FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Under Fire [DVD] [1983]

Under Fire [DVD] [1983]
enlarge	Director: Roger Spottiswoode Actors: Nick Nolte, Ed Harris, Gene Hackman, Joanna Cassidy, Alma Martinez Studio: MGM Entertainment Category: DVD List Price: ~~£12.99~~ Buy New: £0.98 as of 25/11/2009 00:43 GMT details You Save: £12.01 (92%) New (20) Used (10) Collectible (1) from £0.91 Seller: moonykate Rating: 3 reviews Sales Rank: 21271 Format: PAL, Widescreen Languages: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), German (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), Dutch (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Discs: 1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 123 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5050070008067 ASIN: B00006421E Theatrical Release Date: October 21, 1983 Release Date: May 6, 2002 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


Similar Items: Missing [DVD] [1982] Cutter's Way [DVD] [1981] The Killing Fields (Special Edition) [DVD] [1984] The China Syndrome [DVD] The Falcon And The Snowman [DVD] [1984]


Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review IUnder Fire/I was one of a trio of notable films from the mid-1980s about journalists involved in Third World war zones. While certainly a lesser film than ISalvador/I (1986) or IThe Killing Fields/I (1984) Roger Spottiswoode's movie is still a commendable work from a director who later brought a similarly political edge to INoriega: God's Favourite/I (2000). pNick Nolte plays an American photo-journalist covering the civil war in Nicaragua in 1979, finding himself caught in a dangerous and cynical web of duplicity and self-interest, as well as falling in love with fellow American, Claire (Joanna Cassidy). Nolte gradually uncovers the degree of his own government's involvement with the corrupt regime, and inevitably ends up crossing the line from neutral observer to helping the rebel cause. pIUnder Fire/I is in essence a reworking of ICasablanca/I, especially as Gene Hackman's network newsman proves to be Cassidy's ex-lover, yet thanks to an intelligent script, strong support from Ed Harris as a mercenary and some genuinely unnerving and frightening scenes of the random chaos of war, it's one which packs a powerful punch. Jerry Goldsmith's evocative score is among his best of the 1980s.pBOn the DVD:/B IUnder Fire/I is presented in an anamorphic 1.77:1 transfer which is very clean and clear with minimal grain. The well-mixed Dolby Pro-logic soundtrack is highly effective, if not so startling as a 5.1 track. Beyond multi-language and subtitle options, the only extra is the original trailer, which is also anamorphically enhanced. --IGary S Dalkin/I

Customer Reviews: Taking sides July 28, 2006 Trevor Willsmer (London, England) 4 out of 6 found this review helpful Under Fire is one of the few mainstream American `political' movies to emerge from the studio system, but along with Missing it's probably the best. On one level it grafts a traditional romantic triangle onto its story of American war correspondents in Nicaragua gradually finding themselves drawn to taking sides instead of taking pictures, but at least it's a convincingly grown-up relationship that allows Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman and a never better Joanna Cassidy to really shine. It's a shame that Cassidy never got more opportunities like this: a last-minute replacement for Julie Christie, she's extraordinarily good here. br / br /The film also boasts an impressive supporting cast, with a star-making turn from Ed Harris as an amiable but deadly mercenary a standout, although Jean-Louis Tritignant's deceptively unsubtle CIA man gives him a run for his money (not so much for his performance - his English was non-existent and it's obvious he's learned his lines phonetically - but because he has most of the film's best dialog). Extremely well directed by Roger Spottiswoode with a promise he never really fulfilled, it's an impressive albeit partisan portrait of a country decaying in the last stages of revolution and also boasts what is possibly Jerry Goldsmith's finest score (which is saying quite something). Impressive stuff. br / br /The DVD's only extra is the superb theatrical trailer, although it does boast a decent widescreen transfer. A film with new resonance January 16, 2006 a little bit of a grumpy old so and so (London,UK) 4 out of 4 found this review helpful Set in civil war torn Nicaragua where the US was propping up the regime of a Dictator (Antonio Somoza) against a popular left wing uprising. Stars Nick Nolte Joanna Cassidy and Gene Hackman. The heroes all make poor choices and are flawed, for both good and bad reasons. The journalists become committed to one side in the conflict, and in this action harm those they wish to support, and yet ultimately an honest piece of reporting does produce change. Thus it addresses the eternal dilemma for journalists who must ask whether to remain passive or become active - record or participate? Now probably - "suppress or report"? pIts resonance is the hypocrisy and arrogance of US foreign policy - then supporting South American Juntas through the 1980s and 1990s - and now... It is based upon a true story - the the death of journalist Bill Stewart at the hands of a Nicarguan soldier was filmed by a TV crew and really did change the course of a Civil war - but not before countless "less important" deaths. pThe film is driven along by an excellent soundtrack, which sucks you in as the tension builds. Weaved in this is an inevitable but credible love story. The leads all give strong performances.pI think this film has been rather overlooked - perhaps it said too many things the American public did not want to hear. Better than Salvador. A policitical drama and love story about a murder set in a war!pWorth a watch. A treatise on the hazards of journalism February 14, 2005 Francisco (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK) 4 out of 7 found this review helpful Nolte plays Russell, an American photojournalist who always gets his story. Fresh from a war in Africa, he heads to South America where the Maxist rebels are starting to gain ground (and worry Washington). Russell announces to everyone he meets that he will get an interview with the mysterious Rafael who leads the rebels. He also desires his boss's ex (who's a journalist herself).pOn his quest for his story, the rebels give him a stark choice: he can have access if he fakes a story.pIt's very slow starting and it isn't until about half way through the film that the characters start getting any depth. The first 45mins to 1 hour of the movie is mostly taken up with the soap opera-ish love triangle (with a bit of journalism thrown in) whilst setting the political scene. Once the story gets moving it finds it's own voice and poses questions on the ethics of journalism in a war-torn country.pThe film is worth watching if you're patient and are in a serious mood. It's not The Killing Fields (though the first third does remind of that film) but it is an intelligent film which manages to say something and give you characters that grow on you.

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON EU S.à.r.l. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.