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Movies / On DVD / The Fog of War
The Fog of War

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The Fog of War (2003)

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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

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Reviews for The Fog of War

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81 - 100 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
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Morris has learned a lot over the years about how to tell a story while gradually unveiling a personality. But I wish I had a better notion of what story he's trying to tell.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 2 Comments
01/24/04
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader

Morris, an ideal combination of journalist and romantic artist, matches footage to the words for maximum illumination and emotional impact.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
01/23/04
Mick LaSalle
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle

Should be required viewing for anyone who makes decisions about national defense, if not for everyone.

Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
01/23/04
Terry Lawson
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press

Filled with worthy, sometimes chilling, lessons from JFK and LBJ's former secretary of defense about warfare and humanity.

Full Review Source: Contra Costa Times | comment Comment
01/23/04
Mary F. Pols
Mary F. Pols
Contra Costa Times

The effect of The Fog of War is to impress upon us the frailty and uncertainty of our leaders.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
01/23/04
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

In his willingness to speak up but not entirely out, McNamara provides the movie with its key fascination: the confessor who refuses to comment.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
01/23/04
Wesley Morris
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe

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.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
01/23/04
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
San Francisco Examiner

Brilliant.

Full Review Source: San Jose Mercury News | comment Comment
01/22/04
Bruce Newman
Bruce Newman
San Jose Mercury News

It is a profound examination of the troubling proposition that good or well-meaning people can help create horrible and evil events -- and be swept along in the turmoil they unleash.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
01/22/04
Michael Wilmington
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune

...may be the scariest movie of 2003.

Full Review Source: Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) | comment Comment
01/22/04
Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL)

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: www.susangranger.com | comment Comment
01/19/04
Susan Granger
Susan Granger
www.susangranger.com

As fascinating as it is, it's not clear what conclusions can be drawn other than that war is hell and it would be preferable if mankind could just live together in peace.

Full Review Source: Internet Reviews | comment Comment
01/17/04
Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes
Internet Reviews

Startlingly forceful — an extremely intimate, sympathetic and provocative personal biography as well as an illuminative audit of human fallibility. One of 2003's best films.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Today | comment Comment
01/09/04
Brent Simon
Brent Simon
Entertainment Today

Emerges as a fascinating enterprise that evokes nothing so much as Victor Hugo's 'dialogue of the deaf' in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Full Review Source: New York Observer | comment Comment
01/08/04
Andrew Sarris
Andrew Sarris
New York Observer

It should be required viewing for all political and military leaders.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
01/06/04
Timothy Knight
Timothy Knight
Reel.com

A carefully calibrated, endlessly fascinating example of humanity at odds with itself.

Full Review Source: Mixed Reviews | comment Comment
01/03/04
Gabriel Shanks
Gabriel Shanks
Mixed Reviews

Interesting enough, but hardly a work of documentarial integrity -- for my part, I wanted to physically shield McNamara from Morris's mischievous slash-and-burn.

Full Review Source: Film Blather | comment Comment
12/31/03
Eugene Novikov
Eugene Novikov
Film Blather

Truly remarkable - a history lesson, a mea culpa and one last chance to discuss a pivotal era with someone who was actually there.

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
12/29/03
Larry Carroll
Larry Carroll
FilmStew.com

Armchair philosophers might find truths about human nature in this bait and switch, but promises to stringently examine McNamara’s strategic decisions left me feeling slighted

Full Review Source: MovieMartyr.com | comment Comment
12/25/03
Jeremy Heilman
Jeremy Heilman
MovieMartyr.com

Compelling, thoughtful and entirely involving.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
12/23/03
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
81 - 100 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
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