Courage Under Fire

Courage Under Fire has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the UK on Disney Plus. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Denzel Washington's performance alone is worth the time investment. Start it on Disney Plus whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Courage Under Fire earns its spot. The plotting in Courage Under Fire is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. A US Army officer, who made a "friendly fire" mistake that was covered up, has been reassigned to a desk job. He is tasked to investigate a female chopper commander's worthiness to be awarded the Medal of Honor. At first all seems in order. Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. It hit screens in 1996. What makes Courage Under Fire hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Courage Under Fire will keep you hooked. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Denzel Washington's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.