Review of The Fog of War (2003) by Todd S — 11 Aug 2008

I have been a fan of Errol Morris (albeit, not a rabid one) ever since watching and discussing [i]The Thin Blue Line[/i] in a documentary class at the University of Utah several years ago. As a director, he pieces together a non-fiction narrative in a nonlinear fashion, interspersing frank interviews with archival footage and dramatic reenactments in a way that more resembles an art film than an A&E special. Philip Glass, his perpetual composer, sets music to the images, and although many of his film soundtracks sound similar, the effect is always convincing and slick.

[i]The Fog of War[/i] is Morris' latest effort, this year's recipient of the Best Documentary Adacemy Award, and it is a very fascinating piece of work, although not quite up to par with [i]Line, [/i]or [i]Vernon, Florida,[/i] it is a more involving production that the recent [i]Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control.[/i] This film studies the early life of Robert McNamara, and the seven years during which he served as Secretary of Defense under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. The interviews seem to be almost a cleasing process for McNamara, who obviously feels guilty for his involvement in the Vietnam War and Tokyo firebombings, and as an interview subject, he is introspective, unambiguous, and occassionally apologetic. These interviews are intercut with brilliantly placed and chosen war footage, and the effect is undeniable. With today's stubborn, unapolgetic Presidential Administration, it is heartening to see someone deliberately discuss the military mistakes made during the horror of war, and provides a small amount of hope for the future.

The pace was a little slow, with a few too many pauses in the intricate interview procedure to show archival footage laced with music. If 20 minutes or so had been excised from the film, it would have been a snappier piece of work. But other than this minor complaint, the film was a masterpiece of documentary filmmaking.