COURAGE UNDER FIRE - * * * 1/2 - Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, Michael Moriarty, Matt Damon, Seth Gilliam, Bronson Pinchot, Scott Glenn, Regina Taylor; rated R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity); Century 9 Theaters; Carmike Plaza 5400 Theaters; Cineplex Odeon Crossroads Plaza, Holladay Center, South Towne Center and Trolley North; Reel Theaters.
With a tip of the hat to Akira Kurosawa's Japanese classic "Rashomon," director Edward Zwick ("Glory," "Legends of the Fall") and writer Patrick Sheane Duncan ("Mr. Holland's Opus," "Nick of Time") have concocted a riveting contemporary wartime melodrama in "Courage Under Fire."
Ambitious, and largely successful in the effort, Zwick and Duncan's film tackles a variety of issues - women in the military (and specifically in combat), the nature of gung-ho military life in the passive '90s and, in a larger sense, the importance of truth, honor and justice in general these days.
Heady subjects to be sure, especially in midsummer, when movie audiences are more accustomed to big-screen razzmatazz that requires little, if any reflection.
"Courage Under Fire" begins during the Desert Storm conflict in January, 1991, as Lt. Col. Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) finds himself in an impossible situation. Under heavy attack at midnight in the Iraqi desert, Serling orders his tank to fire on what he believes is an enemy tank. But when the smoke clears, he discovers he has taken out one of his own, killing several of his own men. "Friendly fire," as it is called.
Naturally, Serling finds this difficult to live with - and an internal investigation into the matter is taking forever. So he starts drinking and pulls away from his supportive wife (Regina Taylor). And he's not crazy about the Washington desk job he's been saddled with, in the Pentagon's awards and decorations department.
Serling's first assignment is to determine whether a female officer who was killed in combat - Capt. Karen Walden (Meg Ryan) - is worthy to be the first woman to receive the Medal of Honor for "courage under fire."
There is pressure to get it done quickly, as the Army recognizes the public relations value of giving the award to a woman. But as he investigates, Serling begins to encounter conflicting stories about the events surrounding Walden's death, and her part in the mission that led to her Medal of Honor nomination. (The flashback scenes demonstrate nicely choreographed editing.)
What really happened? And how does the pressure of having to make quick life-and-death decisions in a combat situation affect the actions of trained soldiers? As you can guess, Serling's investigation also becomes a voyage of discover into his own tragic combat experience.
While unfolding these parallel stories, the filmmakers manage to make both equally significant - no easy accomplishment. But more importantly, the characters seem real, fleshed out in a manner that has eluded most movies so far this year.
As such, it would be easy to overrate "Courage Under Fire." The film is far from perfect (and at its weakest when it falls back on the old government conspiracy cliche) - but it is certainly engrossing. And, though it is well-mounted by Zwick, much of the credit must go to the actors, who give the character sketches here some real di-men-sion.
Washington proves once more that he is at his best in a human drama, and he is utterly convincing in a role that requires its complexities to be signaled with subtlety.
Ryan, in a smaller role, must react differently in scenes that are replayed according to the memories of those being interviewed - and she's excellent. This isn't her first foray into serious drama, of course - anyone remember "When a Man Loves a Woman" and "Flesh and Bone"? But fans who associate Ryan with light comedy may be surprised anyway.
Lou Diamond Phillips, in a character part that could have merely been a one-dimensional bad guy, lends depth to the drill sergeant whose male chauvinism compromised a combat situation, setting up a shocking twist at the end of the film. And in smaller roles, Matt Damon and Seth Gilliam (as two men under Walden's command), Regina Taylor (as Serling's wife) and Scott Glenn (as an investigative newspaper reporter) are also quite effective. (Michael Moriarty, on the other hand, is just too weird as Serling's commanding officer.)
"Courage Under Fire" is being released at a time when a serious film could easily drown amid the hoopla surrounding all the big effects-driven movies in theaters right now. But hopefully, audiences who are a bit weary of pictures that wear them out may be ready for something more emotionally fulfilling.
"Courage Under Fire" is rated R for violence, gore, profanity and vulgarity.