RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The Fog of War
The Fog of War

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Fog of War (2003)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
98 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

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

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 6

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for The Fog of War

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
101 - 120 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Oh, how I wish we could force the current administration to experience [this film], Clockwork Orange-style if necessary...

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
12/23/03
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

Thumbs way up for this film.

Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
12/22/03
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper

Compelling, thoughtful and moving...easily one of the best documentaries in a year that's been rich with exceptional examples of them.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
12/21/03
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Morris’ real genius is that he knows how to listen, knows when to stop questioning and thereby let people reveal themselves, more than they intended

Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment Comment
12/21/03
Andrea Chase
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews

More than a 106-minute interview...'The Fog of War' also works as a civics and history lesson

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
12/20/03
Leslie Katz
Leslie Katz
culturevulture.net

Errol Morris tries to pin down Vietnam War chess-master Robert McNamara, and the results are fascinating -- also troubling, deeply confusing and way too artistically precious.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
12/20/03
Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor
Salon.com

Though the movie may not change many minds about McNamara, it richly humanizes him, a valuable feat atop all the fascinating reflection.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
12/19/03
Mike Clark
Mike Clark
USA Today

Those already familiar with McNamara's book will notice few revelations here, and Morris's non-confrontational style allows McNamara to basically recite passages from his book in toto.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
12/19/03
Ken Fox
Ken Fox
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Morris has always engaged audiences -- and outraged stuffy Oscar voters -- by bringing the full range of narrative filmmaking to his nonfiction films. He doesn't stint here.

Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | comment Comment
12/19/03
Stephen Whitty
Stephen Whitty
Newark Star-Ledger

As The Fog of War demonstrates, [McNamara] shouldn't be ignored.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
12/19/03
Glenn Whipp
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Daily News

By asking the right questions and guiding the interview into compelling territory, Morris has produced one of 2003's most memorable documentaries.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
12/19/03
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

Despite its more tendentious moments and sometimes irritating slickness, Fog of War is every bit as fascinating and unnerving as its subject.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
12/19/03
Jonathan Foreman
Jonathan Foreman
New York Post

This understandably ambivalent portrait of McNamara challenges conventional wisdom about the man and his place in history.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
12/19/03
Kirk Honeycutt
Kirk Honeycutt
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Mesmerizing stuff.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
12/19/03
E! Online
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Whether or not you agree with his politics, McNamara is a fascinating man... it's a compelling documentary that may scare you a little and will certainly make you think.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
12/19/03
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

One of the best documentaries of this or any year.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
12/18/03
Kenneth Turan
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

As in Morris movies like Gates of Heaven and The Thin Blue Line, the filmmaking is meticulous and the ideas are endlessly thought-provoking.

Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment Comment
12/18/03
David Sterritt
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor

Evokes a handful of compelling and tantalizing passages.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
12/18/03
Marc Cooper
Marc Cooper
L.A. Weekly

This architect of war cum elder statesman directly benefits from Morris’ curiously stylish effort, making for enduringly captivating cinema.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
12/17/03
Jeanne Aufmuth
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly

This is spellbinding reality cinema about duplicity and, worse, ignorance at the highest level.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
12/16/03
Richard Corliss
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
101 - 120 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
all

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...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
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

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
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

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

5 facts straight from the cast.

Disney Animation

Disney Animation

We chart the studio's classics.

Avatar

Avatar

An exclusive look at the human hardware.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana

The Star Trek star talks cars with RT.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • James Cameron Talks Avatar Sequels Source: Collider.com
0
  • Natalie Portman Will Battle Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Source: Variety
24
  • Marvel Begins Iron Man 2 Viral Campaign Source: Superhero Hype
10
  • Bryce Dallas Howard Talks Spider-Man 4, Terminator, and Twilight Source: ComingSoon.net
30
  • David Lynch Says He Turned Down Return of the Jedi Source: CinemaBlend.com
35
  • Thomas Dolby Starts a Star Wars Rumor Source: Ain't It Cool News
32
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
57
  • The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Headed for IMAX Source: Collider.com
48
  • James Cameron Developing Sci-Fi Film for Fox Source: ComingSoon.net
10
  • Peter Jackson Reveals Which LotR Characters Will Return for The Hobbit Source: MTV
26
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Total Recall: Keith David's Best Movies
69
  • Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington
51
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype?
49
  • Sundance 2010: RT's 10 Most Anticipated Movies
41
  • Weekly Ketchup: Tron Team to Remake The Black Hole
37
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1
34
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Blind Side Takes the Lead
29
  • Friday Harvest: Iron Man 2, Harry Potter, and more!
24
  • Help Us Choose the Community Golden Tomato Award
22
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
19
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
19
  • Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington
51
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
23
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Fog of War at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Fog of War at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

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

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

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

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.