Courage Under Fire

Courage Under Fire is an exciting drama, the story of Denzel Washington's character, a disgraced tank commander trying to find out the truth of the first woman in the armed forces to receive the Congressional Medal of Honour. The more you watch of the film, the more you discover of this story, and gain insights into how the events unfold. It's got a very good supporting cast, of Matt Damon before he soared to superstardom, and Meg Ryan as the female helicopter pilot, who was killed, and is going to be receiving the medal posthumously. It's got a good mixture of story and action. Although it is violent, and I wouldn't recommend it for people who are sensitive about the Gulf Wars, or people who just hate America on principle. By the end of the film you feel ambiguous about whether the woman should get the medal or not. (It's not an anti-women film, by the way). But you do feel you understand what it means to be a hero, or heroine, and what the true meaning of sacrifice is. You can't help feeling great emotion with the way Denzel Washington delivers his lines and is on his own personal quest for redemption. Another fantastic film by Edward Zwick, whose always great at combining action with story and great performances, with a stirring musical score by James Horner. Two thumbs up, and highly recommended!