The Guardian [WS]

Director: Andrew Davis Andrew Davis

Overview

A decorated Coast Guard search and rescue specialist still haunted by the death of his teammates during a disastrous mission off the coast of Alaska is charged with the task of training the next generation of Coast Guard rescue swimmers in director Andrew Davis' ocean-bound adventure drama. Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) was the best swimmer of his graduating class, but upon surfacing as the sole survivor of an Alaskan rescue mission attempted during a Category Three storm, his outlook on life has grown increasingly jaded. Now, as hotshot young swimmer Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) arrives at Coast Guard rescue school looking to accomplish something meaningful with his life, he will be forced to endure the rigorous training methods of a man who expects nothing less than the very best in order to become a member of one of the most elite rescue squads on the planet.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/23/2007
UPC:	0786936705119
Original Release:	2006
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Touchstone / Disney
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:19:00
Sales rank:	1,880

Special Features

Never-before-seen alternate ending; Deleted scenes; "Unsung Heroes" - Tribute to the real-life U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers; "Making Waves" - The making of The Guardian; Audio commentary - With director Andrew Davis and writer Ron L. Brinkerhoff

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Kevin Costner	Ben Randall
Ashton Kutcher	Jake Fischer
Sela Ward	Helen Randall
Melissa Sagemiller	Emily Thomas
John Heard	Capt. Frank Larson
Clancy Brown	Capt. William Hadley,Bass
Omari Hardwick	Carl Billings
Alex Daniels	Wild Bill
Adam Peña	Benjamin Reyes
Neal McDonough	Jack Skinner
Dulé Hill	Ken Weatherly
Brian Geraghty	Billy Hodge
Bonnie Bramlett	Maggie McGlone
Daniel J. Molthen	Co-Pilot Wakefield
Andrew Schanno	Pilot Mitchell
Joe Arquette	Co-Pilot Antunez
Gary Billburg	Julian Zankich
Joshua Mitcheltree	Mitcheltree
Rusty Tennant	Mover No. 1
James Barnes	Doctor No. 1,Doctor No. 2
John F. Hall	John Hall,John Hall
Johnell Gainey	Johnell Lewis
Jeff Loftus	Executive Officer
Shelby Fenner	Cate Lindsey
Michael Rady	Nick Zingaro
Peter Gail	Danny Doran
Brian Patrick Wade	Mitch Lyons
Benny Ciaramello	Benny Patrida
Travis Willingham	Travis Finely
Matt Laub	Matt Stokes
Matthew L. Rucker	Matthew Bunch
Tanica Jamison	Tanica Treadwell
Paul Wallace	Paul Metz
Tilky Jones	Tilky Flint
Megan Melgaard	Megan Hyde
Scott Mueller	Scott Reeves
Jacob Stevens	Jacob Pavich
Austin Lash	Austin Vogel
Mark Gangloff	Mark Colby
Damon Lipardi	Damon Bennett
Roger Edwards	Roger Cable
Gregory J. Barnett	Pilot Victim
Kenny G. Krauss	Groom
Gioacchino Brucia	Waiter
J.D. Evermore	Jailer
Andrea Martynowsky	Ops Commander
Ron Fien	Wickham
Nevada Smith	Co-Pilot Krauss
Jay Bingham	Ops Tech
Keith Sweitzer	Whaley
Shane Walker	Swimmer Nelson
Joseph 'Butch' Flythe	Butch Flythe
Robert E. Watson	Robert Watson
Bryce Cass	Manny
Adam Pena	Actor
Andrea Martynowski	Ops Commander
Shane Sweitzer	Swimmer Nelson
Damon Lipari	Damon Bennett
Richard Davis	Guitar
James Burton	Guitar
Wayne Stewart	Drums
Chris "Hambone" Cameron	Keyboards
Mark Ohlsen	Trumpet
Gene Barge	Sax
Steve Eisen	Sax
Josie Aiello	Singer
Devin Thompson	Singer
Tina Treadwell	Singer
Corrine DeGroot	Bartender
Greg Sproles	Huge Navy Guy
Ron Dean	Navy Captain
James Landers	Brandon Molale
Jesse De Villa	Eric Norris
Leigh Hennessy	Drowing Woman
Tanner Gill	Husband
Norm Compton	Sea Captain
Donald Fisher	Young Crewman
Vladimir Tevlovski	Tony Snegoff
Henry Kingi Jr.	Cave Victim #1
Dorian Kingi	Cave Victim #2
Deborah Boone	Victim's Aunt
Roxanne A. Brooks	Victim's Mother
Conrad Palmisano	Fishing Boat Captain
Michael James	Fisherman#1
Danny Cosmo Higginbottom	Fisherman #2
Gene Hartline	Fisherman #3
John Rottger	Survivor
Gordon Goodwin	Conductor
Trevor Rabin	Composer

Technical Credits

Ron L. Brinkerhoff

Andrew Davis	Director
Ron L. Brinkerhoff	Screenwriter
Armyan Bernstein	Executive Producer,Producer
Zanne Devine	Executive Producer,Producer
Charles Lyons	Executive Producer,Executive Producer,Producer
Peter MacGregor-Scott	Executive Producer,Producer
Beau Flynn	Producer
Tripp Vinson	Producer
Erika Abrams	Special Effects
Randle Akerson	Sound Effects
Michael C. Casper	Sound Effects
Steve Copley	Sound Effects
Anne Couk	Sound Effects
Anthony T. Marra II	Key Grip
Mark Fincannon	Casting,Casting,Casting
Tanner Gill	Stunts
Tierre Turner	Stunts
Terry Ahue	Stunts
Gary Kangrga	Key Grip
Gregory Barnett	Stunts,Stunts
Karin Justman	Stunts
Gilbert Charbonnet	Key Grip
Randi Hiller	Casting
Michael Haynes	Stunts
John Rottger	Stunts
Scott R. Fisher	Stunts
George Fisher	Stunts
Oliver Keller	Stunts
Chris Papajohn	Stunts
Dennis Zoppe	Key Grip
Sarah Finn	Casting
Russell Towery	Stunts
Keith Woulard	Stunts
Eddie Mathews	Stunts
Steven T. Ritzi	Stunts
Michael Trisler	Stunts
Tim Soergel	Stunts
Sterling Winans	Stunts
Mack Melson	Sound Mixer
Jeffrey Haupt	Sound Mixer
Bruce Stambler	Sound/Sound Designer
Joel Iwataki	Sound Mixer
Richard Bryce Goodman	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

The story of callow, cocky recruits hammered into shape by grizzled veterans is a time-honored film convention. Handled with conviction, though, familiar character types and plot situations can take on a bright new sheen. Such is the case with The Guardian. Ben Randall (Kevin Costner), a living legend among the U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers -- an elite unit of men and women who brave stormy seas to aid victims in distress -- is reassigned from active duty to a head teaching post. His most problematic student is Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher), a former high school swimming champ whose bluster annoys the skeptical veteran. Does Fischer really have what it takes, or will he fold in a crisis situation? Focusing primarily on the conflict between teacher and student, director Andrew Davis coaxes fine performances from his two leads; still, the principal players are nearly upstaged by singer Bonnie Bramlett, playing a brassy chanteuse who operates a music club near the school. The big, elaborately staged, nail-bitingly intense rescue mission that dominates the final reels comes right on schedule, but like much of this vastly entertaining piece of escapism, its basic satisfactions trump its predictability.