Courage Under Fire

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Courage Under Fire

R

1996

1h 55m

Action

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

56 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

During the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) accidentally caused a friendly fire incident, a mistake that was hushed up by his superiors. Following the war, he is assigned to investigate the case of Army Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), killed in action when her Medevac unit was attempting to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter. But, as Serling interviews the members of Walden's crew, he realizes their stories about the incident don't add up.

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Critics 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.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

06/14/2022

What emerges may not be quite as cut-and-dried as the movie’s structure sometimes implies.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

02/27/2018

Washington, subtle, moving and charismatic, anchors the movie...Zwick's movie is solid, honorable and well crafted, but when all the veils have dropped and the mysteries solved, it feels tidier and more melodramatic than it promised.

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Variety Staff

Variety

07/22/2008

A carefully conceived, dramatically honorable picture that treats its subject with clarity and intelligence, especially by contemporary standards.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

08/19/2022

4/5

Its central mystery is compelling even though it takes some time before we finally get to the truth. And even though the emotion is pretty thick in the final 15 minutes it still feels earned.

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Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

08/05/2021

4/5

If a woman in command has wounded soldiers that need protecting from enemy forces, and her maternal instinct kicks in-look out.

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Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

09/14/2010

3/5

Military drama deploys plenty of violence, swearing.

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doug B

Nov 28

Very very excellent! Great acting, love Meg Ryan! Watch it!

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Aug 13

Success in 1 hour and 55 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $59,000,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Jul 26

Filme bacaninhas, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas são bacaninhas, a história é mais ou menos, o elenco é bacaninha, e alguns ajudam a melhorar o filme, os personagens são bacaninhas, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes

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Andrew B

Jun 26

Denzel Washington shows incredible depth of emotional range and carries every scene he is in. This slow-paced uncovering of the truth makes for a series of intriguing interactions between Denzel and the cast but feels as if each scene exists in isolation. Overall, the point of the film is difficult to resonate with—are there no heroes in war, or are all soldiers heroes? Maybe that's the point.

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Revolver 0

@Revolver08 May 26

maybe one of the stupidest war scenes ever made, pure comedy

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Tim M

@tgmacman May 11

Edward Zwick's direction veers towards histrionics at times, but Courage Under Fire relies on staunch acting in completing its mission.

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Edward Zwick

Director

Denzel Washington

Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling

Meg Ryan

Captain Karen Emma Walden

Lou Diamond Phillips

Sgt. Monfriez

Michael Moriarty

Brigadier General Hershberg

Bronson Pinchot

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Synopsis

During the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) accidentally caused a friendly fire incident, a mistake that was hushed up by his superiors. Following the war, he is assigned to investigate the case of Army Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), killed in action when her Medevac unit was attempting to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter. But, as Serling interviews the members of Walden's crew, he realizes their stories about the incident don't add up.

Director: Edward Zwick
Producer: John Davis, David T. Friendly, Joseph Singer
Screenwriter: Patrick Sheane Duncan
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Fox 2000 Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 12, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $59.0M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Surround

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