Control Room
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Movie Reviews of Control Room
Movie Review: Excellent movie, DVD LOADED with EXTRAS!!
Summary: 5 Stars
For anyone who hasn't seen this documentary in the theatres it is an EXCELLENT documentary which will give you insights into the world and media regardless of what your political leanings may be. The DVD is loaded with extras.
This movie is not a political rant and is not just an "election year" movie, not by a long shot. This documentary will hold its own decades from now. [Please see other reviews for basic concept/topic of this documentary, no point in my repeating the movie overview].
For anyone who saw this movie in the theatre, you will want to GET THE DVD(!!) for the excellent extras and commentaries. I've seen the movie twice in theatres and purchased the DVD so I could share it with others who missed it. I was surprised to see the level of extras in the DVD, outstanding job!
The DVD contains the movie shown in the theatre, plus has three additional commentary audio tracks: 1) normal movie audio, 2) commentary by the producer and cinematographer, 3) commentary by Marine Captain Josh Rushing (recorded after the movie was made), and 4) commentary by two Al Jazeera news producers.
There is also a large amount of additional interviews/footage that didn't make it into the original movie. Subtitles are available in English, Arabic, French, Spanish. Wow
One of the things I really, really liked about this documentary is that it isn't out from the get go to demonize anyone. The vast majority of the people portrayed in the film (US military press core, western news media, arab news media, etc.) come across as basically well intentioned people with very different perspectives of what is going on and what needs to be done, different cultural understandings, etc.
The different audio commentary tracks also promote more food for thought from the sometimes very different perspectives of the various commentators. When was the last time you saw a movie with audio commentary from a U.S. Marine Captain and another audio commentary with Al Jazeera producers?
The best documentary DVD I've ever seen. One of the best overall movies I've seen in the last few years, documentary or otherwise.
This important movie will be viewed many times in the future, long after the war and political disputes have moved on...
If you haven't seen the movie, you will be pleased with the DVD. If you've already seen the movie, you will be VERY pleased with the DVD.
Outstanding job, Jehane, I'm very impressed with your work and your approach!! Thank you for making this film. -- Warren
Movie Review: Al Jazeera 5, CENTCOM 1, Western Journalists 0
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very worthy and serious documentary. As one who spends a lot of time thinking about "strategic communication" and public diplomacy and public perception, I cannot think of a more important reference point for any US official interested in understanding where we are going wrong in the Arab and Muslim worlds.
Bottom line up front: Al Jazerra gets 5 points from me, in comparison with CENTCOM 1 (for naive earnestness), and Western journalists 0 (just generally stupid).
There are some spectacular flashes of insight in this documentary. My favorite is when one of the Al Jazeera editors says that the US cannot have it both ways--it cannot be the most powerful nation in the world, exercising that power (implicitly, capriciously and dangerously and harmfully) and at the same time expect the world to love it for doing so.
Over-all--and I am perhaps not the norm, having lived overseas most of my life as the son of an oilman, as a Marine Corps infantry officer, and as a clandestine case officer--I have to say that in the real world, Al Jazerra is wiping the deck with our ass. You may not like my opinion, but there are a couple of billion people that probably agree with that opinion, and most of them, right now, are not very respectful of the old USA.
It is not possible to be effective as a strategic communicator, or to practice public diplomacy, without first understanding what your target audience is seeing, hearing, and thinking. This DVD is a superb starting point and I have total respect for what has been presented here.
See also, with reviews:
The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 (Vintage)
Web of Deceit: The History of Western Complicity in Iraq, from Churchill to Kennedy to George W. Bush
Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA
9/11 Synthetic Terror: Made in USA, Fourth Edition
Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror
Vice: Dick Cheney and the Hijacking of the American Presidency
Movie Review: Tell The Truth
Summary: 5 Stars
What an absolutely brilliant documentary about the war in Iraq. I never realized how skewed and one sided journalism can be. I have much respect for Al-Jazeera and was excited to know that a documentary was being made about them and their take on the War with Iraq.
The film travels back and forth between the stations headquarters in Qatar and CentCom which is the main press briefing room set up by the US military in Iraq. It's a breath of fresh air to see an entire network of people who are smart and committed to the idea of debate and communication. I don't think you could find that at any of the major news networks in the States. Their operations, anecdotes and analysis are worthy of a documentary alone.
But there are specific moments in the film that are especially profound and upsetting. First and foremost, there is the death of an Al-Jazeera journalist. Before the troops entered Baghdad, the US committed air strikes on civilian targets including the building housing Al-Jazeera. In the attack, one of their correspondents is killed along with three other journalists. There is footage of the journalist facing him head-on right up until seconds before the attack. That along with a plea for justice from the journalist's wife and a completely absurd justification for the attack from the US is both infuriating and literally sickening.
Finally there is the case of Lt. Josh Rushing. Throughout the film, he is the American representative that has debates and discussions with the many Arab journalists. Despite having to take the absurd position of defending US aggression, he is intelligent and empathetic. At one point he becomes self-analytical and candid talking about how he had seen images of dead Iraqi casualties one day and it didn't affect him. The next day, he was footage of American casualties and it made him sick. At that point he really had to face himself and while still in the process at least recognize how much he hates war. That story doesn't end there. With the release of the film, the Pentagon ordered Rushing not to comment on the film. Offended by this gesture, he is now seeking to leave the Marines.
"Control Room" is a movie about the War with Iraq. But that's not the half of it. It's a movie that will hopefully widen the debate about television and what is objective journalism in this country. It's also another stone catapulted through the wall of Arab stereotypes. It's also an intelligent and engaging film that is as challenging as it is satisfying.
Movie Review: Fair and balanced news? Isn't that what they all say?
Summary: 5 Stars
This award winning 2003 documentary tells the story of the war in Iraq from the point of view of Al Jazeera, the television network that brings the news to 40 million people in the Arab-speaking world. Many of the challenges it faces are shared by journalists everywhere. They risk their lives to bring a story to the people. And they are all under pressure to spin the story to their employers' wishes.
The viewer meets the people who produce this news network. There's the director Samir Khader, the chain smoking and cynical head of the organization. He freely admits he'd be willing to work for Fox News if offered the job and wants to send his children to America for their educations. There's Hassan Ibrahim, a former BBC correspondent. He's a well-spoken pudgy man with a clear mind, who sees the world through a slightly different filter that I do. And a lot of what he says makes sense challenging my perceptions on a very human level. There's Deema Khatib, one of the Al Jazeera staff members, whose playful expressive large brown eyes sparkle with a great sense of humor, She's unveiled and modern and obviously well educated. Then there is Lieutenant Josh Rushing, who clearly is doing his best to explain U.S. policy. He's blue eyed and personable and very American and has a calm demeanor and a high intellect. His interchanges with Al Jazeera personnel show a depth of understanding for all sides of the question. And yet he is steadfast in his support of America.
The film begins in March 2003 as American troops invade Iraq. Al Jazeera shows pictures of the casualties. The American news media does not. Al Jazeera is fast to point out some troubling realities of American foreign policy. And, in this documentary at least, it attempts show that its news coverage is fair and balanced. But then, again, isn't that what they all say?
This film made me think.
And what made me think even more were the special features included on the DVD which show more interviews with the subjects of the film and adds a bit of humanity to them all, including the American Lieutenant who has the hard job of trying to placate all sides.
The situation in the world today is complex. I came away with more insight into its depths. There are no real answers. Only serious questions.
This is fine and troubling film that challenges all our perceptions. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: THE FOG OF WAR IS ILLUSTRATED COURTESY OF THE NEWS MEDIA AND THE LATEST WAR
Summary: 5 Stars
IN A NUTSHELL: NOT SLICK BUT VERY REAL
Many viewers looking for entertainment may find this is a bit heavy for their purposes. This is not entertainment and it is not knowledge. Its not fun, and its not pretty or cute or glib or cool. It is a very broad swath taken toward the truth, and to gain any knowledge from it beyond doubt and confusion will take some concerted effort as this is a very muddy topic. "Control Room" takes us through the unedited mud and grime of war reporting at the front, their front, the news front, which at times is precisely where the shooting and killing is going on.
There are certain universal truths for all of us in the "CONTROL ROOM", but NOT the TRUTHS we might have wanted or expected;
*TRUTH IS A GREASED PIG
*ANGLO/AMERICAN MOTIVES FOR GULF WAR 2 ARE AS CLEAR AS MUD TO THE WORLD COMMUNITY
*THERE IS NO UNBIASED PRESS AND PERHAPS NO UNBIASED PEOPLE
*THE ARAB WORLD DOES NOT SEE GULF WAR 2 AS A LIBERATION OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE, BUT RATHER AS ONE CONTINUOUS WAR CRIME AGAINST THEM BY US
*THERE SEEM TO HAVE BEEN SOME VERY REAL DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN CENTCOM REPORTS ON THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR AND REALITY
*COLLATERAL DAMAGE IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER JUST LIKE THE PURPOSES OF "SMART WEAPONS"
BOTTOM LINE: SADLY IT SEEMS TO COME DOWN TO "US" & "THEM"
Make no mistake about it, nothing that is being presented in "Control Room" is even suggested to be unbiased by the filmmakers. It does, however, direct our attention, and perhaps our understanding , as Americans, toward an understanding of how other nations, especially Iraq and the Arab world, feel about our recent actions in Iraq and from what source they have drawn their conclusions about those actions.
In essence, we [Americans] get to see, and hear some of what the news viewers in the Arab world, and Iraq get to see, and hear in forming their opinions about us. Unfortunately, their viewpoints make it very clear that the "US" and "THEM" in this relationship is at the root of the problem, and obviously stands in the way of understanding, and peaceful relations by both sides. If and how that is ever going to change, will be up to all of us in the future.
SUGGESTED VIEWING: "THE FOG OF WAR"