This is a beautifully produced film, expertly edited with a haunting Philip Glass score and statistics that are meaningful and extremely disturbing.
The Fog of War (2003)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:133
Fresh:130
Rotten:3
Average Rating:8.4/10
Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins
Genre: Education/General Interest
Synopsis: Documentarian Errol Morris directs THE FOG OF WAR, a captivating look at Robert S. McNamara, who served as the Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The movie... Documentarian Errol Morris directs THE FOG OF WAR, a captivating look at Robert S. McNamara, who served as the Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The movie does not exclusively focus on this part of McNamara's career, however, and instead gives a broad overview of the man he was, his multitude of roles--a Harvard Business School graduate, a Colonel in the Air Force during WWII, president of Ford Motor Company--and his opinions on a variety of historical topics. Inspired by two books written by McNamara--IN RETROSPECT (1995) and WILSON'S GHOST (2001)--Morris gives McNamara a forum to talk about the decisions he made and the influence he had during his career. At the age of 85, McNamara has gained necessary perspective to do just that. Sharp as a tack, loaded with charisma, and generally fascinating, McNamara easily carries the film with his revealing interviews. Meanwhile, Morris's use of archival footage--along with maps and other effective visual aids--add context to McNamara's commentary, and Philip Glass's ominous, pulsing score gives the film's important subject matter the gravity it deserves. [More]
Starring: Robert S. McNamara
Starring: Robert S. McNamara
Director: Errol Morris
Director: Errol Morris
Producer: Michael Williams, Julie Ahlberg
Composer: Philip Glass
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Reviews for The Fog of War
A superb survey of the last half-century of American politics and one that has much to say about the current administration's attitudes.
Morris fills [his film with] skewed and crooked angles on McNamara himself -- as if even the camera couldn't get a grasp on the elusive nature of this topic.
a deeply felt testament of a man struggling to wring meaning and redemption out of history’s hard, unyielding surfaces
One of the most important films I've seen in the last year or so. A matter of life and death, required viewing for those sincerely interested in a better understanding of war.
This architect of war cum elder statesman directly benefits from Morris’ curiously stylish effort, making for enduringly captivating cinema.
Offers a couple of hours of brilliant clarity amid the noise and chaos.
Engrossing from start to finish... but it may be Morris's least challenging film...
By asking the right questions and guiding the interview into compelling territory, Morris has produced one of 2003's most memorable documentaries.
What's genuinely suspenseful about the movie is its journey into the heart and mind of McNamara.
Even if you aren't a history buff or normally watch documentarties, Errol Morris' film is fascinating.
The Fog of War offers many lessons to mull over, yet the most meaningful one might be the old axiom about history repeating itself.
An exceptionally relevant and morally thought provoking documentary about America's immoral use of the weapons of mass destruction.
Awash in artsy-farsty tinsel, The Fog Of War is full of shiny surfaces and missed opportunities. It's the cinematic equivalent of a Sharper Image catalog.
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