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Courage Under Fire (1996)

R07/04/1996Drama, Thriller, Mystery, War1h 56m
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A medal for honor. A search for justice. A battle for truth.

Overview

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...

Top Billed Cast

  1. Cast 1

    Denzel Washington

    Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling

  2. Cast 1

    Meg Ryan

    Captain Karen Emma Walden

  3. Cast 1

    Lou Diamond Phillips

    Staff Sergeant John Monfriez

  4. Cast 1

    Matt Damon

    Ilario

  5. Cast 1

    Michael Moriarty

    Brigadier General Hershberg

  6. Cast 1

    Michole Briana White

    Maria

  7. Cast 1

    Bronson Pinchot

    Bruno

  8. Cast 1

    Amy Hathaway

    Annie

  9. Cast 1

    Diane Baker

    Louise Boylar

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 is tasked with investigating the worthiness of a deceased helicopter pilot during the Gulf war to receive the medal of honor. Assuming it would be a routine ratification, he interviews her crew only to find discrepancies and inconstancies that cast a shadow over the whole procedure. Had this just been a routine wartime tale, then it might have been ok - but ...

Status Released

Original LanguageEnglish 

Budget$46,000,000.00

Revenue $100,900,000.00

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