Review of Wrong Is Right (1982) by Stuart K — 27 Jan 2012

Based loosely upon Charles McCarry's 1979 novel The Better Angels, and brought to the screen by veteran writer/director Richard Brooks (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and Elmer Gantry (1960)), this is a pitch black satire on the power of television news and government manipulation.

It ends up being more honest about today's world than funny. Set in a world between now and later, where violence is rife and TV news is nothing more than sensationalist, Patrick Hale (Sean Connery) is a world-roving news reporter, whose reports are always dramatic and over the top.

But, despite this, he's always able to get in and interview the big world leaders. The film begins with Hale travelling to the Arab country of Hegreb, to interview King Ibn Awad (Ron Moody), but Awad learns that U.

S. president Lockwood (George Grizzard) has ordered his removal. In retaliation, Awad sends two suitcases to be detonated in America and Israel, unless Lockwood resigns as president, it's here that Hale uncovers a complex plot that reveals the world and it's governments are being manipulated by the CIA.

It's interesting to see Connery try something different like this, and he makes a good reporter too, but the plot does let it down and it does get too complex for it's own good and it ends up not knowing what it wants to be, a social statement or a black comedy.

But, it has a good supporting cast including Hardy Kruger, Katharine Ross, Dean Stockwell and Leslie Nielsen.