Courage Under Fire (1996) – Encore Review

“Few of us are given the opportunity, even fewer the courage to sacrifice ourselves for the lives of our comrades. In daily life, even as in battle each one of us is mysteriously and irrevocably bound to our fellow man. And yet, it is only in death that the power of this bond is finally tested and proven. And who among us really knows how he might respond when the moment comes?” – The President

Number of Times Seen – Between 5-10 times (In theater in 1996, Video, DVD, 31 Jul 2000, 5 Dec 2013 and 9 Nov 2021)

Link to original review – Here

Brief Synopsis – An army investigator is charged with the task of finding out the truth about the events leading up to the death of a female helicopter pilot during the First Gulf War who is on the list to get a posthumous Medal of Honor.

My Take on it – This is such a great movie and it helps showcase the amazing talent of Meg Ryan.

The story is told in a great way and the viewer gets to see the various viewpoints of the different characters who each tell a very different story.

The character played by Ryan is shown in so many different states of emotions; scared, heroic, forceful, etc and this allows for her to really show her range.

The story plays out really well and the viewer gets to try and learn about what really happened along with the main character played by Denzel Washington.

The supporting cast is also great here with Lou Diamond Philips, Michael Moriarty, Seth Gilliam, Scot Glenn, Bronson Pinchot, Sean Astin and Zeljko Ivanek all adding so much to the mystery of everything that transpires here.

The plot stays engaging an gripping throughout and I love the message about perspective and perception because it rings so true.

The film also shows the chaos that happens during battle and how different people react in very different ways when they feel that kind of pressure.

Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – In actuality, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker is the only female to be awarded the Medal of Honor for her services as a surgeon during the civil war. (From IMDB)

Rating – Globe Worthy (8/10) (no change from original review)