Review of The Unknown Known (2013) by Nathan M — 07 Jul 2014

Profiling the enigmatic character that is Donald Rumsfeld is a daunting task for most filmmakers, but Errol Morris handles his documentary so effortlessly that he makes it look easy. Morris' film portrays Rumsfeld as a brilliant, yet manipulative figure who has had an extensive career in politics, and immeasurable impact on world events. Surprisingly the controversial person isn't portrayed as a villain, instead Morris tries to deal with Rumsfeld in an even handed approach.

The truth is, you will get out of this film as much as you bring in. Whatever you think about Rumsfeld beforehand will color what you see in the evidence. But Morris' documentary seems pretty fair and balanced.

What Morris does better than most filmmakers is that he reveals information in a memorable and entertaining way. The film moves at a brisk pace, but doesn't breeze over any topics. Its detailed and informative and very entertaining.