Rules of Engagement

Right now you can watch Rules of Engagement in the US on fuboTV and Paramount Plus Premium, and in the UK on ITVX Premium — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Tommy Lee Jones's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on fuboTV.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Rules of Engagement is worth clearing space for. Rules of Engagement treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. A Marine Colonel is brought to court-martial after ordering his men to fire on demonstrators surrounding the American embassy in Yemen. Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2000. Rules of Engagement is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Rules of Engagement. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Watch Tommy Lee Jones work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.