29 November 2006

Courage Under Fire (1996)

a special collection of screenshots taken from the movie





















































Directed by
Edward Zwick

Writing credits
Patrick Sheane Duncan

Tagline:
A medal for honor. A search for justice. A battle for truth.

Plot Outline: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]
Cast:
Denzel Washington.... Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Serling
Meg Ryan.... Captain Karen Emma Walden
Lou Diamond Phillips.... Staff Sergeant John Monfriez
Michael Moriarty.... Brigadier General Hershberg
Matt Damon.... Specialist Ilario
Bronson Pinchot.... Bruno
Seth Gilliam.... Altameyer
Regina Taylor.... Meredith Serling
Zeljko Ivanek.... Ben Banacek
Scott Glenn.... Tony Gartner, Washington Post
Tim Guinee.... Rady
Tim Ransom.... Boylar
Sean Astin.... Patella
Armand Darrius.... Robins
Ned Vaughn.... Lieutenant Chelli
Manny Perez.... Jenkins
David McSwain.... Egan
Sean Patrick Thomas.... Thompson
Ken Jenkins.... Joel Walden
Kathleen Widdoes.... Geraldine Walden
Christina Stojanovich.... Anne Marie Walden
Lucky Luciano.... Nathan Serling Jr.
Erica C. Newman.... Joleen Serling
Jamal A. Mays.... Brian Serling
Ashlee Jordan Pryor.... Josie Serling
Michole White.... Maria
Jeffrey Waid.... Hillerman
Patrick Young.... Drill Team Commander
Jimmy Ray Pickens.... Soldier
Jack Watkins.... Coffee Sergeant
Matt Sigloch.... Cadre
Jim Morse.... Cadre (as James Paul Morse)
Bruce McGill.... McQuillan
Rory J. Aylward.... Teegarden's Crew Chief
Kyle Mickaelian.... Refueler
Michael Dolan.... Orderly
John Roarke.... The President
Tom Schanley.... Questioner
Robert Apisa.... Iraqi Tank Commander (as Bob Apisa)
Daniel Gonzalez.... Laughing Gunner
Albert Hall.... Speaker
Richard Venture.... Don Boylar
Diane Baker.... Louise Boylar
Amy Hathaway.... Annie
Reed Frerichs.... Delinquent Soldier
Julius Carter.... Rowtero
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mark Adair-Rios.... Bobcat 5 (uncredited)
Peter Arnett.... CNN Reporter (voice) (uncredited)
George Bush.... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Steven Derek.... Graduating Cadet (uncredited)
Saddam Hussein.... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Larry King.... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
James LaMarr.... Base Soldier (uncredited)
Colin Powell.... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Norman Schwarzkopf.... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Jenni Tooley.... Hotel receptionist (uncredited)