This film's relatively low IMDb rating of 6.6 as I write this baffles me. I thought it was a compelling story centering on parallel narratives involving Colonel Nat Serling (Denzel Washington),himself conflicted over a friendly fire incident in which his best friend was killed, while investigating the merit of awarding the country's first Medal of Honor to a woman who died in combat. Meg Ryan portrays female Captain Karen Walden in the story, and I do have to say that her presence in a dramatic role seemed almost distracting considering the many romantic comedies she's appeared in. However she does comport herself well in the battle scenes that eventually lead to her character's death.

I've read some of the other user reviews making comparisons to "Roshomon", and although there are similarities, I would point out that in the Kurosawa film, there really is no resolution to the validity of any of the four characters telling their side of a story regarding the murder of a samurai and the rape of his wife. It's really left to the imagination of the viewer regarding who's story one believes is true, if any of them. In this one, it's left fairly certain that medic Ilario's (Matt Damon) final accounting to Colonel Serling is the definitive version that confirms Captain Walden's valor in the heat of battle. The one thing that isn't confirmed is the exact manner in which she died because it occurred after all of the soldiers under her command were evacuated from the scene of the battle at Al Kufan.

What the movie brilliantly conveys is the personal conflict undergone by Serling in his personal and professional life and how his search for the truth becomes a quest that almost tears him and his family apart. Turning to booze as many in his shoes undoubtedly would, I didn't get the sense that he ever really crossed the line into alcoholism as many viewers suggest, though his reliance on alcohol seemed to imply he became a plateau drinker with just the right amount of resolve to keep himself under control. He obviously walked a very fine line attempting to balance the duty he felt to uncover the truth of his investigation while maintaining a devotion to his wife and family. In another picture, his marriage might not have withstood the consequences of his loyalty to the military.

Courage Under Fire is the first major film about the first Gulf War, the one that the first President Bush presided over. It's about men and women in combat and how they handle it. In fact George H.W. Bush, himself a hero from World War II has a peripheral involvement in Courage Under Fire. He actually sets in motion some of the events of this film.

Bronson Pinchot has a small, but really great part as a bootlicking White House aide. The actions of a female army captain and helicopter pilot Meg Ryan saved the lives of several troops though her chopper went down and she died. Unsaid in the film, but no doubt the case, looking for the women's vote in the 1992 election, the White House has taken a personal interest in seeing this female soldier gets a really top drawer decoration, maybe the Congressional Medal of Honor. Pinchot's down at the Pentagon really pushing hard on this case with General Michael Moriarty.

Moriarty assigns Colonel Denzel Washington to investigate the incident with Ryan. Washington's in a bit of jackpot himself, he was involved in a friendly fire incident and though he was innocent, he's waiting to be cleared officially.

Ryan turns out to be as brave a combat soldier this country ever produced of any gender. In fact she was dealing with a whole lot more than anyone of the brass originally thought. In fact that's the story of Courage Under Fire.

Matt Damon got some good reviews on his way up the Hollywood ladder of success as the drug addicted medic from Ryan's team. Lou Diamond Phillips should have been given an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor as the chauvinistic sergeant who is quite reluctant to cooperate with Washington's investigation.

Above all this film belongs to Meg Ryan. She breaks type in Courage Under Fire, she becomes a feminist role model for all time in this film. It was quite a change from the romantic parts she usually is cast in. Meg's got the right stuff in abundance here.

Denzel's performance is moving as well. He's getting it from all sides, from the Pentagon who want him to sign off on the report, from his wife, Regina Taylor who sees the stress this and his own situation is putting him in and his own conscience because he wants the report to be honest, fair, and thorough.

Courage Under Fire joins the ranks of great war films and this review is now dedicated to all the women who now serve in combat for the USA to keep us safe and free.

Lt Col Serling (Denzel Washington) leads a squad of tanks in the first Gulf War. He accidentally destroys one of his own tanks in a friendly fire incident. Washington Post reporter Tony Gartner (Scott Glenn) is after the story. Serling is relegated to a desk job. He's assigned to determine if medical helicopter pilot Cpt Karen Emma Walden (Meg Ryan) should be the first woman to receive a Medal of Honor for combat. The White House is very eager. However, there is more than one version of the incident which resulted in her death.

I love several things about this movie. Denzel is perfect as always. He needs to hold the center while having a compelling emotional story. Meg Ryan does the hardest acting of her career by bringing different versions of her character to life. Lou Diamond Phillips is great. Matt Damon is unrecognizable. It also has the Rashômon style of storytelling. I love that method. It feels more compelling than the straight forward way. It also feels more real with differing point of views.