, The Bourne Trilogy
, and United 93
. Although I think with the subject matter he tackles speaks volumes about his political leanings, he so far has managed to keep any of his films from being overtly political. Well throw that out the window. Green Zone is the director's most partisan film yet, and a slamming rebuke of American activities leading up to the invasion of Iraq back in 2003. It's also one crazy thrill ride that will have you on the edge of your seat.Matt Damon stars as Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller, a rare hero thrown into a venomous snake pit of lies and political corruption. Those who stress that this film looks a lot like Jason Bourne-lite will find some similarities between Miller and the amesiac spy in that both are doggedly determined to find the truth. In Miller's case, he's been assigned to sniff out WMD in Iraq in hopes of making the case for war. After a third unsuccessful tip leads them to an abandoned toilet factory, Miller realizes that something isn't passing the smell test in Washington. Somebody's feeding them bad intel, and it's moving up the chain either negligently or intentionally.
After making his complaints known and being told in no uncertain terms to shut up and do your job, Miller is approached by Martin Brown(Brendan Gleeson), a CIA vet and expert in the Middle East who lets it be known that he shares Miller's concerns. This partnership runs Miller afoul of Pentagon official, Clark Poundstone(Greg Kinnear) who continually pushes the idea of "transforming" the Middle East. He seems sincere when peddling his line of snake oil, it's easy to understand why so many would follow him. Poundstone has been feeding the WMD intelligence to the military from an unknown source code named "Magellan", a supposed higher up in the Iraqi government. Nobody knows who this Magellan is. He sounds a lot like the real life informant, "Curveball", who's lies the Bush administration used to help make their case that WMD did exist in Iraq. The guy proved to be an absolute fraud, but by the time that was found out it was already too late.
Amy Ryan(Gone Baby Gone
) plays newspaper columnist Lawrie Dayne, who reports on Magellan's supposed "tips" in her paper, adding credibility where there should be none. After realizing that she may be a dupe being led around by the nose, she latches on to Miller and his search for truth as well. Dayne appears to be modeled after former NYT columnist, Judith Miller, who willingly spread WMD falsehoods fed to her. She also aided in the outing of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame.I'm pretty much a political junkie. Have been for awhile. As a film critic, though, I've been disappointed by all the movies that have come out regarding the Iraq War. They've been either naive(Lions for Lambs, Rendition) or flat out soft in any criticism there is to be levied. The best film on the war so far has undoubtedly been The Hurt Locker, but it sidesteps any political viewpoint and focuses solely on one man's obsessions. Green Zone can best be compared not to these movies but to 2007's The Kingdom. Even though the point of view of both are wildly different from eachother, at heart they are both pure action films using real life scenarios as a backdrop. Both had a point, and I would say both take a somewhat simplistic approach to making it. I appreciate Paul Greengrass having the stones to say anything at all when so many other filmmakers have tried to play it safe right down the middle.
In the last few days I've read columns and had a couple friends complain to me that Green Zone is anti-American because it doesn't cast us as on the right side of history. To those people I'd submit that making a film about people who lied us into war isn't anti-American, but actually lying us into war is. We can argue all day about what came afterwards. Regardless of what side of the aisle you fall on, looking towards a movie to make your political arguments probably isn't the best route to take.
Those familiar with Greengrass's style will recognize his roller coaster shaky cam technique. Those with weak stomachs need not apply. The action is swift, brutal, and shockingly up close and personal. In that, it resembles the Bourne films to a tee.
Green Zone has a message, and some will disagree with it. I'm one of those people who thinks that no film should be taken so seriously that any point it's trying to make keeps you from enjoying it. Those looking for an intense, explosive action ride will be completely satisfied.
