Courage Under Fire (1996)
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, (more)
- Director(s):
- Edward Zwick
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- War
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A soldier discovers how elusive the truth can be in this first major film about America's role in the Gulf War. Lt. Col. Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) was the commander of a unit during Operation Desert Storm who mistakenly ordered the destruction of what he believed to be an enemy tank, only to discover that it actually held U.S. soldiers, including a close friend. Since then, Serling has been an emotional wreck, drinking heavily and allowing his marriage to teeter on the brink of collapse. As a means of redeeming himself, Serling is given a new assignment by his superior, Gen. Hershberg (Michael Moriarty). Capt. Karen Walden (Meg Ryan) was a helicopter pilot who died in battle during the Iraqi conflict, and the White House has proposed that Walden be posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Serling is asked to investigate Walden's actions on the field of battle, but he quickly discovers that no two stories about her are quite the same; Ilario (Matt Damon) says Walden acted heroically and sacrificed herself to save the others in her company, while Monfriez (Lou Diamond Phillps) claims she was a coward who was attempting to surrender to enemy troops. Meanwhile, reporter Tony Gartner (Scott Glenn) is hounding Serling, trying to get the inside story on Walden and on Serling's own difficulties. Matt Damon lost 40 pounds to prepare for his role in Courage Under Fire, which resulted in a potentially life-threatening illness for the young actor. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 117 mins
Complete Cast:
- Denzel Washington - Lt. Col. Nathaniel Serling
- Lou Diamond Phillips - Monfriez
- Matt Damon - Ilario
- Mark Adair-Rios - Bobcat 5
- Sean Astin - Patella
- Scott Glenn - Tony Gartner
- John Roarke - The President
- Lucky Luciano - Nathan Serling Jr.
- Seth Gilliam - Altameyer
- Ken Jenkins - Joel Walden
- Michole Briana White - Maria
- Ned Vaughn - Chelli
- Jack Watkins - Coffee Sergeant
- Christina Stojanovich - Anne Marie Walden
- Ashlee Jordan Pryor - Josie Serling
- James Paul Morse - Cadre
- Jamal A. Mays - Brian Serling
- Julius Carter - Rowtero
- David McSwain - Egan
- Michael Dolan - Orderly
- Tom Schanley - Questioner
- Albert Hall - Speaker
- Zeljko Ivanek - Banacek
- Jimmy Pickens - Soldier
- Meg Ryan - Captain Karen Walden
- Michael Moriarty - Gen. Hershberg
- Bronson Pinchot - Bruno
- Bob Apisa - Iraqi Tank Commander
- Diane Baker - Louise Boylar
- Tim Guinee - Rady
- Regina Taylor - Meredith Serling
- Daniel Gonzalez - Laughing Gunner
- Manny Perez - Jenkins
- Kathleen Widdoes - Geraldine Walden
- Richard Venture - Don Boylar
- Pat Young - Drill Team Commander
- Jeffrey Waid - Hillerman
- Matt Sigloch - Cadre
- Erica C. Newman - Juleen Serling
- Kyle Mickaelian - Refueler
- Armand Darrius - Robins
- Rory J. Aylward - Teegarden's Crew Chief
- Reed Frerichs - Delinquent Soldier
- Sean Patrick Thomas - Thompson
- Tim Ransom - Boylar
- Amy Hathaway - Annie
- Bruce McGill - McQuillan
- Director(s):
- Edward Zwick
- Writer(s):
- Patrick Sheane Duncan
- Producer(s):
- David T. Friendly, Joseph M. Singer, John Davis
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Violence, Profanity, War Violence, Adult Situations)
- Categories:
- War
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
