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The Fog of War 2003 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Errol Morris
PG-13, 95 min. (images, thematic issues of war and destruction) |
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Starring: Robert S. McNamara
Producers: Errol Morris, Michael Williams, Julie Ahlberg
Screenplay: Errol Morris
Cinematography: Peter Donahue, Robert Chappell
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Released: 12.19.03 (Limited) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
Lesson No. 11: "You can't change human nature."
A documentary about the controversial life of Robert S. McNamara, whose influence during World War II, the Cuban Missile
Crisis, and the Vietnam War was readily felt, was bound to be interesting. Director Errol Morris has taken his gift for
studying intriguing subjects and fashioned an important film about the "fog of war", or in other words the folly of our leaders
knowing every possible outcome or clearly seeing the big picture in the heat of battle. By juxtaposing McNamara's eye-opening
interview and an amalgamation of the aforementioned events during the 20th century, Morris has given us a valuable tool
to better understand the seriousness of a few men with the power to destroy the world at a moments notice.
Much like Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine,
which was clearly approached and constructed from a leftist position, The Fog of War is shaped from a more liberal stance
in regard to war in general, but it's difficult to argue against much of the film because Morris is presenting his argument
through the eyes and words of a man who lived through these traumatic events. Even those opposed to the arguments
set forward here cannot deny that multiple mistakes were made during America's involvement in each of the events.
The film is divided into eleven life lessons that McNamara has determined would better serve our leaders today. They range
from "Empathize with your enemy" and "Rationality will not save us" to "Get the data," "Belief and seeing are both often
wrong," and "Be prepared to reexamine your reasoning." Although there are no specific references to the current situation
in Iraq, it's obvious that many of these lessons are targeted at the Bush Administration specifically. However, I don't
believe that's necessarily a knock on America's position in the world, but merely a suggestion that might divert future
hasty military action without having a strong plan of action based on accurate information. Moreover, these lessons could
apply to any leader of any nation in the world today.
McNamara recalls his early days during World War II as a key aide to General Curtis LeMay, as they planned bombing
raids on Tokyo, which resulted in the firebombing deaths of 100,000 Japanese. Subsequent bombing in Japan of similarly-sized
cities in the United States, as provided by Morris in a riveting scene, further illustrates the enormous loss of life inflicted on the enemy. In the film's
most revealing moment, McNamara espouses that both he and LeMay probably would have been charged as war criminals
had the United States and the Allies lost the war. With hindsight and regret as his guide, he believes that
"Proportionality should be a guideline in war."
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, McNamara wonders aloud how the world escaped nuclear holocaust as war was avoided by
the narrowist of margins. Later, when McNamara had the chance to visit with Castro about those tense days during the
crisis, he learned that Castro had recommended to the Kremlin to attack the U.S. even if it meant the total annihilation of
Cuba. Despite notions to the contrary, McNamara claims that the crisis was alleviated by "luck."
Finally, during the Vietnam War, which McNamara and President Kennedy initiated, he recalls the events leading up to the first
troops deployed to the region, and how his own incorrect evaluation of the situation motivated him to encourage then
President Johnson to end the war and his eventual resignation as Secretary of Defense. The opposition to the war at home
was a factor in his reexamination of U.S. involvement in what was actually a civil war, not only a stampede of Communism.
McNamara was 85 at the time of filming, and Morris used a unique device, the Interrotron (which allows the interviewee to
look directly into the camera lense during the conversation), to give the audience an intimate look at McNamara's answers.
There are times when his emotions come to the surface, only to be subdued by the sobering memories of his mistakes.
His interview is certainly an honest evaluation of his success and failure as one of America's most important figures of the
last century. The Fog of War elevates its already potent material with historical footage and Morris' helpful visualization of
McNamara's recollections. The film is one of the best documentaries in years, and its importance is reinforced by man's
inability to escape his more sordid nature.
© 2003 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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