War Stories

I turned on NBC one wednesday night at 9:01 expecting to see The West Wing.

Instead, this was on. Even though I only saw the last hour, it was very moving, and far better than the West Wing.

Still, the movie feels very much like the West Wing. The writing is similar, except clearer and easier to understand, and the directing is again similar but clearer. Jeff Goldblum is back in his archetypal charecter, the nerdy yet smart and passionate loyal man. In this case, his career happens to be a journalist, and he does quite a good job at it - just imagine Goldblum talking about how important journalistic impartiality is.

The charecters are also extremely well developed.

The film really presented several points of view, allowing the viewer to decide which one he believes in - the sign of a good film.

This can't be called a TV movie - it's far too good for that. If it was on video, I would buy it in a heartbeat. I'm really disappointed that I only saw the last half of it, but still, I was really moved. Veyr powerful, deep themes. It makes you wonder how often things like this really do happen.

The DVD release does not include the extended voice-over complained about in other reviews...

So far this is a funny flick, with serious issues. (I'm mid way thru it)

Jeff does a great job delivering dialog, and the setting is...realistic.

Reminds me a little of...Wag the Dog vs. Three Kings.

I would recommend checking this movie out if you're in the mood for a good watch, and not a full out SFX orgy.

It grooves man, dig it.

In Uzbekistan war correspondents compete and struggle to get the "hot" story while risking their lives. The movie has various relationship triangles. The movie focuses on the life of one disgruntled, cold reporter in particular. An exploration of objectivity is explored. Refugee camps are reviewed with respect to their insignificance to governments. The human side of "terrorists" is depicted. Deep insights into the value of life and different peoples take on this is explored. There are various plot twists that add intrigue. A discovery is made about U.S. deliberate acts that defy morality to track a wanted terrorist. Good cinematography and pacing. Exciting and thought provoking movie.

I liked this film. It's comparable to HBO's Live From Baghdad. I was really surprised to find such a good film on "regular" TV. Jeff Goldblum is great in it. Hope he gets an Emmy nod. It's important for the American people to see a harsh depiction of what our journalists go through to bring us the war experience.

This movie intrigued me right form the start because it's an american movie about Afghanistan. Also, the fact that it is about the mass media and war coverage was also pretty interesting. The movie's two main characters are Goldblum playing a sort of stereotypical ani-establishment type, and Lake Bell as his newbie photographer.

The good thing about this is that it does show how much personal preferences shape the stories that make it to the headlines. One character at one point justifies his stance with the words "maybe I just love my country", proving that he is not being impartial, and that we cannot truly expect impartiality from the media.

The movie goes back and forth between whether the US government is playing games or not and what a reporters duty is and whether or not reporters are impartial. In the end it is shown that the reports will give the story. But this isn't completely accurate given that many reporters are refraining from "asking the tough question" because they feel it would be unpatriotic to do so.

The movie left me feeling a little unsatisfied but overall it is in itself (i think) relatively unbiased, showing all types of reporters and also things that may or may not be motivating the US government.