A MEDAL FOR HONOR. A SEARCH FOR JUSTICE. A BATTLE FOR TRUTH.

Lieutenant Colonel Nat Serling (Denzel Washington) looks into the case of a helicopter pilot (Meg Ryan) who died in the Gulf War; she’s set to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously, but something is wrong. Washington reunites with Glory (1989) director Edward Zwick for another military drama. Inspired by Kurosawa’s Rashomon (1950) (and the real-life case of the Black Hawk that was downed in Somalia in 1993), there are several stories told about what happened in the desert; the truth turns out to be very hard to find. A few endings too many, but the film is well written, engaging and even somewhat moving once the truth is revealed.

1996-U.S. 115 min. Color. Produced by Joseph M. Singer, David T. Friendly. Directed by Edward Zwick. Screenplay: Patrick Sheane Duncan. Music: James Horner. Cast: Denzel Washington (Nat Serling), Meg Ryan (Karen Walden), Lou Diamond Phillips (Johnny Monfriez), Michael Moriarty, Sean Astin, Matt Damon… Scott Glenn.

Trivia: Steve Zahn was allegedly considered for the part that came to be played by Matt Damon. 

Last word: “After this scene, Denzel leaned over to me and whispered, ‘Man, I think I better raise my game. This kid is good!’” (Zwick recalling a moment when Washington noticed Damon, Yahoo!)

IMDb