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36 out of 41 people found the following comment useful :-
A great Movie, Overlooked by too many, 18 January 2005

Author: mjw2305 from England

This movie has 2 stories that that run side by side, depicting the same image of war from different perspectives.

Denzel's story is one of sadness and guilt over the death of a friend during the Gulf war, a friend that he himself killed in a 'Friendly Fire' incident, during the confusion of battle. His country won't let him speak, and they shower him with medals; this only adds to the pain that begins to tear him apart.

Denzel's Character is given an assignment to determine whether a female helicopter pilot (Meg Ryan) deserves the medal of honour.

Meg's story, played out in flashbacks, is about a helicopter pilot and her crew saving a handful of soldiers, from the Iraqi onslaught. She is the first female to be considered for the medal of honour, and the question is, does she deserve what the American people would so love too see her receive.

Denzel, determined to get this one right, collects evidence and testimony from Ryans crew and the men that were saved. The problem is, Denzel's superiors want this medal awarded, but the simple truth is difficult to unveil. Every shred of evidence leads to more and more uncertainty as to whether this medal should be awarded.

Truly compelling direction and very special character portrayal make this an extremely enjoyable, very dramatic movie.

If you've over looked it, then give it a try. I think you'll be glad you did.

8/10

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15 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
Worth Watching, 27 July 2003
Author: Robert J. Maxwell (rmax304823@yahoo.com) from Deming, New Mexico

The story is a simple one. Washington is a Lt. Colonel responsible for some accidental deaths during a tank battle in the Gulf War. He's assigned to investigate the suitability of Meg Ryan as a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor. She was flying a medevac helicopter to a crash site when her aircraft was shot down by small arms fire and, apparently, stayed behind voluntarily and told her crew to save themselves while she covered them. Washington interviews the crew members and gets different stories. In one story Ryan behaves as described. In a second, she is a coward and collapses under fire. In yet a third, the truth emerges. Yeah, it's Rashomon, but not as original or subtle.

Still it's pretty good. And, Gott sei dank, it is not a story in which a woman proves herself as a good as a man, despite the fact that she is a member of the weaker sex. (What condescension.) Meg Ryan is a capable and courageous officer who happens to be a woman. This is important to the politicians who are positively drooling over the prospect of awarding her the decoration, but isn't really important to the narrative.

The performances are better than I'd expected. Everyone, in fact, is quite good in their different ways. Matt Damon, in particular, gives a sensitive performance as a guilt-ridden medic, and looks the part, somewhat ascetic, his facial features askew with uncertainty. Meg Ryan doesn't have a chance to do more than shout orders with a Texas accent but she registers pain and determination well. Phillips is perhaps the least articulated character, not exactly wooden but inexpressive, and it's not the fault of the role, which is fairly complex. Denzel Washington is the central figure. He's good as carrying that burden of guilt lever over from his battlefield mistake but isn't too convincing as a drunk. In the end, he relieves himself of some of that torture by visiting the parents of one of the men he had killed and confessing his part in the incident. The first few times I saw this I kept thinking what some other actors would have done with this scene, but the last time I found the way his incarnate remorse rather moving.

The battle scenes are well done, although a little confusing, as I'm sure they would have been at the time. Some generic conventions are adhered to. Four of our guys can slaughter dozens of them. The enemy runs headlong into a hail of bullets. But there are some interesting twists given to the situation. The Iraqis on the other side of the hill can be heard laughing at our boys (and our woman). And the ending is revisionist, but I won't go into it. Justice outs, let's say that.

It's a worthwhile watch for any number of reasons. Craftsmanlike if not poetic in any way.

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6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
A DESERT STORM-era update of "Rashomon", 21 February 2005

Author: philoso4 from Alexandria, VA (USA)

A DESERT STORM veteran, Lt Col Nat Serling (played by Denzel Washington), is assigned the task of recommending whether or not to award the first (posthumous) combat Medal of Honor to a woman, Capt Karen Walden (played by Meg Ryan). In investigating the inconsistent mission accounts of Walden's surviving crew, Serling constantly flashes back to his own searing DESERT STORM experience and the Army's subsequent attempts to whitewash the incident, resolving that his investigation will not suffer the same fate. As Serling tries to rectify the competing competing accounts it becomes clear that director Edward Zwick has crafted a contemporary "Rashomon," complete with reminders that the truth is always subjective and our accounts of it typically affected by self-interest.

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3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
Quite Good, 5 June 2007

Author: cspaced1

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Washington) was involved in a friendly fire incident. He was a tank commander who, in the confusion of a nighttime ambush by Iraqi tanks, gave the order to fire on one of his own tanks, killing his friend. The details were covered up, but he was reassigned to a desk job.

Later, he is given the task of determining if Captain Karen Emma Walden (Ryan) should be the first woman to receive (posthumously) the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat in the First Gulf War. A Medevac helicopter commander, she went to the rescue of another chopper that had been shot down and was under heavy fire from a tank and Iraqi infantrymen. The tank was knocked out by dropping an improvised bomb on it, but her helicopter was shot down in the process. Both crews were rescued the next day, but Walden was killed.

At first, everything seems to be straightforward, but Serling begins to notice inconsistencies in the testimony of the witnesses. The members of the first helicopter crew mention that they heard the distinctive sound of an M-16 being used in the firefight around the other helicopter, but Walden's crew denies firing one during the rescue, as theirs was out of ammunition. Despite pressure from the White House and the Pentagon to wrap things up quickly so they can have news they can use for propaganda, he investigates further, questioning Specialist Ilario (Damon), Staff Sergeant John Monfriez (Phillips), and the rest of the second crew until he uncovers the truth.

It turns out that the sexist Monfriez didn't believe Walden was capable of handling the situation after they crashed. He tried to take command, wanting to escape under cover of darkness, which would have meant leaving a badly injured man behind. The rest of the crew was ready to follow his lead, but Walden rejected that option, resulting in an armed standoff between the two of them. At that moment, Iraqi infantrymen appeared behind Monfriez and Walden fired at them. Reacting instinctively, Monfriez shot her, seriously injuring, but not incapacitating her. She then organized the defense that beat off the night attack.

The next morning, Walden stayed behind to cover their evacuation. Monfriez deliberately lied to the rescuers, telling them that she was dead, so she was left behind. Ilario remained silent to cover his own cowardice. A following A-10 airplane then bombed the helicopter to keep it out of enemy hands, unknowingly killing her.

In the end, despite Sterling's attempts to stop him, Monfriez commits suicide by driving his car into an oncoming train rather than face a court-martial and Walden's young daughter receives the medal in a White House ceremony.

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
A Powerful Film, 28 February 2001

Author: consortpinguin from NH -- the First primary State

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

***** Warning **** Contains spoilers ****

Anyone interest in Desert Storm should see "Courage Under Fire." It is a powerful story with great performances by the whole cast. Denzel Washington really deserved an Oscar for this role, so different than the other major roles he's played such as Malcolm X. What makes the story so compelling is that you see that war is not just a string of heroics, but is fraught with problems and mistakes as in any other occupation. But in war, mistakes can cost lives. We see the loyalty and courage shown by our troops as well as their human failures.

Lt. Col. Serling (Washington), back at the Pentagon after commanding a tank division in the Gulf War, is assigned to investigate whether Capt. Karen Walden, a rescue helicopter pilot killed in action (Meg Ryan) deserves a Congressional Medal of Honor. Serling is deeply troubled by his mistake which caused the death of an old friend. When an unidentified tank appeared in the formation, Serling had to make a split-second decision whether or not to fire. He does, and unfortunately it turns out to be one of ours. His depression affects his whole life, including his family, and he notices that he is drinking too much. His boss, General Hershberg, with whom he also served in Vietnam, tries his best to help Serling get over it.

As Serling interviews the soldiers who flew with Captain Walden, her story is shown in a series of flashbacks. We soon learn that there are major inconsistencies in the stories he hears, some of which imply she was incompetent. Not content to do a superficial job, Serling digs deeper and finds that Capt. Ryan did indeed show leadership and courage, but that her death resulted from another accident caused by the insubordination of one of the men (Lou Diamond Phillips), and covered up by the rest of the crew. Serling now knows that Walden deserves the medal.

**** Contains spoiler ***** In the end, Serling is vindicated when an audio tape of his tank company's battles shows that his quick thinking led to the identification and destruction of another unidentified tank which got into their formation. This time he brilliantly identified it as an Iraqi tank and fired, saving the rest of his tanks from the enemy.

This film shows that war is not glamorous, not all black and white, but shades of gray. This film has some of the best acting you will ever see -- the entire cast gave excellent performances. Cast against typecast, Meg Ryan came across as one tough soldier, a welcome change from all her "cute" roles.

**** Contains spoiler ***** The final scene in which Washington marches up to and salutes Ryan's grave shows Serling's courage, loyalty, and sacrifice without a single word. This is definitely a film worth seeing.

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4 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
OK, 1 June 2004
Author: ctomvelu from usa

Finally got around to seeing this, or most of it, on commercial TV with way too many commercial breaks that hurt the film's sometimes intense flow. Not bad, and mostly believable, story about Denzel W., Meg R. and Lou Diamond P. as career soldiers caught up in a sticky wicket of a situation during the first Gulf War. Matt Damon is also in the cast, before he was a star, and gives it his best up against these well-seasoned actors. This was probably Philips' last decent role before he became a darling of made-for-video fare. Ed Zwick is not my favorite director by any means, but he does a reasonable job here telling a RASHOMAN-style tale of courage and cowardice under fire. Even in a bad movie, like that horrible thing he did about a demon jumping from body to body, Denzel is usually entertaining, and this film is no exception.

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4 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Great, 26 April 1999

Author: bobafett-16

Courage Under Fire is a movie that will stay with me for a while. Denzel Washington continues to be one of the finest actors today and proves it in this movie. The premise was interesting and was entertaining. I was disappointed with Meg Ryan's performance. I usually like her but she got annoying with her constant shouting. Yet that didn't keep the movie down. It was extremely dramatic and my two favorite scenes are the scene with Lou Diamond Phillips in the car and when it shows what really happened. A great film and terrific acting by Denzel Washington.

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5 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Denzel Washington At His Best, 22 October 2000
Author: degracia from University of Texas

"Courage Under Fire" is perhaps the best illustration of how flexible and adaptive actors like Denzel Washington are. What makes "Courage Under Fire" impressive is not so much its plot or storyline (which is somewhat inconsistent), but its portrayal of a lone officer torn between personal conscience and duty. Denzel's overweight build and alcoholic demeanor create the highly credible image of a man barely attached to his life. Basically the story of a budding Army officer re-assigned to administrative duties following a Desert Storm friendly fire incident, "Courage Under Fire" submerges the viewer into pure emotional hell as it progresses. The stunning emotional catharisis portrayed at the film's end is incredibly dramatic and almost entirely unmatched. Anyone who has ever been under the extreme pressures of stress or suffered cognitive dissonance following a bad judgement will definitely connect with this film. A great psychological thriller and a tour-de-force drama. Definitely one of the best films...if only it would be released on DVD!!

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I hate to burst your bubble, 25 September 2008
Author: gmnavy5 from United States

I hate to burst your bubble about this movie, but Meg Ryan's character would not have been the first Medal of Honor RECIPIENT (you don't win the Medal of Honor). The only woman to have received the Medal of Honor was awarded it during the Civil War, and she was a civilian (also the only one). Here is the citation:

WALKER, DR. MARY E.

Rank and organization: Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon (civilian), U. S. Army. Places and dates: Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861; Patent Office Hospital, Washington, D.C., October 1861; Chattanooga, Tenn., following Battle of Chickomauga, September 1863; Prisoner of War, April 10, 1864-August 12, 1864, Richmond, Va.; Battle of Atlanta, September 1864. Entered service at: Louisville, Ky. Born: 26 November 1832, Oswego County, N.Y. Citation: Whereas it appears from official reports that Dr. Mary E. Walker, a graduate of medicine, "has rendered valuable service to the Government, and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways," and that she was assigned to duty and served as an assistant surgeon in charge of female prisoners at Louisville, Ky., upon the recommendation of Major-Generals Sherman and Thomas, and faithfully served as contract surgeon in the service of the United States, and has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war four months in a Southern prison while acting as contract surgeon; and Whereas by reason of her not being a commissioned officer in the military service, a brevet or honorary rank cannot, under existing laws, be conferred upon her; and Whereas in the opinion of the President an honorable recognition of her services and sufferings should be made: It is ordered, That a testimonial thereof shall be hereby made and given to the said Dr. Mary E. Walker, and that the usual medal of honor for meritorious services be given her.

Given under my hand in the city of Washington, D.C., this 11th day of November, A.D. 1865.

Andrew Johnson,

President

(Medal rescinded 1917 along with 910 others, restored by President Carter 10 June 1977.)

This is the citation for the one and only female and civilian to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

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1 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Does Meg Have The Right Stuff?, 2 September 2008

Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

Courage Under Fire is the first major film about the first Gulf War, the one that the first President Bush presided over. It's about men and women in combat and how they handle it. In fact George H.W. Bush, himself a hero from World War II has a peripheral involvement in Courage Under Fire. He actually sets in motion some of the events of this film.

Bronson Pinchot has a small, but really great part as a bootlicking White House aide. The actions of a female army captain and helicopter pilot Meg Ryan saved the lives of several troops though her chopper went down and she died. Unsaid in the film, but no doubt the case, looking for the women's vote in the 1992 election, the White House has taken a personal interest in seeing this female soldier gets a really top drawer decoration, maybe the Congressional Medal of Honor. Pinchot's down at the Pentagon really pushing hard on this case with General Michael Moriarty.

Moriarty assigns Colonel Denzel Washington to investigate the incident with Ryan. Washington's in a bit of jackpot himself, he was involved in a friendly fire incident and though he was innocent, he's waiting to be cleared officially.

Ryan turns out to be as brave a combat soldier this country ever produced of any gender. In fact she was dealing with a whole lot more than anyone of the brass originally thought. In fact that's the story of Courage Under Fire.

Matt Damon got some good reviews on his way up the Hollywood ladder of success as the drug addicted medic from Ryan's team. Lou Diamond Phillips should have been given an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor as the chauvinistic sergeant who is quite reluctant to cooperate with Washington's investigation.

Above all this film belongs to Meg Ryan. She breaks type in Courage Under Fire, she becomes a feminist role model for all time in this film. It was quite a change from the romantic parts she usually is cast in. Meg's got the right stuff in abundance here.

Denzel's performance is moving as well. He's getting it from all sides, from the Pentagon who want him to sign off on the report, from his wife, Regina Taylor who sees the stress this and his own situation is putting him in and his own conscience because he wants the report to be honest, fair, and thorough.

Courage Under Fire joins the ranks of great war films and this review is now dedicated to all the women who now serve in combat for the USA to keep us safe and free.

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