The Guardian (2006)


Ashton Kutcher          Jake Fischer
Brian Geraghty          Hodge
Omari Hardwick          Carl Billings
Eric Norris (II)        Navy Guy
Vladimir Tevlovski      Cargo Crew
Henry Kingi Jr.         Cave Victim #1
Dorian Kingi            Cave Victim #2
Danny Cosmo             Fisherman #2
Kevin Costner           Ben Randall
Neal McDonough          Jack Skinner
Melissa Sagemiller      Emily Thomas
Clancy Brown            Captain William "Bill" Hadley
Sela Ward               Helen Randall
Omari Hardwick          Carl Billings
Michael Rady            Zingaro
Peter Gail              Danny Doran

Directed by:            Andrew Davis
Produced by:            Beau Flynn, Armyan Bernstein, Charlie Lyons


After losing his crew in a fatal crash, legendary Rescue Swimmer, Ben Randall, is sent to teach at 
"A" School, an elite training program for Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. Wrestling with the loss of his 
crew members, he throws himself into teaching, turning the program upside down with his unorthodox 
training methods. While there, he encounters a young, cocky swim champ, Jake Fischer, who is driven to 
be the best. During training, Randall helps mold Jake's character, combining his raw talent with the 
heart and dedication required of a Rescue Swimmer. Upon graduation, Jake follows Randall to Kodiak, Alaska, 
where they face the inherent dangers of the Bering Sea. In his initial solo rescue, Jake learns firsthand 
from Randall, the true meaning of heroism and sacrifice, echoing the Swimmer's motto--"So Others May Live!"

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The US Coast Guard version of "Top Gun" with a little "An Officer and A Gentleman" thrown in: an aging 
USCG rescue swimmer's team is killed in a horrific rescue mission. Immediately prior to this terrible event, 
his wife also announced that she cannot take anymore. His first love is always the rescue mission. This 
leaves him an obviously emotional wreck. His commender gives him a choice - quit or take a position as an 
instructor at the USCG training facility in Louisiana. Reluctantly he takes the position. Moving into the 
school, he immediately increases the 18 week curriculum that routinely fails half of the people that attend. 
Here he meets a young man with unlimited potential, but with some secret that seems to hold him back as a 
team player. Delving into his past, links are found that make him a psychic twin to the older man. Thrown into 
the midst of the story is a romance with a local girl. Rescue missions punctuate the beginning and end of the 
story with the training sessions the center of the film.