Everyone knows that Denzel Washington is one of the greatest actors in all of Cinema History, FACT!!! & here he's mesmerising on screen & very young, as a military officer that has been assigned to do an investigation into whether a female rescue helicopter pilot (Meg Ryan) is worthy of the medal of honor for her bravery & this is after her death. But as always with mystery thriller's not all is as it seems & witness stories seem to change. Is she worthy? Why are witnesses telling different stories? What really happened out there? It's all a mystery that Serling must unravel.
As said Denzel Washington is so mesmerising to watch on screen here & in my opinion it's one of his absolute best performances. Lt Col Serling (Washington) is also carrying a huge burden that's making him emotionally messed-up & full of inner rage & doubt. Serling is a man of honour & his life is the military & we see how he cares for his men in the opening scenes set during the Gulf War.
Denzel delivers so much with just his eyes & when he does deliver his dialogue, it's that way we know he says it that it sounds absolutely true. Meg Ryan is fine for her small part that is seen through flashbacks & from witness accounts & she's fine for what the part is. I've never really liked Meg Ryan but she's an ok actress here but nothing special.
The film is an excellent engrossing investigation thriller because of Washington.
Also the supporting cast is good with a really decent turn from Scott Glenn as a no bullshi# reporter & a truly fantastic performance from a very young Matt Damon as one of the troubled witnesses, he lost a lot of weight & gave such a memorable powerhouse performance & Lou Diamond Phillips as a cocky soldier & Michael Moriarty as Denzel's tough captain, also a small role for Sean Astin (Goonies, Toy Soldiers) as a young tank operator.
Courage Under Fire is a comfort watch as it's so 90's & i grew up then watching films on video & this has that Nostalgic feel to it. Also this excellent movie has one of the greatest thriller scores I've ever heard by James Horner.
Courage Under Fire is a powerful story about truth & cover ups within the military & how messy those truths can be & how it take courage to stand up & tell the truth.
Beautifully filmed & leisurely paced to really get into the story & characters & let me tell ya it's one engrossing film.
One of the finest military thriller's ever made.
As said Denzel Washington is so mesmerising to watch on screen here & in my opinion it's one of his absolute best performances. Lt Col Serling (Washington) is also carrying a huge burden that's making him emotionally messed-up & full of inner rage & doubt. Serling is a man of honour & his life is the military & we see how he cares for his men in the opening scenes set during the Gulf War.
Denzel delivers so much with just his eyes & when he does deliver his dialogue, it's that way we know he says it that it sounds absolutely true. Meg Ryan is fine for her small part that is seen through flashbacks & from witness accounts & she's fine for what the part is. I've never really liked Meg Ryan but she's an ok actress here but nothing special.
The film is an excellent engrossing investigation thriller because of Washington.
Also the supporting cast is good with a really decent turn from Scott Glenn as a no bullshi# reporter & a truly fantastic performance from a very young Matt Damon as one of the troubled witnesses, he lost a lot of weight & gave such a memorable powerhouse performance & Lou Diamond Phillips as a cocky soldier & Michael Moriarty as Denzel's tough captain, also a small role for Sean Astin (Goonies, Toy Soldiers) as a young tank operator.
Courage Under Fire is a comfort watch as it's so 90's & i grew up then watching films on video & this has that Nostalgic feel to it. Also this excellent movie has one of the greatest thriller scores I've ever heard by James Horner.
Courage Under Fire is a powerful story about truth & cover ups within the military & how messy those truths can be & how it take courage to stand up & tell the truth.
Beautifully filmed & leisurely paced to really get into the story & characters & let me tell ya it's one engrossing film.
One of the finest military thriller's ever made.