Rules of Engagement (2000)

An attorney defends an officer on trial for ordering his troops to fire on civilians after they stormed a U.S. embassy in a Middle Eastern country.

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

Jim Webb (story) (as James Webb), Stephen Gaghan (screenplay)

Stars:

Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Guy Pearce

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tommy Lee Jones	...	Colonel Hayes Hodges
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Colonel Terry Childers
Guy Pearce	...	Major Biggs
Ben Kingsley	...	Mourain
Bruce Greenwood	...	Bill Sokal
Anne Archer	...	Mrs. Mourain
Blair Underwood	...	Captain Lee
Philip Baker Hall	...	General H. Lawrence Hodges
Dale Dye	...	General Perry
Amidou	...	Doctor Ahmar
Mark Feuerstein	...	Tom Chandler
Richard McGonagle	...	Judge
Baoan Coleman	...	Colonel Cao
Nicky Katt	...	Hayes Hodges III
Ryan Hurst	...	Corporal Hustings

Storyline

Hayes Hodges finds his career aspirations dashed when he's wounded in Vietnam. He returns to America and becomes a disillusioned lawyer who goes up against the Service to defend Colonel Terry Childers, who is accused of inciting an incident that leaves many demonstrators dead. Hodges is in no position to decline: Childers saved his life in Vietnam.

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Plot Keywords:

vietnam war veteran | the white house | suspense | violence | colonel | 

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Taglines:

A hero should never have to stand alone.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for scenes of war violence, and for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson both appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and both also acted alongside Harrison Ford, Jones in The Fugitive (1993), Jackson in Patriot Games (1992). Jones also acted alongside Jackson's wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson in U.S. Marshals (1998), a sequel to the film he appeared in with Ford. Additionally, Jackson and Ford both appeared in the Star Wars franchise.

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Goofs

During the fight between Hodges and Childers, just after Hodges throws the pillow and knocks Childers to the floor, you see someone from the crew slide across from right to left, pick up the pillow, and toss it to Childers.

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Quotes

Colonel Terry L. Childers: Yes they had weapons! You think there's a script for fighting a war without pissing somebody off? Follow the rules and nobody gets hurt? Yes, innocent people probably died. Innocent people always die but I did not exceed my orders.

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Alternate Versions

Some international prints, made for DVD/TV broadcast, have removed the Paramount logo and fade straight into the Seven Arts Pictures logo. The opening titles also now read "Seven Arts Pictures Present in association with Paramount Pictures". This is due to the fact that Seven Arts owned the international rights and wanted prime credit.

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Connections

Featured in Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (2006)

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Soundtracks

On the Threshold of Liberty
by Mark Isham
Contains a sample performed by Mark Isham
Courtesy of The Windham Hill Group

User Reviews

Undervalued and important film

Should be viewed by anyone considering a career in the service. Great performances by a coupl of our best actors. Sadly the topic is an all too familiar one of the government selling out the men and women who serve it.

Details

Country:

UK Germany Canada USA

Language:

English Arabic

Release Date:

7 April 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rules of Engagement

Filming Locations:

Greystone Park & Mansion - 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,011,181, 9 April 2000

Gross USA:

$61,335,230

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$71,732,303

Company Credits

Production Co:

Seven Arts Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Munich Film Partners & Company (MFP) ROE Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1