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Clint Eastwood, Marsha Mason, Everett McGill, Moses Gunn, Eileen Heckart ... see more see more... , Bo Svenson , Boyd Gaines , Mario Van Peebles , Arlen Dean Snyder , Vincent Irizarry , Ramon Franco , Tom Villard , Mike Gomez , Rodney Hill , Pete Koch , John Hostetter , Peter Jason , Christopher Michael , Lloyd Nelson , Annie O'Donnell , Rebecca Perle , Begonia Plaza , J.C. Quinn , Elizabeth Ruscio , Darwyn Swalve , Richard Venture , Nicholas Worth , Michael Maurer , Thom Sharp , Dutch Mann

Having spent much of his directorial career emulating Don Siegel and John Ford, Clint Eastwood borrows a page from the catalogue of Sam Fuller in Heartbreak Ridge. Eastwood casts himself as an old-fas... read more read more...hioned Marine Corps sergeant who is out of step with the new-fashioned military. He returns to his old outfit as a gunnery sergeant, where he runs afoul of 1980s-style superior officers to whom the words "Gung Ho" are foolish anachronisms. But through his tough tutelage, Eastwood's lackadaisical platoon is whipped into a first-rate fighting machine, favoring teamwork over such New Age gobbledygook as "self-fulfillment." Eastwood's men prove their mettle during the invasion of Grenada. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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73% liked it

20,492 ratings

Critics

92% liked it

12 critics

R, 2 hr. 10 min.

Directed by: Clint Eastwood

Release Date: December 5, 1986

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DVD Release Date: October 1, 2002

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Stats: 898 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (898)

  • clintervin
    November 18, 2011
    clintervin
    Being a lifelong Eastwood fan, I re-visited Heartbreak Ridge after reading that it was produced after Louis Gossett Jr. won an Oscar for An Officer and a Gentleman. In my opinion, Eastwood was at least equal to Gossett's performance, but Heartbreak Ridge garnered no Oscar attent... read moreion. I wish Eastwood had made more movies like this one, something like John Wayne in Sands of Iwo Jima as a role model. Like "Iwo Jima," this is a sort-of basic training to battlefield story but with more of a back story to its protagonist. Its not a political film nor a comedy, although there many comedic moments. Mario Van Peebles adds several of them, and his pairing with Eastwood, while odd at first, works well in an opposites though strangely alike sort of way.

    The love story subplot is awkward, more humorous than poignant. This is Clint Eastwood, at his gravel-voiced toughest, getting relationship advice from women's magazines. I enjoyed Marsha Mason as Aggie, Gunny Highway's ex-wife and new flame. (Figure that out) Eastwood also displays his soft hearted side with compassion toward one of his troops with family issues.

    So, Gunny Highway , trying to re-claim his lost youth and saddled with military politics and ego cashes, succeeds in making "life takers and heart breakers" out of a bunch of cast-off misfits and reclaims American military superiority. Is Heartbreak Ridge clichéd? Absolutely, yes. Does that matter? No, it works great as an action/war movie and maybe even better as a hilarious commentary on the generation gap. Still looking for a reason to watch: I just like hearing the word "clusterfuck" as well.
  • ythelastman89
    June 4, 2011
    ythelastman89
    Almost like the counterpart to A Few Good Men for some reason. This showcases the hard as nails Clint Eastwood as a drill sergeant who will do anything to whip his platoon into shape. He goes out of his way to trick and create schemes in order to hurt/help his men, making for a r... read moreeally classic bit of Clint. I think it's interesting to have a movie that's not really in the war genre, but not solely about training. It's more of a multi-layered drama that doesn't get enough credit. People either get bored with the lack of killing or lack of stereotypical Clint Eastwood catch phrases, but given the chance, it's a really cool movie.
  • pier007
    May 5, 2011
    pier007
    I don't give a damn about predictability when I'm having this much fun with the always badass and gravely voiced Clint kicking asses and throwing in all possible profanities.
  • SirPant
    January 10, 2011
    SirPant
    Clint Eastwood has directed and stared in some of the greatest films of all time. Heartbreak Ridge is not one of them. Some of the lines are pretty good but after they've been repeated for the hundredth time they start to loose their edge somewhat. If you like terrible 80s films ... read morethen this one is for you but be warned, this isn't so bad it's good, it's just so bad it's bad. Bizarrely overrated!
  • allan913
    May 7, 2008
    allan913
    Clint Eastwood gives one of the best performances of his career. A wickedly funny and action-packed drama. A powerful, compelling and exhilerating movie.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    August 15, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Clint Eastwood is great when he kicks some Marine's butts.
  • stuartb1234
    December 31, 2006
    stuartb1234
    Clint is just awesome in this movie
  • garyX
    December 23, 2006
    garyX
    More of the dumb machismo that hallmarks Clint's worst movie moments. Hideously cliched bootcamp movie in which veteran sergeant Eastwood whips a collection of wise asses into shape and wins their respect yadda yadda yadda... You can predict every line of the script without ever ... read morehaving to watch the film. So don't bother.
  • deano
    October 31, 2006
    deano
    As the gritty, raspy-voiced sergeant, Eastwood's performance is one of the richest he has ever given.
  • burgerstar
    August 24, 2010
    burgerstar
    Not realistic according to R. Lee Ermy. I enjoy most Eastwood movies anyway.

View All Heartbreak Ridge Reviews

Critic Reviews

John J. Puccio
June 15, 2010
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

You may not always like Eastwood's films, but you seldom get downright bored by them. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
February 12, 2010
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

For a war film, Heartbreak Ridge is oddly lighter in spirit than many of Eastwood's other films from this period. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 15, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

Clint Eastwood is at his macho, insubordinate best in this exuberant, salty military movie with more memorable lines and funny moments than most comedies.

Scott Weinberg
July 26, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Eastwood's clearly having a ball as a gravel-throated solider man.

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Paul Attanasio
January 1, 2000
Paul Attanasio, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Andy Klein
March 30, 2005
Andy Klein, Los Angeles CityBeat

No review available.

Robin Clifford
March 14, 2005
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Sgt. Webster: Major Powers and I are building an e-lite company of fighting men.
    • Tom Highway: The only thing you could build, Webster... is a good case of hemorrhoids.
    • "Swede" Johnson: I'm gonna rip yer head off and shit down yer neck.
    • Tom Highway: Take your post. The Marines are looking for a few good men. Unfortunately you ain't it. We will blaze a path into battle for others to follow. Surrender is not in our creed. Let me here you say that.
    • Fragetti: [along with the rest of the platoon, mumbling] Surrender is not in our creed.
    • Tom Highway: Louder or the next time you leave this base for R&R you'll be collecting your pensions.
    • Fragetti: [along with the rest of the platoon] Surrender is not in our creed!
    • Tom Highway: Louder!
    • Fragetti: [along with the rest of the platoon] SURRENDER IS NOT IN OUR CREED!
    • Tom Highway: Oo-rah
    • Maj. Powers: [approaching Highway] Just what the hell do you think you're doing?
    • Tom Highway: Just enjoying the view, sir.
    • Maj. Powers: Well, you disobeyed an order. I told you to stay in contact and not take this hill without me. Damn it! Get on your feet, Highway!
    • Tom Highway: With all due respect, sir, you're beginning to bore the hell out of me.
    • Maj. Powers: [approaching Highway] Just what the hell do you think you're doing?
    • Tom Highway: I'll tell you whats black and bleeding if it don't shut its face.
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Heartbreak Ridge Trivia

  • which actor/director goes up against the 'swede' in heartbreak ridge  Answer »
  • What was the name of the character that attempted to rip off Gunny Highway's head in Heartbreak Ridge?  Answer »
  • In the movie Heartbreak Ridge, Clint Eastwood plays a hardbitten military man - which armed forces did he serve in in this movie?  Answer »
  • In the movie "Heartbreak Ridge" what actor said "I say he improvised and adapted."  Answer »
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