Review of Fair Game (2010) by Ceph J — 30 Mar 2011
Joe Wilson writes a column for NYT saying that Niger sold no uranium to Saddam to make a nuclear bomb undermining Bush's reason for going to war. Cheney's hacks are angry so disclose to conservative columnist Robert Novak that Joe's wife, Valerie is a CIA spy and recommended him for the mission to Niger. They risk Valerie's life and safety as "Fair Game.".
The first hour is slow with lots of background. There's so much talk with acronyms that a viewer may turn off. However, I did like the acronym "DF" for "Don't Fuck Up." The movie kicks into gear after the first hour but then it's actually a domestic drama where Joe who wants to go on the defensive while Valerie thinks it's better to keep silent since nothing will change. I find director Doug Liman movies too clinical for my taste and he does the same thing here which doesn't emotionally engage the viewer. It's Naomi Watts movie and she shines as Valerie. Sean Penn plays Joe with restraint but you know, in real life, the actor is liberal so would be the first with a peace sign.
The movie fails to be above average since you never get the Bush/Cheney perspective. Are they really stupid not to know that Saddam's nuclear arsenal was destroyed in the first Gulf War? Or, vindicative and deceptive liars? Who's in charge of the campaign for misinformation? A true story that's not totally gripping on the screen but much better as a story in the newspapers.
This review of Fair Game (2010) was written by Ceph J on 30 Mar 2011.
Fair Game has generally received positive reviews.
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