Production Companies Dune Films, MFP Munich Film Partners GmbH & Company I. Produktions KG, Paramount Pictures, Roe Productions KG, Seven Arts Productions
Other Titles • Rules of Engagement (2000) • Les Règles d'engagement
Synopses for Rules of Engagement (2000)
1.
Director William Friedkin knows a thing or two about staging harrowing action sequences, and if you don't believe that, you've never seen The French Connection or To Live and Die in L.A. He comes through niftily in this film as well, with an opening Vietnam battle sequence that sets the stage for the rest of the story, and then with the central moment in the film: a rescue mission involving Marines extricating the American ambassador from an embassy surrounded by hostile protesters in Yemen. Unfortunately, Friedkin can't do much about the implausible plot that follows, in which the Marine commander, played by the always-terrific Samuel L. Jackson, is accused of slaughtering innocent civilians (who actually were shooting at him and his men). He must rely on an old Marine buddy--a lawyer played by Tommy Lee Jones--to get him through the jury-rigged court martial. But the central premise--that an evil presidential aide would perjure himself and destroy evidence simply to maintain good relations with U.S. allies in the Middle East, rather than defending a highly decorated Marine colonel who risked his life--is inevitably hard to swallow. And the ending is even flimsier. --Marshall Fine
2.
When a routine security mission at the U.S. embassy in Yemen goes awry and 85 civilian demonstrators are killed, decorated Marine Colonel Terry Childers is court-martialed for breaking the "rules of engagement" by a nervous national security adviser. Childers calls upon his old buddy from Nam, military lawyer Hays Hodges, to defend him in court. Determined to get to the truth, Hodges must rely on his soldier's instincts as he follows an explosive trail of cover-ups and half-truths that lead to the highest corridors of power in this action-packed drama from the director of THE FRENCH CONNECTION and THE EXORCIST.
When anti-Western demonstrators surround the U.S. embassy in Yemen, decorated U.S. Marine Colonel Terry Childers (Samuel L. Jackson) is ordered to secure the premises and "baby-sit" the embassy's staff. Upon arrival, the soldiers find the embassy besieged by snipers and an unruly mob. Childers leads a daring rescue of the ambassador (Ben Kingsley) and his family but in the process loses three men. With bullets flying from all directions and the not-so-peaceful demonstrators breaking down the embassy's gate, he orders his men to open fire on the crowd. When the smoke clears, 83 Yemen civilians lay dead, including many women and children. Back in the States, National Security Advisor Bill Sokal (Bruce Greenwood)--hoping to deflect criticism from the U.S. government and defuse a mounting international crisis--appoints young gun "New Yawk" military lawyer Major Biggs (Guy Pearce) to prosecute Childers for violating the Marine's "rules of engagement." Facing life in prison and possible execution if convicted, Childers calls upon cynical military lawyer Colonel Hays Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones), an old friend whose life he saved in Vietnam, as his reluctant advocate. But with the evidence stacked against Childers, Hodges must draw upon his soldier's instincts to defend his client from both the political careerists in need of a scapegoat and his own troubled past.
3.
When the U.S. Embassy in Yemen is surrounded by a large crowd of demonstrators, Col. Terry Childers, USMC, is ordered to lead a squadron of Marines to bolster security at the embassy. He has orders to evacuate the ambassador and his family if the situation turns violent. A few short hours after Childers launches his mission, the ambassador's safety is secured, but three of Childers' men are dead, along with more than the 80 Yemeni men, women and children killed by Marine gunfire.
Childers now faces a court-martial for violating the rules of engagement by killing unarmed civilians. He denies the charge, contending the protesters were armed and had opened fire on the Embassy. But it appears that the government has made the colonel the fall guy for an ugly diplomatic crisis: the men who could have testified on his behalf have been killed in action, one of the witnesses seems to be lying, and the President's National Security Adviser destroys evidence that might help Childers' case. Childers refuses to go down quietly and turns to his longtime friend, Hays Hodges, to defend him.
4.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT -- Directives issued by competent military authority which delineate the circumstances and limitations under which United States forces will initiate and/or continue combat engagement with other forces encountered. -- Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Term
Col. Terry Childers (Samuel L. Jackson) is a 30-year Marine veteran: a decorated officer with combat experience in Vietnam, Beirut and Desert Storm-- a patriot, a hero. But now, the country he served so well has put him on trial for a rescue mission that went terribly wrong. For his attorney, he has chosen Marine Col. Hays Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones), a comrade-in-arms who owes his life to Childers. Hodges is not the best lawyer in the service, but Childers trusts him as a brother Marine who knows what it's like to risk death under fire. Bound by duty and friendship, Hodges reluctantly takes the case, even as he begins to doubt the man who saved his life in Vietnam three decades ago.
"Rules of Engagement" stars Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson and is directed by William Friedkin. A Paramount Pictures presentation in association with Seven Arts Pictures, the film also stars Guy Pearce, Bruce Greenwood, Blair Underwood, Philip Baker Hall, Anne Archer and Ben Kingsley. The producers are Richard D. Zanuck and Scott Rudin, and the executive producers are Adam Schroeder and James Webb. Arne Schmidt serves as co-producer. Stephen Gaghan wrote the screenplay based on a story by James Webb, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy. Paramount Pictures is releasing the film in the U.S. and Canada. Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc.
Other behind-the-camera talents include directors of photography William A. Fraker and Nicola Pecorini, production designer Robert Laing, editor Augie Hess, costume designer Gloria Gresham and stunt coordinator Buddy Joe Hooker. Dale Dye is the film's military technical adviser and also appears on screen as a general who gives Childers his support.
When the U.S. Embassy in Yemen is surrounded by a large crowd of demonstrators, Col. Terry Childers, USMC, is ordered to lead a squadron of Marines to bolster security at the embassy. He has orders to evacuate the ambassador and his family if the situation turns violent. A few short hours after Childers launches his mission, the ambassador's safety is secured, but three of Childers' men are dead, along with more than the 80 Yemeni men, women and children killed by Marine gunfire.
Childers now faces a court-martial for violating the rules of engagement by killing unarmed civilians. He denies the charge, contending the protesters were armed and had opened fire on the Embassy. But it appears that the government has made the colonel the fall guy for an ugly diplomatic crisis: the men who could have testified on his behalf have been killed in action, one of the witnesses seems to be lying, and the President's National Security Adviser destroys evidence that might help Childers' case. Childers refuses to go down quietly and turns to his longtime friend, Hays Hodges, to defend him.
5.
Rules of Engagement opens strongly with a Vietnam battle sequence that sets the stage for the rest of the story. But then director William Friedkin knows a thing or two about staging harrowing action sequences, and if you don't believe that, you've never seen The French Connectionor To Live and Die in LA. Unfortunately, Friedkin can't do much about the implausible plot that follows, in which the Marine commander, played by the always-terrific Samuel L Jackson, is accused of slaughtering innocent civilians (who actually were shooting at him and his men). He must rely on an old Marine buddy--a lawyer played by Tommy Lee Jones--to get him through the jury-rigged court martial. But the central premise--that an evil presidential aide would perjure himself and destroy evidence simply to maintain good relations with US allies in the Middle East, rather than defending a highly decorated Marine colonel who risked his life--is inevitably hard to swallow. And the ending is even flimsier. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
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