Watch Under Fire
- R
- 1983
- 2 hr 8 min
-
7.0 (8,676)
Under Fire is a gripping drama that takes place during the civil war in Nicaragua in the late 1970s. The film, directed by Roger Spottiswoode, stars Nick Nolte, Ed Harris, and Gene Hackman as journalists who find themselves in the middle of the conflict. The story follows three journalists, Russell Price (Nick Nolte), Claire Stryder (Joanna Cassidy), and Alex Grazier (Gene Hackman), who are covering the Nicaraguan revolution for their respective news agencies. They are all experienced war correspondents who have covered conflicts all over the world, but the situation in Nicaragua is different. They quickly realize that there are no clear lines between the good guys and the bad guys, and that they are in danger from all sides.
Amidst the chaos of the revolution, Russell falls in love with Claire, and together they witness and report on the atrocities committed by both the Sandinista government and the Contras, the rebel group fighting against them. The journalists are also caught in the crosshairs of the CIA, who are working to destabilize the Sandinista government.
The film does an excellent job of balancing action and drama, providing plenty of scenes of intense violence while also delving into the personal lives of the characters. The performances by Nolte, Harris, and Hackman are all excellent, and they convey the fear, uncertainty, and bravery that comes with being a journalist in a war zone.
One of the most powerful scenes in the film is when the journalists stumble upon a mass grave filled with the bodies of villagers who had been executed by the Contras. The horror of the scene is compounded by the fact that the journalists are unable to get the story out to the world due to the censorship imposed by the CIA.
Another standout scene is when Russell and Claire witness a church massacre committed by the government forces. The emotional impact of the scene is heightened by the fact that the journalists are unable to intervene, and can only bear witness to the senseless violence.
Overall, Under Fire is an excellent film that explores the complexities of war and the role of the media in reporting on it. The performances, direction, and cinematography all come together to create an intense, emotionally-charged experience. The film is a powerful reminder of the importance of a free press, and its ability to shine a light on injustice and corruption.
Under Fire is a 1983 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 8 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 72.