The Engagement Plot

Rules of Engagement is a 2000 American war legal drama film directed by William Friedkin, written by Stephen Gaghan, from a story by Jim Webb, and starring Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson plays U.S. Marine Colonel Terry Childers, who is brought to court-martial after Marines under his orders kill a large number of civilians outside the U.S. embassy in Yemen. Rules of Engagement was released by Paramount Pictures on April 7, 2000. The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics and grossed $71.7 million against a $60 million budget.