Fog of War (The)
Also known as: The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara
Genre:
political documentary
With: Robert
McNamara, Errol Morris (the Interviewer); archival footage of Fidel Castro, Barry
Goldwater, Lyndon Johnson, John F. Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev, Richard Nixon and
others
Director: Errol
Morris
Release: 2003
Studio: Sony
Pictures Classics, RadicalMedia, SenArt Films, The Globe Department Store
Rating: PG-13
MBiS score: 8.4/10
‟Never answer the
question asked. Answer the question you wish that had been asked.”
QuickView
Story-line: in this chilling documentary, Robert S. McNamara, who acted as Secretary of Defense under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, talks about his personal and professional life and the lessons he has learned about war and global diplomacy while working with hawks, doves and other species of political birds.
Pluses: McNamara’s
direct and interesting take on our world past and present, strong and studious direction
by Errol Morris, a thorough and well-constructed screenplay that uses impactful
historical footage, telephone recordings and filler scenes to complement its
talking-head format, very astute editing, modest but convenient production
values and a superb musical accompaniment
by Philip Glass.
Minuses: some
viewers may be disturbed by the seriousness of the issues discussed and a
couple of odd revelations (skull-breaking experiments?).
Comments: although
it follows the usual recipe for documentaries, the Oscar-winning FOG OF WAR
never feels static because of its relevance and Robert McNamara’s status as a consummate
political insider. Aided by hindsight, he comes out of the exercise as a
skilled and forthcoming fellow even when the questions raised are delicate and
mistakes need to be acknowledged. At a time when some observers argue that we
have entered a new Cold War, his take on the dynamics of diplomacy gives us a
clear picture of what our world has become… intimidating, volatile and even
scary.
MBiS
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