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.

This is a sexy, cynical tale about journalists in a war zone trying to uncover the truth as they dodge bombs, gun-toting extremists and a corrupt government intent on using them as spies. Not bad for a pilot episode though I doubt America will receive this series with open arms due to the current war fever spreading in Washington. Still, kudos to NBC for even considering doing a series like this. What is established right off the bat is that there is no truth, just stories. We have a crew of hardened war correspondents, lead by Ben (Jeff Goldblume), who throw themselves into hot zones (and into each other's beds) with wild abandon, tossing off cigarettes and snarky quips at each other as they hunt for the all-elusive scoop. This group includes a newbie photographer who is partnered up with Ben, a foreign-accented spy/source, a beautiful blonde British journalist who sleeps with everyone but Ed Begley Jr., and, well, Ed Begley Jr. I think War Stories has great potential as it addresses the age-old issue of journalistic objectivity with more contemporary arguments and with sexy results. It's a refreshing alternative from the slew of reality-based TV programming spamming our networks.

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.

War Stories is a great movie centering on two journalists covering the war in Uzbek and 9/11 attacks. War Stories is a great movie centering on two journalists covering the war in Uzbek and 9/11 attacks. War Stories is a great movie centering on two journalists covering the war in Uzbek and 9/11 attacks. War Stories is a great movie centering on two journalists covering the war in Uzbek and 9/11 attacks. War Stories is a great movie centering on two journalists covering the war in Uzbek and 9/11 attacks. War Stories is a great movie centering on two journalists covering the war in Uzbek and 9/11 attacks. War Stories is a great movie centering on two journalists covering the war in Uzbek and 9/11 attacks. War Stories is a great movie centering on two journalists covering the war in Uzbek and 9/11 attacks.

When I saw this pilot episode of what was supposed to be a TV series, I was quite excited about it. The story was daring and original, considering the usual high-tech kitsch that usually air on broadcast TV ("24", "CSI" and the likes). This show felt different - in a way it felt real, like it had meat on its bones. It was more than just stories of people and the outlandish things that happen to them - it dealt with ideas and got one thinking. War Stories talked about the grittiest, truest and maybe noblest side of journalism: war correspondents. This was a show that seemed to chose story lines mirroring reality, even if that reality felt a bit uncomfortable to acknowledge. Finally, I thought, a series that tries to be more than pointless thrills and suspense. The series was even mentioned by Newsweek magazine for its originality and provocative subject. Unfortunately, by next week the show was cancelled. I guess, since the show was too daring, didn't fit a "format", and mostly considering the political climate and the attitude towards war at the time, someone threw their weight around, and instead of more episodes of War Stories we got more mind-numbing sitcoms, reality shows, and cheesy thrillers. Heaven forbid we see something controversial that expresses a different point of view, or gets us thinking. Still, I am hoping the producers haven't given up on this one yet...