Green Zone Advances Liberal Narrative of Iraq War
Along the way, U.S. operatives torture suspects, the UN’s hapless weapons inspectors are treated like the gold standard, and a vile Iraqi general becomes a noble warrior deserving of our pity.
Yet Green Zone plays out in a reasonably compelling fashion for roughly two-thirds of the film — assuming you can swallow so much bunk. Damon, his voice reduced to a husky growl, is credible as the honor-bound solider desperate to solve the WMD mystery. And Greengrass doesn’t waste a moment of screen time; his film is as lean as modern audiences demand.
The film’s settings truly impress, from Saddam’s former palaces to his airport and repository of war-minded statues. You’ll feel like you’ve been deposited in a war zone, one that miraculously recreates an Iraq in full crisis mode.
Even if one buys the Green Zone logic, the film still stands as Greengrass’ weakest film to date. The director’s obsession with shaky camera work is at its zenith here, almost to the point of parody. There’s no shot Greengrass thinks wouldn’t be better sans tripod, and the cumulative effect is dizzying and unnecessary.
The Iraqi characters are given virtually no depth or dimensions, especially a valuable informant who exists to prop up the plot and deliver an occasional lecture about American hubris.
The talented Amy Ryan plays a Wall Street Journal scribe likely based on the real reporter who, according to the film, glibly transcribed the administration’s talking points on WMD. It’s a thankless role far beneath her, and it adds nothing to the film save another talking point about the media’s obeisance in the war’s run-up.
Worst of all, Green Zone takes a terribly complex situation and renders it in high contrast black and white. The dawn of the insurgency, the truth surrounding WMD, the reasons for going to war — each is delivered in sound bites that betray the real issues.
At one point Miller taps out his findings on the computer, as if the director wasn’t sure we got the message already.
It’s like The Iraq War for Dummies written by Oliver Stone.
In fact, much of Green Zone plays out like a Stone fantasy, although the 2010 version of Stone can’t match the intensity Greengrass can muster.
Damon‘s strait-laced performance holds the film together until the final 20 minutes when the mishmash of conspiracies and plot absurdities reaches the melting point. The final street battle is both improbable on a dozen levels and so visually confusing it makes Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen look lucid in comparison.
Green Zone trumps other recent Iraq War dramas in both audacity and scope. It won‘t be remembered as anything but preaching to a choir that likely won‘t buy enough tickets to support it.
Matt Damon– loved his work in Team America!
“” The late Howard Zinn would be very proud of his protégé, Matt Damon. “”
So would Hitler’s filmmaker, the late Leni Riefenstahl, be very proud of her’s: Matt Damon.
Don’t go see the movie. It does not tell a truthful story. It is anti-American propaganda.
The United States, with a coalition of willing nations, went to war in Iraq to remove Saddam, and the United States did so based on the 22 stated reasons for war in the congressional authorization to use force that leading Democrats, including Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, supported. Saddam was in violation of 17 U.N. arms resolutions. Saddam had used WMDs in the form of nerve gas against the Iragi Kurdish population. Saddam had used torture against his own people, killing hundreds of thousands. Saddam had bankrolled terrorist suicide bombers. Saddam had allowed Iraq territory to be used for terrorist training camps. We could not take the risk of Saddam continuing in power.
After the invasion, we did not find the WMDs that all the world’s intelligence agencies thought he had. According to Iraqi Air Force General Georges Sada, however, right before the 2003 invasion, Saddam moved the WMDs he had to Syria, while keeping — which we found — the raw materials to make WMDs. As one result, even the New York Times reported that 550 metric tons of yellow cake uranium was shipped out of Iraq in July 2007. Yes, Saddam did go uranium shopping in Africa. Further, Saddam did have an Oil for Food corruption going at the U.N. aimed at freeing himself from the U.N. arms restrictions. He had more advanced nuclear plans than was thought. While Saddam did not have a connection to 9-11, the 9-11 Commission found that Saddam was a supporter of terrorism. Saddam did have an arms transfer agreement with al Qaeda.
You have to ask: what would have Saddam done if still in power and what would the world have looked like?
But the world we live in, is different and for the better because we removed Saddam from power. Instead of a murderous dictator in power in Iraq, Iraq has a democratic government operating under a democratically adopted written Constitution, and Iraq does not threaten its neighbors. There is an alternative model for the Islamic world.
Our fighting men and women deserve celebration and praise for what they accomplished in Iraq. Part of the story is that the Iraqi people, to their credit, turned against the radical Islamic killers; but part of the story is also the goodness and bravery of our best. Hollywood deserves nothing but the harshest condemnation and scorn for monies such as “The Green Zone.”
Nice review. But it’s “strait-laced,” not “straight-laced.”
Green Zone – another Hollyweird production I won’t be spending any of my scarce recession dollars on. In fact, I don’t see me spending any money on anything Tom Hanks does anymore.
Correction to my post above: I meant Matt Damon not Tom Hanks although with some of his recent behavior and comments Tom Hanks is included.
Why expect anything else from Damon and the hellywood crowd?Another actor/movie that will get NONE of my hard-earned (and increasingly worthless) green. . . .
“3. Phil Byler:
Don’t go see the movie. It does not tell a truthful story. It is anti-American propaganda.”
I heard a radio-broadcast review of the movie recently. The reviewer focused on exactly what #3 points up. In it, a few scenes were discussed that clearly suggest the audience is supposed to be cheering for the bad guys, especially when one of our copters is shot down by them. But, what audience is the film targeting? Is the average American viewer supposed to be cheering? I don’t think so.
I’ve heard that anti-U.S. films do very, very well overseas, even if they’re duds at the box office here. My guess is that Mr. Damon, and the the producers and director of this film, have targeted the overseas market, not caring if they profit a whit here at home. Assume that’s true. Can you think of anything more underhanded, more nefarious, more sinister? (Words fail me.) They would then be consciously making a film to profit from smearing America. Who knows what the height of hypocrisy really is? Could Mr. Damon be using his well-known hatred for this country only to make a quick Euro or dinar? I wouldn’t put it past him.
I can just see all the America-haters in Europe, the Middle East, and wherever else they reside, cheering when that copter goes down. I can also see those overseas cash registers filling up. What kind of Americans would knowingly profit from besmirching America? Now we know.
Hollywood produces a war movie that re-writes history and portrays America as the focus of evil? I’m shocked! Shocked!
In brave fashion, I predict that this movie doesn’t do very well at the box office. But then, not one of the anti-American, anti-war screeds tossed out by Hollywood have done particularly well either…this will be yet another in a growing list of anti-American movies that flops at the box office.
You can put a big name star in a movie, but if it pushes an anti-American theme…it just won’t do well in America. Of course, it will in likely do well in Europs and ME…{big sigh}
It’s rapidly getting to the point that I’m going to stop watching movies at all any more.
Give “Green Zone” a miss. Go see “Crazy Heart” instead. Interesting but sappy story but the photography and the music are great
Why is their no studio out there that is pro-america? Every anti-american/military movie they have made has bombed. Only history will know what these nuts are really up to.
Assume that’s true. Can you think of anything more underhanded, more nefarious, more sinister? (Words fail me.) They would then be consciously making a film to profit from smearing America.
There’s pretty much a consensus that the facts leading up to the invasion were distorted and/or untrue. Whether or not there was willful lying there is up to people who want to divine motive–you’d have to be a pretty naive study of human nature or an authoritarian boot licking fool not to suspect that the fabrications weren’t deliberate. That’s up to you, if you want that to be your ID.
14. oscar le grouche:
Oscar, since you want to label others, what should we call you? Truther? Propagandist? Survivalist? Progressive? Anarchist? Socialist? Communist? Self-loathing, snot-eating mama’s boy? Secret “Greenzone” producer? Islamist sympathizer? Or simply, Mohammed or Mahmud, which is probably your real name?
Wake UP call. You’ll notice I handled the issue of labeling myself, using my reasoning skills. I don’t know why you’re too stupid to figure out that you don’t ask someone what they want to be labeled, you simply label them. Like so: dumba$$. I didn’t ask you if that’s what you’d like to be called, but I assume its not the first time.
The fact that we didn’t find some large cache of chemical weapons (we found quite a lot of small, old bits) or a half built nuclear bomb more or less proves that there wasn’t a willful intent to deceive. Because honestly, (oscar, this is for you), how stupid would the Bush administration have to be not to create the needed proof and plant the evidence if they knew that there was nothing to find?
What is a naive study of human nature if a person never thinks this through? If I were setting up a lie like that I’d know enough to plant the evidence to be found.
Wouldn’t you?
Again, Hollywood is consistent in their propaganda to give America another black eye. How many more of these leftist films do we have to put up with before we all take a stand and just stop going to see this dribble. All of you out there that read this who are FED UP with this BS coming out of Matt Damon and the rest of these people that control what we see and think. There is an alternative to combat this crap. It is a small independent film that was blacklisted because I dared to show the Vietnam troops as heroes. What was I thinking in 1988-90 was this all a figment of my imagination?
You want to learn more and see a film that pays tribute and honors a generation of Americans who were spit upon by the cult of leftist malcontents that crawled out of the mud in woodstock? Go to my site and support this small indie film, tell a friend or better still buy the film for a Vietnam Vet and tell him this is a cinematic THANK YOU and WELCOME HOME film.
http://www.forgottenheroesthemovie.com
“Dear Jack, you have helped enhance the lives of our Nation’s military and veterans and I appreciate your efforts to honor these heroes. Your support of these selfless warriors reflects the best of the American Spirit and I am grateful for your compassionate work …”
- President George W. Bush – White House Letter dated July 21, 2008
“In an age when heroism and patriotism have been consumed by guilt and shame, “FORGOTTEN HEROES” offers a welcome and inspirational antidote. A heartfelt tribute to the young men who lived, served, fought and died in the jungles of Vietnam. Producer/Director Jack Marino has created a tale of courage, conviction and camaraderie reminiscent of the great films of the World War II Era” – Wade Major Associate Editor- Entertainment Today
“The movie as a whole gives an accurate and positive portrait of the heroes of Vietnam. It has a very real, down to earth feel about it. The filmmaker Jack Marino should be commended for making a terrific war movie on an independent budget.” -Movieguide – Dr. Ted Beahr
“Our Nation is fortunate to have patriots like Jack Marino and John Lebert, who had the courage to create Forgotten Heroes as a thank you for all of the Vietnam Heroes who paid the ultimate price with their lives, and for the Veterans who came back… “Welcome Home Brothers, Welcome Home” -Brigadier General (CA Ret.) Ronald B. Flynn – Former Platoon Leader 2Bn 7th U.S. Cavalry, Vietnam 1966
“It took a lot of guts and courage to make this film. I wish my dad and uncles were alive to see it. They all served in NAM and came back very broken men. Our country just threw salt into their open wounds, but they never complained, only drank themselves to death. Thank you!!!” – Herb Powell, Jefferson City, MO
I have more reviews and testimonials all over my website. Stop feeding the beast and support conservative feature narrative films. For every DVD purchase 25% of the Gross sales are being donated to the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Fund.
You think GREEN ZONE will donate a piece of their gross to our Veterans in this war on terror or will Damon make his bank account swell up as big as his ego.
Can it be worse than Alice in Wonderland, UGH.
Bush and Cheney cooked up the WMD justification, then went back in time to convince intelligence agencies of other nations that Saddam was working on WMD, then convinced Saddam to act like he was hiding projects from inspectors, then invaded without so much as a single warehouse of WMD junk to show.
The purpose of this was for the US to get control of Iraqi oil fields, which we would then allow the Iraqis to put out for competitive bids from other country’s oil companies. Plus, Bush and Cheney personally benefitted by looking like tools in front of the whole world, and putting their party thoroughly out of power.
…At this point, you may be confused. That’s because you fail to understand that the Bushies wanted Obama to be President, just to set up the 2012 run of Palin for President. Since Palin is the Antichrist, this nicely sets up the end of the world, as the Mayans predicted.
These guys play a very, very deep game. Don’t underestimate these Bilderberger guys.
As a Soldier, I don’t expect anything we do to be portratyed by Hollyweird in an accurate and favorable light. I hope they don’t make any money on the film, please don’t go and see it.
Unless Denzel Washington or Bruce Willis make a movie on the Iraq war, it won’t be worth schitt.
A good writer could get the citations for all the Bronze medals with V devices awarded since 9/11 and find plenty of great American stories to tell that would pack the theaters with butts. They’d rather be anti-American than make a profit.
Tinselgrad takes a complex and nuanced situation and turns it into a cartoon. As usual, blame it on Bush and Global Warming.
@20. dennymack:
Laugh of the day
The best thing we can do is NOT patronize these films. Alas “reformed socialist” is probably right, the movie will make profits overseas and further the cause of anti-American sentiment. I agree: what kind of “Americans” would make such a film. Now we know.
I read a plot synopsis of the movie. I think I’ll stick with “Sands of Iwo Jima”.
“16. oscar le grouche:
Wake UP call. You’ll notice I handled the issue of labeling myself, using my reasoning skills.”
Oscar, you’ve been nabbed.
Your original piece did not, in any way, suggest that you were labeling yourself, and not others. You wrote: “…you’d have to be a pretty naive study of human nature or an authoritarian boot licking fool not to suspect that the fabrications weren’t deliberate. That’s up to you, if you want that to be your ID.” In the excerpt I just quoted, you used “you’d” and “you”, not “I’d” and “I.” There’s no way that you were labeling yourself, using your (suspect) reasoning skills. You were definitely mocking people who disagree with your opening thoughts, leading up to where you call them boot-lickers. Don’t try to bamboozle me.
But, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you just weren’t in class the day your English teacher taught the differences between “you” and “I,” Mahmud.
oscar le grouche is a fake Oscar. He’s out to sully the good name of Oscar.
As others have said green zone is a tribute to howard zinn.
Of course Green Zone presents the troops and America in a bad perspective. Matt Damon’s, neighbor, good friend and mentor was commie Howard Zinn. And his friends are leftists Penn and clooney and others.
Hurt locker was interesting but showed a zombie, anti-social, violent soldier hooked on adrenaline and an officer approving murder. sad they are making hundreds of millions trashing America and the military and us vets. Just like the Obama homeland security report said.
there should be a viral and visible campaign to boycott all films by these anti-American marxists. Where is ole Joe when you need him. Who funds or produces these loser movies? USSR and China? Venezuela and cuba?
“The Cyber Zone” – Ahmadinejad’s revision of a Matt Damon film
By President Ahmadinejad’s actions since Iran’s “elections” last summer it’s possible to see some playfully suitable parallels to Matt Damon’s just released “The Green Zone.” That film is a “based on history” fictionalized take on America’s search for WMD’s (weapons of mass destruction) in the early days of the Iraqi War and occupation in 2003. The film has several notable (and specious) plot points including a subtle “it’s Bush’s fault” intimation as well as requisite enforcers including a standard-issue manipulative administration official, pervasive private enterprise Black Water jackboots, and Special Forces as “tip of the spear” mercenaries employed under the auspices of power brokers both political and private. Amidst the chaos there’s a running gun battle with American forces to apprehend or eradicate a high-ranking Iraqi military officer. There’s no danger in not issuing a “spoiler alert” – namely, the premise that WMD’s were a false pretext to war. The film has not found much of an audience.
It seems that President Mahmoud “The Madman” Ahmadinejad is a fabricator of “conspiracy” stories as well and is living out a cheap “Green Zone” knock-off with his own take on events unfolding in Iran, ostensibly much of it under his own “direction.” The Iranian leader has been conducting a nine month “running gun battle” with his nefarious opposition (former presidential candidate and active opponent Mir Hossein Mousavi and crew) whom he accuses of employing WMC’s (weapons of mass communication – the Internet, email, and cell phones) to subvert his demagogic regime. In Mahmoud’s “The Cyber Zone” we also have a requisite administration heavy (Cyber force Police Colonel Mehrdad Omidi), pervasive Basij Militia jackboots, and Cyber-security forces as “tip of the spear” internet jackboots employed to ferret out and shut down the opposition. No “spoiler alert” is necessary here either – WMC’s are also a false pretext to a crackdown. Oh, and Iran trots out the same well-worn American liberal saw – “it’s Bush’s fault.”
On Saturday Iran claims to have dismantled opposition networks – networks that Iran’s Cyber-security forces claim were U.S.-backed for the purpose of collecting intelligence on scientists and Iran’s nuclear endeavors. Additionally, in a play taken straight from a Tom Clancy political and military thriller, there is also a charge that the U.S. was seeking means to circumvent controls on the Internet that Iranian Cyber-security forces put into place last fall to deprive any oppositional voices of their most crucial means to discover and disseminate real news on Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s totalitarian actions.
Based on President “Islam is a religion of peace” Obama’s own words there’s a seeming irony in Mahmoud’s charge of direct U.S. electronic interference in the Islamic state of Iran. Obama has claimed a personal Muslim faith and has been apologetic and favorable towards Muslim leaders and nations throughout his first year in office. See his “World Apology Tour.” Any perceived tension between Obama and Mahmoud is more likely a result of professional jealousy as to which is the better Muslim.
Here’s hoping Mahmoud’s twist on “The Green Zone” meets with the same tepid results as the actual film.