Their innocence. Their heritage. Their lives. Nothing would be spared in the fight for their freedom.

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman, Andre Braugher, Jihmi Kennedy, Mark Margolis, Cliff DeYoung

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Dying's been what these white boys have been doing for going on three years now! Dying by the thousands! Dying for you, fool! I know, 'cause I dug the graves. And all this time I keep askin' myself, when, O Lord, when it's gonna be our time? Gonna come a time when we all gonna hafta ante up. Ante up and kick in like men. LIKE MEN!" – Rawlins

Why watch this?  Broderick and Washington - they are the power that propels the film forward.

Plot Summary: This tells the true story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the first all-black volunteer company in the US Civil War. A young, white army officer is assigned to lead this regiment and fights against the prejudice of his own Union army and the Confederate enemy. The film depicts the regiment's formation, training, and the challenges they faced as they fought for their freedom and the Union cause, culminating in their heroic actions at a pivotal battle.

Dad's Preview: The Civil War has a lot of stories, but this one deserves our special attention. It details the Massachusetts 54th Infantry regiment, one of the first all-black regiments in the Union Army. Not only are they fighting against the South, but their own battles to overcome the wounds of slavery when an ex-slave joins their ranks. It is well-done with strong performances and a memorable soundtrack. This is one of Denzel's best early career performances - he smolders with anger toward those in authority.

Freddie Fields Productions; TriStar Pictures