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Movies / On DVD / Courage Under Fire
Courage Under Fire

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Courage Under Fire (1996)

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Reviews Counted:45

Fresh:37

Rotten:8

Average Rating:7.2/10

Consensus: An emotional and intriguing tale of a military officer who must review the merits of a fallen officer while confronting his own war demons. Effectively depicts the terrors of war as well as its heartbreaking aftermath.

Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Following the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) is assigned to review the background of the late Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), who has been posthumously... Following the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) is assigned to review the background of the late Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), who has been posthumously nominated for a medal of honor. While investigating Walden's candidacy, Serling is forced to face his own disillusionment and guilt surrounding the war. As he begins the interviewing process, he uncovers several inconsistencies in the stories told by the late pilot's crew. The three officers, who may or may not have been saved by the captain's actions, all give drastically different accounts of the events leading up to Walden's death. Ilario (Matt Damon) paints Walden as an unselfish, courageous hero, while the surly Monfriez (Lou Diamond Phillips) describes her as a crybaby and a coward. The third soldier, Altameyer (Seth Gilliam), lies dying in an army hospital, mumbling guilty confessions in a medicated haze. Similar to the storytelling technique used in Akira Kurosawa's RASHOMON, director Edward Zwick's COURAGE UNDER FIRE features each officer's account of the fateful incident reenacted onscreen, offering wildly diverse portrayals of Walden. Meg Ryan shines in a role that demands she play one character a multitude of ways. As Serling pieces together the radically different tales of combat, he uncovers the painful truth and simultaneously faces his own pent-up guilt regarding the war. [More]

Starring: Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, Matt Damon

Starring: Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, Matt Damon, Michael Moriarty, Seth Gilliam, Bronson Pinchot, Scott Glenn

Director: Edward Zwick

Director: Edward Zwick
Screenwriter: Patrick Sheane Duncan
Producer: John Davis, David T. Friendly, Joseph M. Singer
Composer: James Horner

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Courage Under Fire

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Instead of the expected dose of post-traumatic Vietnam-type war-is-hell psycho-babbling, this is a compelling drama and mystery story in one, and still intelligent enough to carry its share of wartime demons and semi-meaningful issue-making.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Ian Nathan
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
07/22/08
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

A provocative film with Oscar caliber performances. (published 7-19-96)

Full Review Source: Kansas City Kansan | comment Comment
12/28/04
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/30/04
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Denzel Washington reinforces his image as a serious leading man who dominates a film with his quiet intensity and aura of introspection.

Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) | comment Comment
06/22/04
Judith Egerton
Judith Egerton
Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

Underrated war flick with a surprisingly effective performance by Meg Ryan

comment Comment
04/02/04
Jon Niccum
Jon Niccum
Lawrence Journal-World

No review available.

comment Comment
02/20/04
Austin O'Connor
Austin O'Connor
Lowell Sun

When [Washington's] long pent-up emotions finally break through the surface, the result is at once exhilarating and heartbreaking.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
01/02/04
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

No review available.

comment Comment
10/10/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Excellent military mystery. Rashomon style point of view play.

comment Comment
08/11/03
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
07/30/03
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
06/30/03
James O'Ehley
James O'Ehley
Sci-Fi Movie Page

No review available.

comment Comment
06/04/03
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/14/03
Jeanne Aufmuth
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
04/16/03
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

a confused Gulf War flick adopting the structure of “Rashomon,” the sentimentality of “Love Story,” and the souls of Hollywood hacks.

Full Review Source: Critics Inc./America Online | comment Comment
03/02/03
Brandon Judell
Brandon Judell
Critics Inc./America Online

Predictable, yet eminently watchable.

comment Comment
02/03/03
Luke Y. Thompson
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times

No review available.

comment Comment
01/30/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
 
 
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