(starring Robert Redford & James Gandolfini).
This is a movie that deals with the aspects of leadership and group cohesiveness. Each concept is well defined. You will see in the next few pages, of how and when leadership and group cohesiveness tie into the script.
The story takes place in a military prison in Virginia. Robert Redfords character,(General Gene Irwin) was court martialed for not following a direct order from the president. General Irwin is one of the greatest generals that the army has, but he now has to serve 3 years at the prison. Upon arriving at the prison, he is greeted by the warden, Colonel Winters (James Gandolfini). Colonel Winters knows General Irwin by reputation and has a great deal of respect for him until General Irwin makes a remark about the colonels war artifact collection. After this is said, The colonel takes Irwin to his cell. Once he is out with the other inmates he sees that they have lost respect for one another and are causing problems like hardened criminals. The following day a few inmates know the general because they had served under his command. Most of the inmates know he has some power to get outside help. This help they want is to have Colonel Winters removed for the deaths of 4 inmates. All of these inmates were shot in the head, which the colonel says was an accident. After seeing it happen right in front of his eyes, General Irwin uses his knowledge and trust to help out and overthrow the colonel. General Irwin becomes the leader of the inmates and organizes his own army. Every inmate is under his command. General Irwin leads by a coercive, tactical style that is good for controlling reward and punishment, and strategy in a climate of disorganization (309). There was major disorganization before General Irwin arrived. To come up with a plan, General Irwin bluffs the colonel into thinking they are going to take a visitor hostage.
