movie film review | chris tookey
 
     
     
 

Fog of War

 (PG)
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  Fog of War Review
Tookey's Rating
6 /10
 
Average Rating
7.88 /10
 
Starring
Robert S. McNamara,
 

Directed by: Errol Morris
Written by:

 
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Released: 2003
   
Genre: DOCUMENTARY
   
Origin: US
   
Colour: C
   
Length: 107
 
 


 
Oscar-winning doc puts US foreign policy in the dock.
Reviewed by Chris Tookey


The Fog of War is a skilfully edited selection of interviews with Robert S. McNamara, the brilliant, arrogant secretary of defence under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. Long demonised by the Left as the architect of America’s involvement in Vietnam, McNamara spends much of the film claiming that he fought a rearguard action against US intervention.

It’s hard to know how much of this is self-serving hindsight, but there can be no doubt that the film contains lessons for any administration, especially with regard to understanding your enemy’s motives and acting unilaterally only as a last resort.

It’s always interesting to hear people who have been so close to the levers of power, but McNamara remains a cagey customer, and director Errol Morris seems too preoccupied with scoring debating points against President George W. Bush, and over-eager to whitewash the Democrats, whose record in foreign policy from JFK through to Clinton has been lamentable.


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