Demi Moore’s G.I. Jane: Why Roger Ebert Loved This Box Office Bomb

Throughout the 1980s, Hollywood believed Demi Moore was destined for stardom. While she appeared in some hits like “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “About Last Night,” the actress couldn’t quite achieve breakthrough status. That changed dramatically in 1990 with her co-starring role opposite Patrick Swayze in the surprise blockbuster “Ghost.” Suddenly, Moore was a top contender for numerous high-profile projects, and when the films were worthy of her talent, she delivered. She followed up with a trio of successes: “A Few Good Men,” “Indecent Proposal,” and “Disclosure,” survived the critical disappointment of “The Scarlet Letter,” and ultimately became the industry’s highest-paid female actor, earning $12.5 million for 1996’s “Striptease.” But that success proved fleeting.

“Striptease” was widely considered a career killer, grossing just $113 million worldwide against a $50 million budget. Critics were harsh in their assessments of Moore, even though, in retrospect, she delivers a terrific and often funny performance. Some reviewers accused Moore of creating a vanity project, and when they pointedly mentioned her substantial salary (as if she had somehow defrauded Columbia Pictures), the criticism felt deeply sexist. Despite the negative press, Moore had no choice but to move on to her next role.

Some directors might have hesitated to cast Moore after the “Striptease” fallout, but Ridley Scott is not known for being swayed by conventional wisdom. Scott, a filmmaker considered one of the greatest of all time, had recently experienced setbacks with “1492: Conquest of Paradise” and “White Squall.” both artists had something to prove when they collaborated on 1997’s military action-drama “G.I. Jane.” The film didn’t resonate with critics (though Roger Ebert was an exception) and underperformed at the box office. However, as with “Striptease,” the film’s failure had little to do with the quality of Moore’s work.

Demi Moore gave the performance of her career in G.I. Jane

“G.I. Jane” isn’t Ridley Scott’s finest work, but it remains a bracingly effective portrayal of professional dedication within a demanding environment. Demi Moore stars as Lieutenant Jordan O’Neil, a highly accomplished Naval officer recruited by the ambitious Texas Senator Lillian DeHaven (Anne Bancroft) to be the first woman candidate for the U.S. Navy’s Special Operations program – essentially the SEALs. O’Neil’s selection was, in part, driven by her appearing more conventionally feminine than other candidates, a choice that, at the time, felt like a direct response to the criticism leveled at Moore. O’Neil is far more than just a pretty face. she’s fully capable.

The film crackles with energy and features strong supporting performances from character actors like Scott Wilson, Jason Beghe, and Kevin Gage. It also provided Viggo Mortensen, just two years after “Crimson Tide,” with one of his most compelling pre-“The Lord of the Rings” roles as the relentlessly driven Master Chief Jack Urgayle. But “G.I. Jane” is undeniably Moore’s film, and she delivers a career-defining performance.

Moore’s portrayal of O’Neil is a remarkable physical and emotional undertaking. At every turn, she faces undermining challenges (for reasons that ultimately reveal themselves later in the film), but she refuses to be deterred. When she technically “washes out” of the program, it’s only because she refuses to accept a desk job after proving herself to be one of the top recruits in her class.

As Roger Ebert observed, Moore’s performance is a stirring depiction of a woman who refuses to be reduced to a “poster girl” for the Navy. This assessment rings true. Moore has rarely been better, and her work deserved Oscar consideration. Instead, she received a nomination for Worst Actress from the Razzie Awards — an organization with a dubious reputation. And this outcome was, at its core, driven by sexism.

In a September 30, 2024 interview with Vanity Fair, Moore reflected on the experience, stating that she felt “G.I. Jane was killed months before anybody had ever even seen it.” She attributed this to a combination of factors, including becoming the highest-paid actress in Hollywood and the controversy surrounding her previous role in “Striptease,” which led to questions about whether she truly deserved her salary. Despite the film’s reception, Moore maintains that it was “really thoughtful” and “really holds up.”

The story of “G.I. Jane” serves as a potent reminder of the double standards faced by women in Hollywood, and the way critical and commercial failures can be shaped by forces beyond artistic merit. It’s a film that deserves to be revisited, not just as a historical artifact of 1990s cinema, but as a showcase for a truly remarkable performance by Demi Moore.