Three journalists in a romantic triangle are involved in political intrigue during the last days of the corrupt Somoza regime in Nicaragua before it falls to a popular revolution in 1979.Three journalists in a romantic triangle are involved in political intrigue during the last days of the corrupt Somoza regime in Nicaragua before it falls to a popular revolution in 1979.Three journalists in a romantic triangle are involved in political intrigue during the last days of the corrupt Somoza regime in Nicaragua before it falls to a popular revolution in 1979.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 wins & 9 nominations total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis movie was made and released about four years after the events of the Nicaraguan revolution depicted in the film occurred in 1979. American reporter Bill Stewart was killed by Nicaraguan soldiers at that time.
- GoofsWhen the convoy in Africa is attacked by a Douglas C-47, it is made to appear it is shooting at the road ahead of it, although the C-47 has no forward-firing weapons. It may have a machine gun in the rear cargo door, but it is in no position to fire ahead of the aircraft.
- Quotes
Marcel Jazy: I like you people, but you are sentimental shits! You fall in love with the poets; the poets fall in love with the Marxists; the Marxists fall in love with themselves. The country falls in love with the rhetoric, and in the end we are stuck with tyrants.
This tense and nail-biting thriller is packed with as much taut action , enjoyable message as the storyline will allow , but let down at times . Engaging and raw film being compellingly shot , adding some political moments and its allegedly wave flag of impartiality cannot obscure the tension dripping from every frame of such reconstructed immediacy . Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman and Joanna Cassidy are roving war correspondents found at the start in the process of moving from Chad to Nicaragua 1979 where things go wrong . Suffering the Nicaraguan revolt of the Sandinists and along the way , all of them become involved in a romantic triangle . ¨Under Fire¨ has its good moments starred by a superb main cast , as Nick Nolte who's terrific as photographer Russel Price who covers the civil war against president Somoza and gets drawn into the happenings , as well as Gene Hackman and Joanna Cassidy . And splendidly accompanied by nice supporting interpretations from Ed Harris as a grinning mercenary killer , Alma Martinez as a girl guerrilla , Richard Masur , Holly Palance : Jack Palance's daughter who married director Roger Spottiswoode , Enrique Lucero , Elpidia Carrillo's brief appearance , René Enriquez as dictator Somoza, all of them make their marks . And special mention for French actor Jean-Louis Trintignant , but you have to wade through a bit of sludge to get them . The movie belongs to sub-genre that abounded in the 80s about reporters all around the world covering dangerous political conflicts , such as Indonesia in ¨The Year of Living Dangerously¨(1982) by Peter Weir with Mel Gibson , Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hunt ; Salvador in ¨Salvador¨ by Oliver Stone with James Woods and James Belushi, and Libano in ¨Deadline¨ by Nathaliel Gutman with Christopher Walken and Hywel Bennett.
It packs a picturesque and evocative cinematography shot on stunning locations in Chiapas, Mexico , Oaxaca City , Oaxaca State, Mexico , splendidly photographed by cameraman by John Alcott . As well as imaginative and stirring musical score by the great Jerry Goldsmith , including Central America sounds and folklore . The motion picture was competently directed by Roger Spottiswoode , though it draws some gaps . Robert has made decent and successful films of all kinds of genres , such as : ¨Terror Train , Under Fire , The Best of Times , Turner and Hooch , Air America , Stop or My Mother will Shot , And the Band Played On, Tomorrow Never Dies , God's Favorite , The 6th Day¨and several others . The flick will appeal to Nick Nolte and Gene Hackman fans . Well worth seeing . Rating : 7/10 , better than average .
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $9,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $5,696,391
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,837,768
- Oct 23, 1983
- Gross worldwide
- $5,696,391
- Runtime2 hours 8 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1