The Fog of War

PG-13

Released Dec 26, 2003

1h 45m

Documentary

List

96%

140 Reviews

Tomatometer

93%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Former corporate whiz kid Robert McNamara was the controversial Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, during the height of the Vietnam War. This Academy Award-winning documentary, augmented by archival footage, gives the conflicted McNamara a platform on which he attempts to confront his and the U.S. government's actions in Southeast Asia in light of the horrors of modern warfare, the end of ideology and the punitive judgment of history.

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Critics Consensus

The Fog of War draws on decades of bitter experience to offer a piercing perspective on the Cold War from one of its major architects.

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Joshua Rothkopf

In These Times

[A] mesmerizing portrait of former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara...

Mar 16, 2020

Full Review

Antonia Quirke

London Evening Standard

Although Errol Morris's film takes us through the nasty dramas behind various wars, few of McNamara's clarifications come as a surprise.

Dec 18, 2017

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 5/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

Rocco T. Thompson

Screen Rant

A polarizing figure, McNamara speaks with almost unthinkable candor about his role in The Vietnam and Cold Wars with equal parts introspection, denial, self-aggrandizement, and contrition.

Jun 22, 2020

Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

It's difficult to imagine anyone from George W. Bush's administration coming forth with such awe-inspiring, agenda-free candor, contrition, insight and misgivings about America's foreign policy. A documentary about morals, respect and blind luck.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 24, 2010

Full Review

Thomas Peyser

Style Weekly (Richmond, VA)

A great and disturbing film.

Jul 7, 2009

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Alec B

McNamara clearly agreed to do this interview as a way to take control of his own legacy. As much as he tried to appear to speak honestly about his career Morris' probing revealed McNamara to be a mostly uncomplicated and desperate man. So much of what he refuses to say speaks volumes about him and the things he did.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

Kyle M

Politically invested and knowledgeable have set themselves in being easily fascinated with a firmer grasp towards the contexts and the humane subject, who was originally set for an interview but the amount of intellectual wisdom he shares in reflecting his actions and governmental criticism by retrospective enlarges the engagement. Even if haven't fully acknowledged the politician aside from this critically acclaimed documentary as one of its year's tops – and engagement can be minimal with a loose grasp on what's being recollected beneath the standardly learned topics, the enriching documentary is worthwhile to check out akin to a lecture for insightful lessons that thoughtfully lingers and fuels forms of criticism towards governmental decisions that might be viewed as ignorantly repetitive. (B+)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/04/23

Full Review

David W

I don't usually rate and review documentaries. However, this is one of my favorites. A truly interesting, enlightening, and uniquely intimate one-on-one with a controversial historical figure is worth seeing. When you couple it with excellent visuals and an amazing score from none other than the great Philip Glass, you get a film that is as entertaining and compelling as it is educational. I will continue to revisit this one again in the future.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/24

Full Review

Aldo G

Errol Morris helps us peer into the mind of Robert McNamara and what we see is a complex human being grappling with guilt. Fascinating filmmaking.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/13/23

Full Review

Randall M

There is the 1) documentary and the 2) subject. As for the documentary, it was interesting and had some intriguing instrumentals. There were also old video clips and voice recordings. That was nice. As for the subject, I'm just confused. The 11 "lessons" are baffling. They're not particularly thought-provoking. They sorta just show up on the screen at random times and McNamara goes off talking about something else. In addition, McNamara himself comes off poorly. Like a guy who was just out for personal glory. I didn't like the film, but I appreciate it for showing me how not to be.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Manny P

No matter how he tries to paint it ( and boy does he try ), he can't escape the fact that he was complicit in the lies and falsehoods. I also find it hard to accept the cynical fashion in which he tries to explain his shortcomings, all the other "players" are dead, literally ! Out with the 58,000 souls, some of whom still lie " in the corner of some foreign field " ( Vietnam ). Can't help but feel he got caught up in the political fervour of that time and ultimately left his moral compass in the office drawer.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/22

Full Review

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Errol Morris

Director

Robert S. McNamara

Self

Lyndon B. Johnson

Self

Errol Morris

Producer

Michael Williams

Producer

Julie Ahlberg

Producer

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Synopsis

Former corporate whiz kid Robert McNamara was the controversial Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, during the height of the Vietnam War. This Academy Award-winning documentary, augmented by archival footage, gives the conflicted McNamara a platform on which he attempts to confront his and the U.S. government's actions in Southeast Asia in light of the horrors of modern warfare, the end of ideology and the punitive judgment of history.

Director: Errol Morris
Producer: Jack Lechner, Jon Kamen, Frank Scherma, Robert Fernandez, Robert May, John Sloss
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: SenArt Films, Globe Department Store, @radical media Inc.
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Issues)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 26, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.2M
Runtime: 1h 45m

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