The Guardian (2006/I)

Director:

Andrew Davis

Writer (WGA):

Ron L. Brinkerhoff (written by)

Release Date:

29 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

When lives are on the line, sacrifice everything.

Plot:

A high school swim champion with a troubled past enrolls in the U.S. Coast Guard's "A" School, where legendary rescue swimmer Ben Randall teaches him some hard lessons about loss, love, and self-sacrifice.

Plot Keywords:

Rescue | Coast Guard | Training | Team | Instructor

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Kevin Costner	...	Ben Randall
Ashton Kutcher	...	Jake Fischer
Sela Ward	...	Helen Randall
Melissa Sagemiller	...	Emily Thomas
Clancy Brown	...	Capt. William Hadley
Omari Hardwick	...	Carl Billings
Alex Daniels	...	Wild Bill
Daniel J. Molthen	...	Co-Pilot Wakefield (as Lcdr. Daniel J. Molthen USCG)
Andrew Schanno	...	Pilot Mitchell (as Lt. Andrew Schanno USCG)
Adam Pena	...	Benjamin Reyes
Joe Arquette	...	Co-Pilot Antunez
Gary Billburg	...	Julian Zankich (as PO1 Gary Billburg USCG)
Joshua Mitcheltree	...	Mitcheltree (as PO2 Joshua Mitcheltree USCG)
Rusty Tennant	...	Mover #1
James Barnes	...	Doctor #1

Also Known As:

Guardianes de altamar (Argentina) (Mexico) (Venezuela) [es]
Anjos da Vida - Mais Bravos que o Mar (Brazil) [pt]
Coast Guards (France) [fr]
Hullámtörök (Hungary) [hu]
Jede Sekunde zählt - The Guardian (Germany) [de]
Koruyucu (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Meripelastaja (Finland) [fi]
O fylakas (Greece) [el]
Patrol (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

139 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Malaysia:U | Brazil:12 | UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:12A (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41893) | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:M | Sweden:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Alaska, USA

Company:

Beacon Pictures

Trivia:

The movie uses clips of real incidents supplied to Walt Disney by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency during the training sequences in scenes at the training school.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The "Squid Bar" Hodges and Fisch go to is filled with Sailors in the utility uniforms, along with various officers and chiefs. Sailors are not allowed to drink in the utility uniform or even go into a bar.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Capt. William Hadley: There is a legend of a man who lives beneath the sea. He is a fisher of men, the last hope of all those who have been left behind. Many survivors claim to have felt his gripping hands beneath them; pushing them up to the surface; whispering strength until help could arrive. But this, of course, is only a legend.

Movie Connections:

References Matchstick Men (2003)

Soundtrack:

Hold On I'm Comin'

Worthy of audience applause

I attended an advance screening of this film not sure of what to expect from Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher; both have delivered less than memorable performances & films. While the underlying "general" storyline is somewhat familiar, this film was excellent. Both Costner and Kutcher delivered powerful performances playing extremely well off each other. The human frailties and strengths of their respective characters were incredibly played by both; the scene when Costner confronts Kutcher with the personal reasons why Kutcher joined the Coast Guard rescue elite was the film's most unforgettable emotional moment. The "specific" storyline was an education in itself depicting the personal sacrifice and demanding physical training the elite Coast Guard rescuers must go through in preparation of their only job & responsibility...to save lives at sea. The special effects of the rescue scenes were extremely realistic and "wowing"...I haven't seen such angry seas since "The Perfect Storm". Co-star Clancy Brown (HBO's "Carnivale" - great to see him again) played the captain of the Coast Guard's Kodiak, Alaska base in a strong, convincing role as a leader with the prerequisite and necessary ice water in his veins. The film wonderfully, and finally, gives long overdue exposure and respect to the Coast Guard; it had the audience applauding at the end.