Courage Under Fire
Courage Under Fire

Courage Under Fire

1996Movie116 minEnglish

A US Army officer, who made a "friendly fire" mistake that was covered up, has been reassigned to a desk job. He is tasked to investigate a female chopper commander's worthiness to be awarded the Medal of Honor. At first all seems in order. But then he begins to notice inconsistencies between the testimonies of the witnesses...

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Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes70%
Metacritic60/100
Google Users77%
Director: Edward ZwickGenres: Drama, War, Action, Mystery

Plot Summary

A Gulf War investigating officer is tasked with determining if a female helicopter pilot should be posthumously awarded the Silver Star for her actions during a rescue mission. As he delves deeper into the events of that night, he uncovers conflicting accounts and disturbing truths about the pilot's final moments and the mission's tragic outcome. The investigation forces him to confront his own past traumas and the complexities of heroism in the chaos of war.

Critical Reception

Courage Under Fire received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its strong performances, particularly from Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan, and its handling of the complexities of war and heroism. Some critics noted the film's suspenseful narrative and its thought-provoking exploration of moral ambiguity.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for compelling performances by its lead actors.
  • Commended for its thoughtful exploration of wartime moral dilemmas.
  • The narrative structure, which alternates between the investigation and flashbacks, was seen as effective.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's engaging story and the powerful performances, especially Denzel Washington's portrayal of a conflicted officer and Meg Ryan's challenging role. Some viewers found the plot intricate and appreciated its exploration of the psychological toll of war.

Awards & Accolades

Meg Ryan received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role.

Fun Fact

Meg Ryan lost 25 pounds for her role as Captain Karen Walden, and her character's intense physical and emotional transformation was a significant aspect of her performance.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

What makes this film stand out (a little) is the intimate style of photography. The POV camerawork gives us a proximity to the story and characters that we rarely see. Sadly, though, the story itself is a little bit thin. Denzel Washington ...