Ensofter Overrated and overhyped

Cortechba Overrated

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

kitellis-98121 It's hard not to become enraged while watching this film, as the true events depicted are so disgraceful and appalling; so staggeringly unfair and unjust; so typical of human politics. It's a film that needed to be made, to set the record straight, and give some small sense of closure and justice to the situation. Because, as this is a true story, in reality the bad guys did not get their comeuppance, and the good guys did not get their lives back. But they can, perhaps, at least watch their story told on film and know that the truth finally came out. Even if it's really not compensation enough.This movie is excellent in every regard, with an eloquent and powerful screenplay, passionate and intense performances, and assured, focused direction. Every scene is fraught with tension and crackling energy, played-out brilliantly and simply by use of dialogue and performance alone, without need of flashy camerawork or overwrought music. The story is strong enough without bells or whistles, and the writer and director wisely keeps it front and centre.This is a film that can be re-watched multiple times, and each time is equally gripping and equally devastating.It's just a shame that however much truth you throw at corruption, however bright a light you shine upon it, there never seems to be enough truth or light to counteract the lies, deceit and corruption that exist at the heart of government. Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. Everyone knows this. Few seem to care enough to fight it.

ghcheese I shouldn't have even started to watch this seeing Sean Penn was in it. The facts are wrong. Showing clips of speeches to make a point. Most of the data on the Iraq war was collected by Clinton administration. Yes including Kerry and Gore. Clinton just didn't act on it. Which he said literally the day before 9/11. It didn't have to happen. This movie makes the Bush administration look like war mongrels changing facts to justify the war they supposedly wanted.

generationofswine This movie is what Oliver Stone's "W." should have been. That is to say that it holds the Bush administration accountable. And it should be.The fact is that our invasion of Iraq was held under false pretenses and the fact is that the Bush Administration attacked any Americans that disagreed with it. There was even a bill that never passed the House, was never voted on, that would have made anyone that disagreed with the Bush Administration a domestic terrorist.Those are just facts. If you disagree with it for some sake of partisan loyalty, just look at the Dixie Chicks. All they said was that they wished Bush wasn't from Texas and look how badly they went after them.Look at the amount of openly anti-war Democrats in congress that found their way onto the no fly list.It's just a shame more people don't go to see movies like this. It should make you angry.The facts don't have to be 100%, this is a Hollywood movie, not a documentary, but it's not one that doesn't have a valid meaning behind it.So valid that it makes a great companion piece for "Good Night and Good Luck." It's that whole doomed to repeat it thing.The fact is, we live in extreme times. We live in times when people are extreme and they attack anyone that disagrees with them. It is still happening.We are still getting called "unPatriotic" and "unAmerican," for simply not agreeing with the far right. Just like we were when that junior senator from Wisconsin of all places was doing his level best to assure that anyone that wasn't militantly on the right was black listed.The same happened under Bush and "Fair Game" is a wonderful illustration of the levels extremists will go to, to undermine anyone that doesn't lockstep with their beliefs.Welcome to the new America, same as the old America.

juneebuggy This was okay, not as interesting as it should have been based on the subject matter and a bit of a slow burn if I'm honest. The camera work is also jerky -as this is meant to be a sort of docudrama but I just found that aspect distracting. The story itself is also told in little snippets of events so that it jumps around and skips ahead with bits of stories. Superb performances from Naomi Watts and Sean Penn are ultimately what saves this and makes it at all watchable.Based on true events, this is a political drama that follows Valerie Plame, a CIA agent whose identity is leaked by the government after her husband writes an article criticizing the Bush administration. With her cover blown, Valarie struggles to save what's left of her career while her diplomat husband creates even more controversy.The storytelling here is angry for the most part and that comes through even with the undeveloped characters - I never did get a feel for anyone involved here. Despite everything though this still managed to be somewhat absorbing and by the end I did find myself invested in their story. I liked seeing the real Valarie in the final scene, giving her testimony. 7/21/15