Review of The Fog of War (2003) by Adrian B — 24 Mar 2013

An extraordinary, informative, very risky detail of the life and career of Robert McNamara, who was Secretary of Defence for several U.S. presidents (JFK, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Nixon) during the 1960's.

Starts by telling of his early days, how he enlisted to serve during World War II, describing the shocking supply chain of transporting the contents of the atomic bomb from India to China, then dropping it on Japan.

Then he goes on to describe the bloodshed and destruction of many parts of the major cities outside of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki (yes that includes Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, presently the three largest cities of the nation).

He describes the horrors of the Vietnam War and his belief is that the U.S. involvement was not needed in the conflict and that they likely made the situation transcendently worse (especially from the evidence that he brought up).

It is an eye opening documentary, of superb detail and very simple interviewing (essentially the cameraman is asking questions and he is answering them). McNamara was the longest serving Secretary of Deference (1961 to 1968 in which he resigned) and this movie should be considered one of his greatest accomplishments.

An absolutely great film!