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ActionAdventureDrama

The Guardian

- How do you decide who lives or who dies?

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.

Release Date : 2006-09-28

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Touchstone PicturesBeacon PicturesContrafilmFirm FilmsEyetronicsA School Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Coast GuardsThe Guardian

Cast

Kevin Costner

Character Name : Ben Randall

Original Name : Kevin Costner

Gender : Male

Ashton Kutcher

Character Name : Jake Fischer

Original Name : Ashton Kutcher

Gender : Male

Sela Ward

Character Name : Helen Randall

Original Name : Sela Ward

Gender : Female

Melissa Sagemiller

Character Name : Emily Thomas

Original Name : Melissa Sagemiller

Gender : Female

Dulé Hill

Character Name : Ken Weatherly

Original Name : Dulé Hill

Gender : Male

Bryce Cass

Character Name : Manny

Original Name : Bryce Cass

Gender : Male

Omari Hardwick

Character Name : Carl Billings

Original Name : Omari Hardwick

Gender : Male

Clancy Brown

Character Name : Capt. William Hadley

Original Name : Clancy Brown

Gender : Male

Neal McDonough

Character Name : Jack Skinner

Original Name : Neal McDonough

Gender : Male

Benny Ciaramello

Character Name : Benny Partida

Original Name : Benny Ciaramello

Gender : Male

Shelby Fenner

Character Name : Cate Lindsey

Original Name : Shelby Fenner

Gender : Female

Peter Gail

Character Name : Danny Doran

Original Name : Peter Gail

Gender : Male

Damon Lipari

Character Name : Damon Bennett

Original Name : Damon Lipari

Gender : Male

Scott Mueller

Character Name : Scott Reeves

Original Name : Scott Mueller

Gender : Male

Travis Willingham

Character Name : Travis Finely

Original Name : Travis Willingham

Gender : Male

Eric Norris

Character Name : Navy Guy

Original Name : Eric Norris

Gender : Male

John Heard

Character Name : Capt. Frank Larson

Original Name : John Heard

Gender : Male

Richard T. Henry

Character Name : Camael

Original Name : Richard T. Henry

Gender : Male

Alex Daniels

Character Name : Wild Bill

Original Name : Alex Daniels

Gender : Male

Daniel J. Molthen

Character Name : Co-Pilot Wakefield

Original Name : Daniel J. Molthen

Gender : Male

Andrew Schanno

Character Name : Pilot Mitchell

Original Name : Andrew Schanno

Gender : Male

Adam Pena

Character Name : Benjamin Reyes

Original Name : Adam Pena

Gender : Male

Joe Arquette

Character Name : Co-Pilot Antunez

Original Name : Joe Arquette

Gender : Male

Gary Billburg

Character Name : Julian Zankich

Original Name : Gary Billburg

Gender : Male

Joshua Mitcheltree

Character Name : Mitcheltree

Original Name : Joshua Mitcheltree

Gender : Male

Rusty Tennant

Character Name : Mover #1

Original Name : Rusty Tennant

Gender : Male

James Barnes

Character Name : Doctor #1

Original Name : James Barnes

Gender : Male

Stephanie Barnes

Character Name : Doctor #2

Original Name : Stephanie Barnes

Gender : Male

Andrea Martynowski

Character Name : Ops Commander

Original Name : Andrea Martynowski

Gender : Male

Ron Fien

Character Name : Wickham

Original Name : Ron Fien

Gender : Male

Nevada Smith

Character Name : Co-Pilot Krauss

Original Name : Nevada Smith

Gender : Male

Jay Bingham

Character Name : Ops Tech

Original Name : Jay Bingham

Gender : Male

Keith Sweitzer

Character Name : Whaley

Original Name : Keith Sweitzer

Gender : Male

Shane Walker

Character Name : Swimmer Nelson

Original Name : Shane Walker

Gender : Male

Joseph Blythe

Character Name : Butch Flythe

Original Name : Joseph Blythe

Gender : Male

Robert E. Watson

Character Name : Robert Watson

Original Name : Robert E. Watson

Gender : Male

John F. Hall

Character Name : John Hall

Original Name : John F. Hall

Gender : Male

Johnell Gainey

Character Name : Johnell Lewis

Original Name : Johnell Gainey

Gender : Male

Jeff Loftus

Character Name : Executive Officer

Original Name : Jeff Loftus

Gender : Male

Brian Geraghty

Character Name : Billy Hodge

Original Name : Brian Geraghty

Gender : Male

Michael Rady

Character Name : Nick Zingaro

Original Name : Michael Rady

Gender : Male

Brian Patrick Wade

Character Name : Mitch Lyons

Original Name : Brian Patrick Wade

Gender : Male

El Raziel

Character Name : Benny Partida

Original Name : El Raziel

Gender : Male

Matt Laub

Character Name : Matt Stokes

Original Name : Matt Laub

Gender : Male

Matthew L. Rucker

Character Name : Matthew Bunch

Original Name : Matthew L. Rucker

Gender : Male

Tanica Jamison

Character Name : Tanica Treadwell

Original Name : Tanica Jamison

Gender : Male

Paul Wallace

Character Name : Paul Metz

Original Name : Paul Wallace

Gender : Male

Tilky Jones

Character Name : Tilky Flint

Original Name : Tilky Jones

Gender : Male

Megan Melgaard

Character Name : Megan Hyde

Original Name : Megan Melgaard

Gender : Male

Jacob Stevens

Character Name : Jacob Pavich

Original Name : Jacob Stevens

Gender : Male

Austin Lash

Character Name : Austin Vogel

Original Name : Austin Lash

Gender : Male

Mark Gangloff

Character Name : Mark Colby

Original Name : Mark Gangloff

Gender : Male

Gregory J. Barnett

Character Name : Pilot Victim

Original Name : Gregory J. Barnett

Gender : Male

Kenny G. Krauss

Character Name : Groom

Original Name : Kenny G. Krauss

Gender : Male

Gioacchino Brucia

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Gioacchino Brucia

Gender : Male

J.D. Evermore

Character Name : Jailer

Original Name : J.D. Evermore

Gender : Male

Bonnie Bramlett

Character Name : Maggie McGlone

Original Name : Bonnie Bramlett

Gender : Female

Richard Davis

Character Name : Guitar - Chicago Catz

Original Name : Richard Davis

Gender : Male

Brandon Molale

Character Name : Navy Guy

Original Name : Brandon Molale

Gender : Male

Thomas Rosales Jr.

Character Name : Cargo Crew

Original Name : Thomas Rosales Jr.

Gender : Male

Roger Edwards

Character Name : Roger Cable

Original Name : Roger Edwards

Gender : Male

Conrad E. Palmisano

Character Name : Fishing Boat Captain

Original Name : Conrad E. Palmisano

Gender : Male

Ray Donn

Character Name : Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Donn

Gender : Male

Reviews

R

RalphRahal

@RalphRahal

2025-02-02

The Guardian starts off strong with an engaging introduction that pulls you into the world of elite rescue swimmers. The setup is solid, and the first act does a great job establishing the stakes. But once the second act kicks in, the momentum slows down as the focus shifts almost entirely to training sequences. While these moments have some depth and character development, they drag on too long, making the story feel repetitive. The plot itself follows a familiar formula, and while it has emotional weight, it doesn’t bring much originality. It feels like it’s trying to be Top Gun for the Coast Guard but without the same energy or unpredictability. That said, the movie is well-executed on a technical level. The cinematography captures the intensity of ocean rescues with some visually striking sequences. The direction is solid, and the pacing is decent. Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher both deliver strong performances, with Costner bringing a grounded, believable presence to his role. The script is good overall, even if some parts feel a bit too by-the-numbers. The score and sound design do their job well, adding tension and emotion where needed. It’s a well-made movie, but the plot didn’t fully deliver for me.