'Men Of Honor' Salutes Brashear

<P><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/tims-bio.html"><IMG SRC="/sh/images/editorial/tim_lammers.jpg" ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="120" HEIGHT="90" BORDER="0"></A>It's always an inspiring journey when you're watching a film that's based on the triumphs of a real-life person. So to have the opportunity to talk with that person upon whom the film is based is the ultimate experience for anyone who loves the art of moviemaking.<p /><P><IMG SRC="http://images.ibsys.com/2001/0406/582248.jpg" WIDTH="150" HEIGHT="200" ALT="Carl Brashear and Cuba Gooding Jr. on the set of 'Men of Honor'" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="5" BORDER="0">Such was the case recently when I had a chance to interview Carl Brashear, the real-life sailor who inspired the film "<A HREF="http://www.menofhonordvd.com">Men of Honor</A>," new on video and DVD. Starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as Brashear and Robert DeNiro as the hard-nosed master diver-turned-trainer who was constantly at odds with the sailor, the film chronicles the experiences of Brashear over the most challenging part of his 30-year naval career.<p /><P>The focus of the film is on Brashear's quest to become a chief master diver, a rank never achieved by an African-American. Brashear enlisted in the Navy in 1948.<p /><P>"I was in the Navy before President Truman desegregated it," Brashear said. "We lived in separate facilities, could only go swimming one day a week, and there were black and white colored baths and facilities on the bases. It wasn't a good place for us -- but I loved the Navy then, and I love it today."<p /><P>A greater majority of the film keys in on Brashear's experiences in the early '60s at diving school, where he was often subjected to racial slurs and threats. But what makes his story inspiring is that his goal transcended any sort of racial barriers. It's not as much about a black person striving toward a goal as it is about a <I>person</I> striving toward a goal.<p /><P>"I wasn't doing what I was doing because I was black, I was doing it because I was like any other red-blooded American," Brashear said. "I had a goal to meet and a job to do, and I worked toward it with all my might. It was about becoming the best sailor I could be, and eventually, the best deep-sea diver I could be."<p /><P>Brashear credits his sheer determination to his late father, who is portrayed by Carl Lumbly early in the film. It was emotional for Brashear when Lumbly spoke his father's words, "Make a promise -- don't end up like me."<p /><P>Brashear's father was a hard-working southern sharecropper whose spirit is dominant throughout the film.<p /><P><IMG SRC="http://images.ibsys.com/2001/0406/582323.jpg" WIDTH="150" HEIGHT="200" ALT="Cuba Gooding Jr. in 'Men of Honor'" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="5" BORDER="0">"He taught me so much about how to get along in society, how to be respectful and how to be firm and still maintain a good attitude," Brashear said.<p /><P>While "Men of Honor" portrays many of Brashear's obstacles, perhaps the greatest was the wake of a tragic accident aboard the USS Hoist in 1966. During a nuclear missile recovery mission, an accident on deck nearly severed his leg.<p /><P>Ultimately, Brashear elected to have the lower half of his left leg amputated. For anybody else it would have been a extremely difficult decision, but Brashear viewed it as simply another roadblock that he had to overcome in order to achieve his goal of becoming a master diver. It wasn't a matter of whether he should or not; it was a matter of how soon.<p /><P>"I knew that I would have a better chance of being a deep-sea diver as an amputee than walking in a brace with that leg 3 to 4 inches shorter than the other," Brashear said. "The surgeons tried bone grafts, skin grafts -- all the procedures they tried never worked. When I read a book about a pilot amputee flying an airplane, I requested to have my leg amputated, and they honored my request."<p /><P>Because of such decisions and the ultimate fulfillment of his goals, Brashear has long been considered a legend and an inspirational figure in naval quarters, and to this day he visits diving activities, ships and training centers, giving motivational speeches to young recruits.<p /><P>The release of "Men of Honor" has only raised his stature. But through it all, Brashear has remained humble.<p /><P>"I'm the same guy that I was before the film was made," Brashear said, laughing. "I accept it if I'm referred to as a legend and a hero, but I don't look at it like that. I refer to myself as a guy who joined the Navy and worked towards his goals and had a lot of respect for his fellow man and had a positive attitude.<p /><P><IMG SRC="http://images.ibsys.com/2001/0406/582295.jpg" WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="150" ALT="Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. in 'Men of Honor'" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="5" BORDER="0">""There's a lot of heroes and legends running those ships out there right now that aren't being recognized like they should."<p /><P>Among Brashear's duties of late was the role of key adviser on the set of "Men of Honor." He consulted with the actors and producers of the film, and was involved in the script from day one. He also was an inspiration to Gooding, the key to making the portrayal of Brashear's life become a reality. Brashear respects Gooding.<p /><P>"He was an ideal person to play me," Brashear said humbly. "I think he was a God-sent man to play the role."<p /><B>Win 'Men Of Honor' On DVD</I> <P>Enter this week's <ibs_variable type="sitename" style="branding"/> <A HREF="/entertainment/atthemovies/index.html">@ The Movies</A> contest, where you can win "Men of Honor" on DVD! <A HREF="/sh/entertainment/stories/entertainment-57139020010403-160427.html">Click here</A> for more details.<p /><P><I><B>Catch up with Tim Lammers on these recent @ The Movies interviews:</I></B> <UL> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-56579520010329-230344.html">Robert Rodriguez (director, "Spy Kids")</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-56122720010327-140304.html">McG (director, "Charlie's Angels")</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-54275120010316-140346.html">Jodi Benson ("Lady and the Tramp II")</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-53934320010314-150344.html">Anthony Michael Hall ("The Caveman's Valentine")</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-52203920010302-140358.html">Jay Roach ("Meet the Parents")</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-50250020010226-080231.html">Eric Stoltz ("The Passion Of Ayn Rand")</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-20010119-180102.html">Robert Englund ("Python")</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-20010112-140126.html">Sam Raimi ("The Gift")</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-20001222-112213.html">Kenneth Branagh ("The Road To El Dorado")</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-20001215-111643.html">Lochlyn Munro ("Scary Movie")</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-20001208-130928.html">John Frankenheimer ("Reindeer Games -- Director's Cut")</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="/sh/entertainment/atthemovies/stories/atthemovies-20001121-181759.html">Carrie-Anne Moss ("Red Planet")</A></LI></LI>