Courage Under Fire In 1991, millions of people tuned into CNN to watch a true drama of life and death played out in the cities and deserts of Iraq. For the United States, the war was more or less a demonstration of power and a preservation of economic interests. No one would ever know about the misadventures and mistakes of the war. In many eyes the war was seen as an opportunity to strengthen the American spirit and empower the government. Director Edward Zwick and writer Patrick Shane Duncan took this notion and expounded on it in their film Courage Under Fire. Through its superb acting, successful plot, structure and perfection of filmmaking, the film becomes a powerful and brilliant examination of the consequences of guilt and responsibility, and the meaning of absolute truth. Courage Under Fire was the first Gulf War film to hit American theaters. . It is a film that distances itself from the typical typology of the war film genre. Films like Platoon and Apocalypse Now have taken us into the heart of the ferocity of war and its torment on the individual. Courage Under Fire contrasts greatly with these films as it shows that acts of valor do not necessarily arise from the ferocity of the battlefield. The real subject of the film is not a specific war, but military ethics and its effect on many individuals. The film begins, like many war films, on the battlefield. Lieutenant Colonel Nat Serling (Denzel Washington) finds himself in an impossible situation, under heavy night attack in the middle of the Iraqi desert. He is attacked by Iraqis and in an instant he loses his long-time friend to the horror of "friendly fire". He ordered his crew to fire on another American tank under his command. At home, the government is eagerly seeking Gulf War Heroes and, as a result, Serling is decorated for his bravery but, deep down, he truly knows it's all an act. He's drowned in his medals and awards and given a desk job at the Pentagon, all to support Serling is burdened with guilt. He has become an alcoholic, his marriage is falling apart, and the government, which is covering up the incident, has offered no means to ease his tortured conscience. Serling's first assignment is to determine whether a female officer, Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan) is a deserving posthu...... middle of paper......ne flawlessly The set was large, to say the least, with large battlefields and too many different locations to count. Each set was perfectly constructed and everything was realistic. Through this realism, the film made sure that every individual who watched the film was engrossed in the plot and overall atmosphere. Films that fail to do this are never taken seriously. The costumes and dialogues were also made without flaws. Everyone looked like they belonged in the movie and the uniforms all looked like they were hand delivered by the US Army. The music was a presence but it certainly didn't make or break the film. It was an average performance from James Horner. Overall, this is a very strong film that makes a powerful statement about the United States government and its actions during the Persian Gulf War. Courage Under Fire is a surprisingly intelligent and well-produced film. I would definitely recommend this film to the mature, experienced viewer looking for something different in their viewing experience. It's a story about honor, courage and truth with a mystery nestled within it. Overall a 3 and a half star result!