Themes: Military Life, Women During Wartime, Home From the War
Main Cast: Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, Michael Moriarty, Matt Damon
Release Year: 1996
Country: US
Run Time: 115 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
A soldier discovers how elusive the truth can be in this first major film about America's role in the Gulf War. Lt. Col. Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) was the commander of a unit during Operation Desert Storm who mistakenly ordered the destruction of what he believed to be an enemy tank, only to discover that it actually held U.S. soldiers, including a close friend. Since then, Serling has been an emotional wreck, drinking heavily and allowing his marriage to teeter on the brink of collapse. As a means of redeeming himself, Serling is given a new assignment by his superior, Gen. Hershberg (Michael Moriarty). Capt. Karen Walden (Meg Ryan) was a helicopter pilot who died in battle during the Iraqi conflict, and the White House has proposed that Walden be posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Serling is asked to investigate Walden's actions on the field of battle, but he quickly discovers that no two stories about her are quite the same; Ilario (Matt Damon) says Walden acted heroically and sacrificed herself to save the others in her company, while Monfriez (Lou Diamond Phillps) claims she was a coward who was attempting to surrender to enemy troops. Meanwhile, reporter Tony Gartner (Scott Glenn) is hounding Serling, trying to get the inside story on Walden and on Serling's own difficulties. Matt Damon lost 40 pounds to prepare for his role in Courage Under Fire, which resulted in a potentially life-threatening illness for the young actor. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Meg Ryan pulls off a very difficult role in this Gulf War-set inquiry into the nature of truth. As a nominee for the first posthumous medal of honor to be granted to a woman, Ryan's character is seen in various flashbacks, Rashomon-style, as entirely different people. Denzel Washington is the troubled veteran handling the investigation into whether Ryan's actions deserved the medal, and he talks to several people, each of whom tells a different story about her final actions. Both Ryan and Washington are terrific, ably supported by Michael Moriarty, Scott Glenn, and Matt Damon, among others, and the result is an engrossing and challenging film. The best part is Edward Zwick's deft direction, which keeps all of the differing perspectives open as viable options. Too many times in this sort of film, certain versions of events are presented which couldn't possibly be true. Here, one person could be telling the truth, or everyone could. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
Bronson Pinchot - Bruno; Mark Adair-Rios - Bobcat 5; Bob Apisa - Iraqi Tank Commander; Sean Astin - Patella; Diane Baker - Louise Boylar; Scott Glenn - Tony Gartner; Tim Guinee - Rady; Albert Hall - Speaker; Amy Hathaway - Annie; Zeljko Ivanek - Banacek; Bruce McGill - McQuillan; Jimmy Pickens - Soldier; Tim Ransom - Boylar; John Roarke - The President; Tom Schanley - Questioner; Regina Taylor - Meredith Serling; Ned Vaughn - Chelli; Richard Venture - Don Boylar; Michole Briana White - Maria; Kathleen Widdoes - Geraldine Walden; Ken Jenkins - Joel Walden; Manny Perez - Jenkins; Seth Gilliam - Altameyer; Daniel Gonzalez - Laughing Gunner; Lucky Luciano - Nathan Serling Jr.; Sean Patrick Thomas - Thompson; Michael Dolan - Orderly; Reed Frerichs - Delinquent Soldier; David McSwain - Egan; Rory J. Aylward - Teegarden's Crew Chief; Julius Carter - Rowtero; Armand Darrius - Robins; Jamal A. Mays - Brian Serling; Kyle Mickaelian - Refueler; James Paul Morse - Cadre; Erica C. Newman - Juleen Serling; Ashlee Jordan Pryor - Josie Serling; Matt Sigloch - Cadre; Christina Stojanovich - Anne Marie Walden; Jeffrey Waid - Hillerman; Jack Watkins - Coffee Sergeant; Pat Young - Drill Team Commander
Credit
Steve Cooper - Art Director, Mary Colquhoun - Casting, Paul Neesan - Co-producer, Francine Jamison-Tanchuck - Costume Designer, Skip Cosper - First Assistant Director, Edward Zwick - Director, Dan Lerner - Second Unit Director, Steven Rosenblum - Editor, Debra Martin Chase - Executive Producer, James Horner - Composer (Music Score), James Horner - Musical Arrangement, James Horner - Songwriter, John Graysmark - Production Designer, Roger Deakins - Cinematographer, John Davis - Producer, David T. Friendly - Producer, Joseph M. Singer - Producer, Rick T. Gentz - Set Designer, Andrew Neskoromny - Set Designer, Barbara Mesney - Set Designer, Randall D. Wilkins - Set Designer, Willie D. Burton - Sound/Sound Designer, Lon E. Bender - Sound/Sound Designer, John Cenatiempo - Stunts, Jim Halty - Stunts, Steve Picerni - Stunts, Steve Kelso - Stunts, Alan Oliney - Stunts, David Zellitti - Stunts, Danny Rogers - Stunts, Pete Antico - Stunts, Patrick Sheane Duncan - Screenwriter
