Courage Under Fire [Blu-ray]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

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, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Subtitle: Eng/Spa
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Features:
  • Commentary by director Edward Zwick
  • Trivia track
  • Enhanced for D-box motion control systems
  • Theatrical trailer in definition

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Denzel Washington - Lt. Col. Nathaniel Serling
       Meg Ryan - Captain Karen Walden
       Lou Diamond Phillips - Monfriez
       Michael Moriarty - Gen. Hershberg
       Matt Damon - Ilario
       Bronson Pinchot - Bruno
       Albert Hall - Speaker

• Director:

  Edward Zwick

• Producer:

  John Davis, David T. Friendly, Joseph M. Singer

• Screenwriter:

  Patrick Sheane Duncan

• Cinematographer:

  Roger Deakins

• Composer (Music Score):

  James Horner

• Musical Arrangement:

  James Horner

• Songwriter:

  James Horner

• Editor:

  Steven Rosenblum

• Production Designer:

  John Graysmark

• Art Director:

  Steve Cooper

• Co-producer:

  Paul Neesan

• Executive Producer:

  Debra Martin Chase

• Set Designer:

  Rick T. Gentz, Andrew Neskoromny, Barbara Mesney, Randall D. Wilkins

• Costume Designer:

  Francine Jamison-Tanchuck

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Willie D. Burton, Lon E. Bender

• First Assistant Director:

  Skip Cosper

• Stunts:

  John Cenatiempo, Jim Halty, Steve Picerni, Steve Kelso, Alan Oliney, David Zellitti, Danny Rogers, Pete Antico

• Casting:

  Mary Colquhoun

• Second Unit Director:

  Dan Lerner

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, Rovi