Mortensen as Master Chief John James Urgayle
- Anne Bancroft as Senator Lillian DeHaven
- Scott Wilson as C.O. Salem
- Jim Caviezel as Slovnik
If you want a flashback to a time when movies took wild swings at gender politics and weren't afraid to get a little muddy, mark your calendar for June 1. G.I. Jane: probably not as bad as you remember (but also not as good as Ebert thinks).