Shock and Awe

Despite the A list cast and very worthy subject matter this movie about the WMD deception feels a little amateurish. There are pros and cons of the way the issues are stated clearly in more or less in sequence. The pros are you get it. The points aren't lost or mumbled so as to be missed. And there is not jigsaw puzzle narrative. That is good. Unlike Spotlight which was a bit confusing. The cons are it feels like a lecture / documentary. The best point is it puts together and illuminates the sequence of events and the WMD deception from it's early stages to the invasion and the consequences. The most eye opening thing is that these journalists were on to the deception from such an early stage and the main stream press refused to let the public know.

The real life story behind what became one of the worst war mistakes a US president made. And all that just to retaliate and try to find peace. The movie has quite the strong story to dig into. That alone and how some reporters where fighting for the truth to come out is amazing enough. When everyone else was going along the line of what the president said ... they didn't.

And having the right actors to pull that off helps too. Still the absolute zinger seems to be missing. This is more than good and decent, don't get me wrong, but for those familiar with what happened and how this played out, this may feel a bit weak. Or not as strong as it could have been. Great acting overall though and the story might take you to a hopeful place. Because no matter how many times, the hopefully one term president screams and yells about the press being the enemy of the people, it just ain't true

All actors put effort in this, it also gives a kind message to investigate before making a statement dont listen to the negative reviews, no doubt they express their political views and the proof of that lies with in it negative reviews give this movie 1 star, 1 star? even the last jedi got 7 stars, this is not fair obviously u have time? then this worths that time not saying this movie is a must watch just saying it definetly worths the while

First of all, allow me to apologize for any grammar mistake in my comment.

Second, I'm from Romania (Eastern Europe) where our situation in the country is very alike the idea of the movie. Our government is making so many mistakes, trying effortlessly to justify them by social media, TV channels or any kind of press release that they have direct interest to influence peoples opinions. I was touched at the end of the movie when they presented the actual facts.

I was delighted by the actors performances. I kindly recommend you to watch this masterpiece, hoping you'll understand what real journalism is all about: searching and publishing the truth!

The film of the expose of an impending fraud surrounding the run up to the Iraq War by the Knight Ridder News Service is itself as expose of how ignorant people were kept at the time.

And the fact no one in the GW Bush Admin carried the can for the war and no impeachment took place does not bode well for our political system, Rob Reiner's film accuratelly tell a story that few at the time wanted to know and many wanted to forget after the bloody mess was over.

It is a warning to America for the future.