Rating: 
Summary: a more human Robert McNamara
Review: A film by Errol Morris"The Fog of War" won the Academy Award for Best Documentary (2003). The subject: Robert McNamara. McNamara, if you are not aware of who he is, was the Secretary of Defense during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. This puts him at the forefront of the Vietnam War as it was under his watch that we became involved in Vietnam. McNamara is a highly intelligent and articulate man who has a lot to say and his story is a necessary one to be told. At the time of this film he was 85 years old and has lost none of his passion or mental acuity (from what I could tell). The big questions of this movie obviously revolve around Vietnam, the how and the why. But before we can get to Vietnam, we need to know how McNamara came to be in the position that he was in (Secretary of Defense) and what sort of man he was. McNamara speaks of his experiences in World War II, the Cuban Missile Crisis, becoming the President of the Ford Company (the first man not a descendent of Henry Ford to do so), and his time in the Kennedy administration. McNamara gives a lot of information that we have not seen before, not in these words and with this slant. He is a very logical man and his logic makes sense, but is also baffling at the same time. McNamara believes strongly in proportionality (that a military response be proportional to the initial attack), but many things in both WWII and Vietnam were not proportional, and McNamara knows it and is at a loss to explain that. What was most stunning about "The Fog of War" was not McNamara on Vietnam, which while it is obvious that he has major doubts and reservations about whether or not we were doing the right thing; but rather it was McNamara on the bombing of Japan and just how much damage we really did to Japan. There were comparisons to the percentage of Japanese cities destroyed to what that would mean in terms of American cities and the numbers were staggering. At every moment, this film was fascinating and compelling and powerful. I did not want to look away or miss anything even while I was being stunned by some of the things I was hearing and learning. I expected "The Fog of War" to vilify McNamara in some way, but we saw a more human Robert McNamara than is usually portrayed. The man was not always right, but it was obvious that he was working to the best of his abilities to serve two presidents. If you only watch one documentary this year...this is the one to watch. It is that good.
Rating: 
Summary: A chilling, expertly edited, and fascinating documentary
Review: If you would have told me a few years ago that documentaries would be a major moviegoing attraction and, in my humble opinion, a great part of the bright future of film...I'd say you're nuts. But with Bowling For Columbine (as salacious and inaccurate as it is, you can't deny it's not passionate), Spellbound, Winged Migration, Capturing the Friedmans, and now this year's winner for Best Documentary, The Fog of War, I believe it now more than ever. War bravely points a camera right into the face of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and for nearly two hours, he dissects some of the haziest issues in American history - the Cuban missile crisis, the Vietnam war, and the devastation that the latter created. McNamara, the SD during those disasters, lends insight that is pointed, at times ironic, and often bone-chilling (one shiver-worthy moment: his assertion that luck saved America from certain destruction in the Cuban missile crisis). What takes War to its next level of achievement, though, is the underlying theme that knits the whole film together: McNamara's deep, mournful eyes intimately communicate the notion that he knows he made mistakes, but also that there is no way he can change any of them. The fact that it rings true for everyone will haunt you for days, and indeed, certain images and facts from the film will, too (my only gripe - with McNamara's insight and Philip Glass's fluid, pulsing score, are all of the bizarre visuals Morris intersperses with the film always necessary?). This movie will grip you like a great mystery, and indeed it is. McNamara tries nobly to clear up that 'fog' that shrouds the turbulent '60's, and what he reveals of himself moves me beyond words...while what he reveals about our history scares the hell out of me. GRADE: A-
Rating:
Summary: A masterpeice
Review: It clarified so much for me - I am 58 white male who voted mainly republican and lived this - once again we are being lied to by our President "Mr. Chaney"! He willl sonn begin to slaughter a new generation of our sons and daughters in great numbers for their ego and lies.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful documentary that will stand the test of time.
Review: The Fog of War" is Errol Morris's Academy Award winning documentary. In it he interviews the controversial political figure Robert McNamara, even though we don't hear much from Morris, who was the first president of the Ford Company that was not a Ford. His tenure as president lasted only five weeks after first receiving the position of Secretary of Treasury and then Secretary of Defense from John F. Kennedy. Claiming he was not qualified for either position, McNamara accepted after Kennedy said, "Look, Bob. I don't think there's any school for presidents either." After leaving Washington with a controversial legacy, McNamara became the president of the World Bank. As Secretary of Defense during Kennedy and Johnson's administration, McNamara's career is assessed by the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. The heart of this documentary is listening to the amount of wisdom brought by a man who has been misunderstood and even under appreciated. The film is sectioned with chapters that are based on McNamara's lessons. Not all are compelling but McNamara sustains your interest as he speaks his mind based on what his career has taught him about his life and about the world we are situated in; past, present, and future. "What 'the fog of war' means is: war is so complex it's beyond the ability of the human mind to comprehend all the variables." War is not something we can judge and understand adequately and as a result humans beings kill other humans unnecessarily. "The Fog of War" could not have been released at a better time than now, when a war is being fought with a justification that has become obstructed. It is an important documentary that makes us realize the full scope of the consequences of war. McNamara does not necessarily judge the U.S. but instead teach. Furthermore, he is not an idealist as he says, "I'm not so naïve or simplistic to believe we can eliminate war. We're not gonna change human nature any time soon." I agree. I don't believe we can eliminate terrorism either.
-Please finish my review at www.filmwiseguy.funtigo.com
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: McNamara at 85 is still a compelling figure. As the subject of "Fog" he dominates the viewer with his piercing intellect, but one that is puzzled, and often regretful, over his life and the events he participated in. It's not breast beating sorrow over Evil America however - which I found refreshing, but more like a thoughtful analysis of days gone past by a man, an important man, who can't get beyond "I didn't know" and "I still don't know..." These ruminations are, as simple as they sound, important confessions from a man who was known for his obsession for facts. Basically, McNamara is now saying that facts, allied with a rigid and faulty policy can, given all the unmeasurable variables of war, lead you nowhere - into a Vietnam (or an Iraq). "Fog" contains some good footage from both World War II, as well as Vietnam, but as an overall visual experience, such moments seemed secondary. What was most fascinating for me however were the various audio tapes between McNamara and Kennedy, and later McNamara and Johnson. In fact, there is one exchange between Johnson and McNamara that makes "Fog" worth seeing all by itself. In it, Johnson scolds McNamara, repeatedly cutting him off, over the issue of Vietnam. What it reveals is McNamara's less than enthusiastic support, and Johnson's obsession with the domino theory. One annoying part of "Fog" is the occasional shouted out questions from an unseen interviewer. The tone of the "shouts" makes the interviewer sound like some self righteous former member of the SDS saying "I told you so." The interviewer wasn't even needed for "Fog,"and he comes across like an angry polemical fly that occasionally interrupts the flow of McNamara's story, which itself is less about politics and more about history - and its fog.
Rating:
Summary: Errol Morris strikes again!
Review: 4.5 stars. And the Oscar goes to..."The Fog of War," directed by Errol Morris. What I remember most about the last Oscar ceremony was Errol Morris collecting his very first statue for Best Documentary Feature Film and exclaiming, "It's about time!" I laughed to myself and said, "Indeed." Just to name a couple other fine documentaries from this exceptional director: my personal favorite, "The Thin Blue Line," which is, for some inexplicable reason, still unavailable on DVD; and another notable film, "A Brief History of Time," based on Stephen Hawking's best-selling novel. Errol Morris is a great filmmaker, but there are moments in "The Fog of War" that have many of his now trademark techniques, such as showing small objects moving in slow-motion. There were also a couple of scenes reminiscent of the film "Koyaanisquatsi" from director Godfrey Reggio where layers of film are placed on top of one another to attain multiple, ghost-like images of people and places. In an odd coincidence, Phillip Glass composed the score for both films. The only other negative factor in the film was the tendency to jump back-and-forth in time, which makes for some confusion when trying to piece everything together. However, there is some insightful material to be found here stretching all the way back to the Wilson Administration during World War I. The stock-footage that is interlaced with the interviews with Robert S. McNamara adds so much textural history to the film that I felt I was there struggling with the politics of The Cold War on an empathic level. The interviews are sometimes insightful and other times very moving. Robert S. McNamara, as much demonizing press and criticism he has taken, comes across as a good-hearted human being who knows he has made mistakes as well as genuinely hopeful decisions. He is a flawed person, as we all are, which makes the universal, emotional connections to his past all the more viable. This film is nothing less than a very interesting sojourn into out nation's troubled past through the venerable eyes of a very caring individual who once dealt with some of the most intense situations in American History. This film is definitely worth seeing. All in all, Errol Morris strikes again! Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Worth a watch, even if you're not the documentary type.
Review: Even if you don't enjoy most documentaries, then you should consider giving this one a shot, especially if you're interested in politics or the history surrounding the Vietnam war.
The movie is also, in my opinion, especially relevant to today's current evens in Iraq. Whether you support the Iraq operation or are against it, comparisons between Iraq and Vietnam have been made, and this movie could be used in arguements both for and against the logic behind what's going on in Iraq. Very good documentary indeed.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie of Last Year
Review: I agree with a number of others who believe that everyone should see this film. McNamara doesn't apologize (although he admist where he was wrong), he doesn't try to persuade; he just provides the facts and the context and lets the viewer decide for himself how we should view him. Most importantly, it shows a conscience of which all people should try to emulate. This is neither a partisan film nor a mea culpa. Watch this film, you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: A Movie for Our Time
Review: Stated simply, this movie is brilliant. McNamara bears his soul to the camera, yet keeps his cards close to his chest at the same time. I am utterly facsinated by his role in this film, as well as his explanation of the events of his life. As one can imagine, he avoids the topic of Vietnam as much as possible. As a result, more interesting facets of his life are explored, such as his involvement in WWII and his time with the Ford Motor Company. Unfortunately, his time as the President of the World Bank is not really discussed. (There are three bits about this in the deleted scenes). Of course, his time as President of the World Bank did not directly deal with war. What is important to note is that McNamara is very quick to pat himself on the back and push his accomplishments. However, he is just as quick to run away from responsibility for tragic events in which he is involved. This is especially true when it comes to Vietnam. As I can imagine, this is a tough topic for him and I can only imagine what lies in his heart with respect to this issue. Also, thinking specifically of his comment regarding Agent Orange, I am sure that there are some attorneys out there that would not mind suing him personally over the injury that Agent Orange caused. Nonetheless, I think that The Fog of War is an important piece of living history. It should be required viewing for all high school students. More importantly, it should be required viewing for ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. The deleted sceens that are on the DVD are also great. I would have enjoyed them more if Morris had added the scenes into the film itself. The very first deleted scene is very telling of who McNamara is. It discusses a famous poem by Kipling about a king that wished to build a palace that would be the envy of the world and, at the end of his life, he realized that all he had was a pile of rubble. I think that McNamara wanted to help build a "palace." At the end of his term as Secretary of Defense, U.S. military policy was rubble and we were engaged in a war that we could not win or withdraw from. I really do believe that this is great film and highly recommend it to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Another brilliant film by Morris
Review: Erroll Morris has a very specific style that brings you slowly but surely into his world. He is a master at revealing frightening, all too human truths about his subjects. the Fog of War is no exception. McNamara is yet another complex being that Morris puts in front of us. Is he a war criminal, a reformed murderer, a thoughtful elder statesman? The viewer decides. There are all too few films like this. Others that come to mind are "The Trials Of Henry Kissinger" and in a more universal and emotional vein, "USA The Movie" both of which are available through Amazon and other outlets. Great viewing.
|
