Conference bookie::movies

    Saw the movie last weekend- **** out of 5
    
    Denzel Washington is the true star of this film - another fine acting
    job that probably would have netted him another Oscar nomination if
    this movie had been released later in the year.  The plot of this movie
    basically involves a number of possible scenerios that may have
    happened when a helicopter, piloted by Meg Ryan's character, crashes. 
    The action takes place during Desert Storm.  Denzel is put in charge of
    an investigation to ascertain what the true story is - does Meg deserve
    the Medal of Honour, or not?  The script does a good job of keeping us
    guessing - I thought I had it figured out until just a moment before we
    find out the actual truth - this could be discussed behind spoilers
    once a few more have seen the movie.  Meg Ryan did a good job, but she
    was basically acting out the same scene with slight variations for most
    of the movie.
    
    Chris

    I saw this on the weekend, & thought it excellent.  Denzel Washington
    should get nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for this performance.  As
    he gets a little older, Washington is acquiring a certain "gravitas";
    he is highly credible as a distinguished military officer agonizing
    over his role in a Gulf War "friendly fire" incident.  He drinks too much,
    and gets into trouble with his boss, a somewhat formidable bureaucratic
    general played by Michael Moriarty.

    Meg Ryan's performance is all in flashbacks, as different witnesses recall 
    her conduct as commander of a medical evacuation helicopter that was shot
    down.  (Washington's character is investigating this incident; she has been
    nominated for a Medal of Honor.)  I thought she too was entirely
    believable. 

    Another strength of the film is the quality of the action sequences.  The
    movie opens with video images of bombs over Baghdad, followed by 
    Washington's tanks going into action in the desert.  The confusion and
    violence of the battle scenes were pretty convincing (to me; I have never
    experienced combat.)
	
    In the end some of the complexity and ambiguities of the dramatic
    situation are simplified and the story comes to a fairly conventional
    closing, Washington's character finds a form of peace, heroism is
    appropriately celebrated.  (I hope that didn't need a spoiler.)
    
    The movie is well written and acted and in my opinion is a first rate 
    production that should be a contender in a number of categories at next 
    year's Academy Awards.  
    
    -Stephen
    

    The director of GLORY (I forget his name) directed COURAGE UNDER FIRE,
    so it's a four-star reunion with Washington, who got Best Supporting
    Actor for GLORY.
    
    Very little about the movie is computer-enhanced.  The desert shots
    were done in El Paso, with the cooperation of the U.S. military.
    Whenever you see an Abrams tank on the outside, it's real.  This movie
    has the best armored battle shots I've ever seen, and I'm a history
    addict.
    
    I think Meg Ryan *is* the co-star of this flick, because even though
    Washington's character has the most onscreen time, her spirit hovers
    (so to speak) throughout the movie.  My respect for her goes up another
    notch.
    
    It's about as far away from that "I'll have what she's having" scene
    you get at SONY theaters before *every* showing, no matter who's in it.
    
    Justin

    
    Justin,
    
    	Sorry to burst your bubble, but the US Military DID NOT co-operate
    with the making of this film. At the last minute, they backed out and
    the producers had to scramble for replacement equipment which was made
    up to LOOK like US Army vehicles. In addition, there is a story that a
    goverment agency saw what looked like an Apache parked at an airport,
    staked it out and nearly arrested the pilots because they thought that
    they had stolen an Apache. However, when the pilot pointed out the fake
    rockets, they let him go. Says alot for US Government inventory
    procedures when they don't know if all their (our) Apaches are
    accounted for...

    Before my bubble bursts, what are your sources on this info?  I'll
    grant you that mine was ENTERTAINMENT, and also that Hollywood does a
    good job of doctoring stuff so it looks like the real thing when they
    try.  Beats the good ole' days when they used Winchester '94s for 
    movies that were supposed to happen thirty years earlier (without even
    removing the front stock so it'd look like a Henry).
    
    Justin

    
    Well, this is what the producers said on "The making of Courage under
    Fire" on the E! channel. Since they paid the bill, I suspect they would
    know...

    
    Caught this movie yesterday. Great movie. Great acting. If Washington
    doesn't get an award for this, the academy should be dissolved.
    I found myself all tensed up during the action scenes.
    
    The weirdest thing happened when the credits were rolling. No one from
    the audience got up to leave. Everyone seemed to be rivetted to their
    seats. Like they were in awe. Never have I witnessed something like
    that. It was really strange.
    
    ****1/2 out of *****
    
    Dave
    

    
    re.> .03
    
    the director of "Courage Under Fire" is Ed Zwick.
    
    He also directed "Glory" and "Legends of the Fall".
    
    In t.v. land he was the creator of the hit "Thirty Something".

I haven't seen this yet, but I have seen one other Denzel Washington's 
movie - Mississipi Masala, and he really impressed me.

	gotta check this one out.

/Jk

    What is the music that is played during the promos for this
    movie that are currently being shown on TV?  I could swear I've
    heard it before...
    
    Chris

    I believe that it is actually a Shaker song which was popularized by
    Aaron Copeland (Appalachian Spring?) and has recently been used in
    Oldsmobile ads.   I forget the exact title, something like 'A Simple
    Song' -- my brother used it at his wedding, so I _should_ know...
    
    /jeff
    

.11 is right about the song, except the title is "Simple Gifts."  
("'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free," etc.)

-- Nina

    Aha, thanks, so I *did* hear it before.  I thought it might have
    simply been my overactive imagination...
    
    Thanks,
    Chris

    .4, .6
    
    You're right -- and although my bubble didn't pop when I went back to
    see COF again, my face got a little red when the credits showed that
    Australia was more helpful than the USA with this one.
    
    There was another reason I stuck around for credits this time: 
    The young girl who played Meg Ryan's daughter looked so much like 
    Ryan that I wanted to get a clue to whether or not she was.  Any 
    ideas, folks? 
    
    Justin

    re .14, I think Ryan has only one child, a son (Jack?).
    
    Leslie

    
    	Meg and I named him Jacques, but people insist on calling him
    	Jack anyways.
    

RE .17 - Shawn, you WISH...!!  :-)

- Nina

According to the press kit, when the US Army backed out, they rented some old
tanks from a company in Australia and added sheet metal to them to make them
look like Abrams and Iraqi tanks.

    Saw this movie last night and I got my $$$$$'$ worth out of it.  I
    really enjoy'ed Denzel's part in the movie and he should get an
    award for his role.  I like Ryan's part in the movie and thought
    they should have done more with it, but I give it a ****........
    
    
    My 2 cents

    Great story.  Good acting.  Kept me into it, through out the whole
    flick.
    
    	3 anda half outta 5
    
    	  Jay