An interesting and highly controversial documentary feature that earned an Oscar-nomination and still creates heated discussions within some circles. It is February 1993 in Waco, Texas and the Branch Davidians (an outlandish religious cult led by the infamous David Koresh) are in an isolated compound (a military-styled community for the most part) where they supposedly practice their beliefs and live in relative peace and harmony away from the outside world. However, this group is not just a religious sect. After all what other religious organization has automatic weapons and possibly other harmful entities within their places of worship? The Davidians' motives are unclear and the U.S. ATF (which is an acronym for Alcohol, Tobacco and Firemans) is called in to investigate and disarm. Of course disaster strikes and four agents are killed. Now there is a standoff in Waco and more tragedy some 51 days later in April when dozens of Davidians are killed in an inferno of flames after their compound ignites in fire. By 1995 and 1996 there is a massive government investigation as to what really happened in Texas. It is an investigation that will put Democrats against Republicans, Davidians against the public and to a great extent the living against those who died. "Waco: The Rules of Engagement" is a heated commentary that pulls no punches and ends up being an angry indictment on the ATF, the FBI and the U.S. Government in general. Religious freedoms, the Bill of Rights (which is like a statistic---it can be used to prove most anything within reason) and public safety become the most talked about topics here. The film wants its audience to feel sympathy and sadness for those who lost their lives in Waco (they had my sympathy long before the production). However, the film-makers would rather put the Davidians in positive light rather than a negative one. The facts, regardless of this fine film, are that the Branch Davidians had an arsenal of weapons illegally within their compound. Although the film never does explore this, it is very likely that there were also narcotics and illegal chemical labs for the creation and distribution of various drugs. Waco, home of Baylor University, has always been a major Texas drug trafficking zone. Thus the ATF had all the reason in the world to be there. Koresh was a religious fanatic who took the Book of Revelations literally, believing strange things about the "Seven Seals" and claiming he was a prophet sent from God. In reality, the Davidians had plenty of opportunity to leave the compound during the 51-day siege. Many of the elderly and very young children did indeed come out early and were brought to safety. Koresh's relationships with many women, some as young as 13 and 14, fails to make him a sympathetic person in my eyes. In many ways, he was a glorified rapist who made some people follow his distorted views. As the film advances, research is shown to prove the fact that the authorities did indeed start the fire at the compound. Even if they did, so what? The ATF had lost men and had nearly spent two months at a standoff with a group that did not understand negotiation or due process. In short Koresh was stalling and the ATF did use their last bullet in the end, so to speak. Also the unknown of the Branch Davidians led the ATF to use weapons when some from the group did decide to finally come out, believing that many could have automatic weapons or hand grenades. The whole thing was a mess from all perspectives, but I felt like the Clinton Administration (Janet Reno in particular) did all that could be done over the course of two dark months over Waco. I respect the film for its views and I do think this is a fine documentary, but sometimes fancy editing and the choices film-makers make can leave them biased. "Waco: The Rules of Engagement" suffers from biases and in the end that keeps it from being an excellent documentary, but that does not mean it is still not very close to the bull's eye. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
