"The Fog of War" is a fascinating documentary, both an examination of the forces that guide nations and a portrait of an old man who slipped through his own fingers.
The Fog of War (2003)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
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
The Fog of War offers many lessons to mull over, yet the most meaningful one might be the old axiom about history repeating itself.
Simultaneously offers priceless insight into the nation's past and a worrisome take on the future.
What McNamara says may not shake me to my very soul, but it's assembled as sharply and savvily as a documentary-viewer could want.
If you, too, missed out on the fun of despising McNamara, you'll be entertained but unsatisfied by The Fog of War.
What's genuinely suspenseful about the movie is its journey into the heart and mind of McNamara.
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.
Morris uses McNamara's long life and firsthand experience to indicate how technology has made the ethics of war much more difficult to tread.
Offers insightful, painful history and a clear demonstration that the so-called 'best and the brightest' of the JFK and LBJ years did some tragically stupid things.
It is part hagiography and part biography, part public apology and part performance art.
War is so complex that there's no way to see through to any single, objective explanation
Watching McNamara, his eyes darting as he tries to sell his version of history, is the movie's most eerily compelling sight.
Virtuoso documentarian Errol Morris once again brings out the best (and a little bit of the worst) in his subject, this time former Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara.
Latest News for The Fog of War
July 01, 2008:
Edinburgh 2008: What to Watch
We share twenty of the best films screened at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, currently running in the Scottish city. More...
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 67% 67% | Public Enemies |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 95% 95% | The Cove |
| 85% 85% | World's Greatest Dad |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- The Fog of War at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Fog of War at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.





