Review of Standard Operating Procedure (2013) by David D — 13 May 2008

Why didn't I like this film more? Errol Morris is one of the best doc makers we have today. I usually love how every image in his films has a distinctive beauty to it, his use of music and laser-beam focus on the topic.

Somehow for this material his style just made the subject seem melodramatic and diminished the impact of the film. I especially disliked the Danny-Elfman-trying-to sound-like-Philip-Glass score which just exacerbates this melodramatic feel.

Also, in this case, his narrowness of his focus--just the soldiers who took the pictures at Abu Graib--while never really addressing the larger questions, felt very unsatisfying. With all that being said, I did leave the theater feeling like there should be a vigilante mob following Donald Rumsfeld et al.

around every minute of every day until they are held accountable for their actions. And it's too bad not very many people will see this film. (They spent a fortune on it.) It's a topic that it seems we just want to sweep under the carpet.

If you want to see a great doc about the subject, I'd suggest renting the far superior "Taxi to the Dark Side.".