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The Fog of War

Play trailer Poster for The Fog of War PG-13 2003 1h 45m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 141 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
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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The Fog of War

The Fog of War

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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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Critics Reviews

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Joshua Rothkopf In These Times 03/16/2020
[A] mesmerizing portrait of former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara... Go to Full Review
Antonia Quirke London Evening Standard 12/18/2017
Although Errol Morris's film takes us through the nasty dramas behind various wars, few of McNamara's clarifications come as a surprise. Go to Full Review
Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness 05/03/2005
A-
A fascinating look into the mind of one of 20th century America's most controversial military figures Go to Full Review
Rocco T. Thompson Screen Rant 06/22/2020
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. Go to Full Review
Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal 09/24/2010
4/4
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. Go to Full Review
Thomas Peyser Style Weekly (Richmond, VA) 07/07/2009
A great and disturbing film. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Johnathon W @Hoppynsc May 3 Superb documentary from Errol Morris that using a unique camera setup to have Robert McNamara speak directly to the audience. Intercut with clips from his past as Defense Secretary during the Vietnam War, this is not an apology by the man, as the states they acted best on the information they had, while admitting some went against his own (he states if Kennedy had lived, Vietnam wouldn't have been nearly as bad). An excellent history lesson from one of the men who shaped it. See more Dennis M Apr 15 An absolutely riveting account, not only what happened in Vietnam from the principal architect of the American military involvement, but also of McNamara's own self-realization. See more Alec B 01/09/2024 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. See more Kyle M 10/04/2023 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+) See more David W 07/27/2023 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. See more Aldo G 04/12/2023 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. See more Read all reviews
The Fog of War

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Movie Info

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
Errol Morris, Michael Williams, Julie Ahlberg
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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