About Courage Under Fire (1996)

Courage Under Fire is a war film directed by Edward Zwick. Set in the aftermath of the Gulf War, the movie explores themes of honor, courage, and the cost of war. The plot is centered around Lt. Colonel Serling who, under investigation for mistakenly destroying a tank of his own men, is assigned to investigate the eligibility of a female helicopter pilot for the Medal of Honor.

Making/Production

This movie was directed by Edward Zwick, who had previously directed the successful film Glory. The screenplay was written by Patrick Sheane Duncan and produced by John Davis and Joseph Muglia.

Actors

• Denzel Washington as Lt. Colonel Serling - Washington gives a compelling performance as a man battling with his guilt and seeking the truth.
• Meg Ryan as Captain Karen Walden - Ryan is seen in a new light portraying a soldier fighting for survival and the respect of her comrades.
• Lou Diamond Phillips as Sergeant Monfriez - Phillips plays the role of a soldier with strong reservations about the events that occurred during the course of wartime.
• Matt Damon as Specialist Ilario - A young Damon excellently portrays the role of a young soldier traumatized by the war.

Trivia/Interesting Facts

• First Hollywood feature film to depict the Gulf War.
• Matt Damon lost 40 pounds for his role, an effort that later resulted in health issues.
• The movie's title comes from a line in the "Ranger Creed": "Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country."

Awards

Unfortunately, the movie did not win any major awards. However, its strong performances and impactful narrative earned it a high reputation amongst viewers.

Quotes

• "The first casualty of war is innocence."
• "No one ever died for a medal. They died for the guy next to them."
• "If you get a distress call and you don't go, you're going to answer for it for the rest of your life."

Music/Soundtrack

• "Courage Under Fire Theme" - composed by James Horner
• "Medevac" - composed by James Horner
• "The Final Rescue" - composed by James Horner