Jack Nicholson figures in only a few scenes in "A Few Good Men," a courtroom dazzler in which he plays Colonel Nathan Jessep, the marine base commander in Cuba who squashes brat navy lawyers like Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) without breaking stride. But his presence electrifies the film. Nicholson is a marvel -- fierce, funny and coiled to spring. Oscar is bound to salute.

In fact, "A Few Good Men" has Oscar written all over it. Not for the valid reason (it's fun), but because Academy…