Rules Of Engagement
Action, Drama, Thriller
Paramount Pictures  (2000) 127 mins R

6.2 (15,778 votes)
Desperate times call for moves that are not always sanctioned by the powers that be. Col. Terry Childers (Samuel L. Jackson) is put on trial after being sent on a rescue mission to the American Embassy in Yemen and returning fire into a crowd of civillians after rescuing the Ambassador and his family. All proof that he acted in defense of his men and his assignment seems to have vanished. For his defense, he calls upon a man that served with him before in Vietnam where he was terribly wounded. Col. Hayes Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones) owes his life to Col. Childers, but he is a broken man without much fight left. Without any evidence to the contrary, will the two men be able to keep Col. Childers from being a scapegoat simply for doing his duty?...

Play
Cast and Crew
Samuel L. Jackson  ......  Col. Terry L. Childers
Tommy Lee Jones  ......  Col. Hayes Hodges
Dale Dye  ......  Gen. Perry
Anne Archer  ......  Mrs. Mourain
Nicky Katt  ......  Hayes Hodges III
Ben Kingsley  ......  Ambassador Mourain
Director  .....  William Friedkin
Producer  .....  Scott Rudin; Arne Schmidt; Richard D. Zanuck
Writer  .....  Stephen Gaghan; James Webb
Cinematography  .....  Nicola Pecorini; William A. Fraker
Musician  .....  Mark Isham
Notes
Goofs:
Continuity: When Col. Childers boards the helicopter on the USS Wake Island, it is a USMC UH-1N Huey with twin engines. During the shots of the helicopters approaching the embassy, Childers' helicopter switched to a UH-1H Huey with a single engine. The helicopters in the shots of the Wake Island were actual Marine Corps aircraft, two CH-46 Sea Knights and the UH-1N Huey. Later shots were helicopters belonging to the Moroccan Air Force, two CH-47 Chinooks and a UH-1H Huey, which were painted to look like the USMC helicopters. (more)

Trivia:
When Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones) returns to the bombed-out embassy, there is a picture of then Vice President Al Gore on the charred wall. Gore and Jones were roommates at Harvard. (more)

Filming Locations:
Alexandria, Virginia, USA (more)

Quotes:
Colonel Terry L. Childers: Waste those motherf*ckers. (more)

Awards:
1 win & 1 nomination (more)