Courage Under Fire Reviews

1996

Rated:
60
from 4881 members

Following the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) is assigned to review the background of the late Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), who has been posthumously nominated for a medal of honor. While investigating Walden's candidacy, Serling is forced to face his own disillusionment and guilt .. Read more

Starring	Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, Michael Moriarty
Director	Edward Zwick
Genres	Drama

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Critics' reviews (6) of Courage Under Fire
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In this rather self important Gulf War drama, Meg Ryan plays a pilot due to get a posthumous medal for bravery, but has there been a cover-up of the real events? Were those brave American soldiers in the Iraqi desert killed by “friendly fire”? This is a Rashomon for the 1990s, with Gulf War hero Denzel Washington searching for the truth and, naturally, a Washington Post reporter sniffing around as well. The subject matter, the strong performances from Washington and Scott Glenn, and stylish direction from Edward Zwick — who directed Washington in Glory — combine to make this seem more incisive than it really is. Ultimately, it looks good, sounds noble but rings a bit hollow.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
A film that begins as a complex investigation into behaviour in wartime but ends as a straightforward flag-waving exercise.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
The Gulf War. In a night engagement, Lt Col Nathaniel Serling (Washington) gives the order to fire on one of his own... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Courage Under Fire
View all
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

blinding performance

excellent acting, excellent story, top class movie, good twists keeps you guessing .worth getting this one.
- - A customer from isle of wight
  - Posted 12 Jul 2004 17:22
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

How true

Quite amazing really that Hollywood showed the real intelligence of the US armed forces. In the opening sequence we see Denzel Washington giving the order to fire on a tank which later turns out to be one of his own. In real life this would most likely have been a british tank as the yanks have had a habit of killing us in recent conflicts.

This aside, quite an enjoyable film really.
- - A customer from Kent
  - Posted 12 Nov 2004 11:40
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Worthy!

This is a good idea movie with a great cast. It's kind of slow and rather too long - or maybe I wasn't in the right mood. Half of the audience at home left before the end. Other movies by Edward Zwick are better.
- - KenS from London
  - Posted 01 Feb 2005 10:07
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Courage Under Fire
View all
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

How true

Quite amazing really that Hollywood showed the real intelligence of the US armed forces. In the opening sequence we see Denzel Washington giving the order to fire on a tank which later turns out to be one of his own. In real life this would most likely have been a british tank as the yanks have had a habit of killing us in recent conflicts.

This aside, quite an enjoyable film really.
- - A customer from Kent
  - Posted 12 Nov 2004 11:40
[Highly rated reviewer]

courage under fire

most enjoyable plenty of action not too violent
- - marigold from Blackburn
  - Posted 02 Apr 2008 22:04

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

blinding performance

excellent acting, excellent story, top class movie, good twists keeps you guessing .worth getting this one.
- - A customer from isle of wight
  - Posted 12 Jul 2004 17:22
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

How true

Quite amazing really that Hollywood showed the real intelligence of the US armed forces. In the opening sequence we see Denzel Washington giving the order to fire on a tank which later turns out to be one of his own. In real life this would most likely have been a british tank as the yanks have had a habit of killing us in recent conflicts.

This aside, quite an enjoyable film really.
- - A customer from Kent
  - Posted 12 Nov 2004 11:40
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Worthy!

This is a good idea movie with a great cast. It's kind of slow and rather too long - or maybe I wasn't in the right mood. Half of the audience at home left before the end. Other movies by Edward Zwick are better.
- - KenS from London
  - Posted 01 Feb 2005 10:07
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Great Entertainment

I'm not sure if this is an anti-war or pro-war film! Either way it is great entertainment with powerful performances from Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan. Supporting cast all contibute towards a film with real 'punch'. Well worth a watch.
- - Michael Wheeler from East London
  - Posted 05 Dec 2005 17:43
I enjoyed watching this film it was a bit slow in places, but a good story with a twist at the end
- - A customer from ROCHDALE
  - Posted 19 Sep 2004 15:06
Much better than expected

Give it a try - you'll be pleasantly surprised.
- - A customer from UK
  - Posted 09 Jun 2005 02:06
Very Good Film

Worth watching. Good acting and very interesting plot.
- - Martin from England
  - Posted 02 Nov 2005 13:34
Excellent film

The film is about what happened when a helicopter was shot down. I found it excellent and, surprisingly, quite emotionally stirring. Not a war film like Hamburger Hill or Full Metal Jacket but one where the courage of the participants is carefully considered. Surprising and involving.
- - Alan Howlett from Notts, UK
  - Posted 08 Nov 2006 09:25
COURAGE UNDER FIRE.

Courage Under Fire - A US Army officer, despondent about a deadly mistake he made not relating to the current investigation is on an inquiry in to a female chopper commander's worthiness for the Medal of Honour. Excellent action war movie with a hint of something didn’t quite go right on the battlefield. I was engrossed in the story throughout and I was very impressed on how the story fit together and came across. There were some feelings of sadness especially for the Ryan’s Character daughter. Fantastic.
- - Cornetto from Lancaster
  - Posted 29 Apr 2007 09:56
'Courage Under Fire'

Too tipical. No worth watching
- - A customer from Walsall
  - Posted 07 Mar 2008 09:45

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Critics' reviews (6)
In this rather self important Gulf War drama, Meg Ryan plays a pilot due to get a posthumous medal for bravery, but has there been a cover-up of the real events? Were those brave American soldiers in the Iraqi desert killed by “friendly fire”? This is a Rashomon for the 1990s, with Gulf War hero Denzel Washington searching for the truth and, naturally, a Washington Post reporter sniffing around as well. The subject matter, the strong performances from Washington and Scott Glenn, and stylish direction from Edward Zwick — who directed Washington in Glory — combine to make this seem more incisive than it really is. Ultimately, it looks good, sounds noble but rings a bit hollow.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
A film that begins as a complex investigation into behaviour in wartime but ends as a straightforward flag-waving exercise.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
The Gulf War. In a night engagement, Lt Col Nathaniel Serling (Washington) gives the order to fire on one of his own... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
"...A carefully conceived, dramatically honorable picture that treats its subject with clarity and intelligence..."
- Variety
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
"...Denzel Washington is a potent actor in peak form....COURAGE UNDER FIRE honors its subject and its audience..."
- Rolling Stone
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
"...[Washington gives a] haunted, nearly implosive performance." -- Rating: B+
- Entertainment Weekly
- Posted 11 Mar 2005