Point of View

Uncovered: The War On Iraq – A Movie Review

Talking Heads Galore
By Fred H. Arm

Once again, a quasi-political documentary that assails the current administration is presented for those inquiring minds that need to know or should have known how miserable a job the administration is doing. We all know that already! So why have our noses rubbed in again?

“Uncovered” presents quite an array of impressive talking heads revealing how misguided and fraudulently the case was presented to go to war against Iraq last year. Director, Robert Greenwald went to great lengths to explain the who, the how, the when and the where of some pretty big leaps of imagination and outright fraud in justifying an unprovoked attack against another sovereign nation. So, what else is new? Most of us already knew this stuff or had a good idea what it was all about.

Greenwald makes a reasonably good case against the administration, but the film begins to drag as one after the other talking head drones on and on about pretty much the same stuff. Very little action relief is provided between the headshots that tend to run together until the hypnotic effect ushers in the sandman for a quick nod off here and there.

Historically, the film gives quite an in-depth account of our misguided approval of going to war. No doubt future historians and children too young today to know what is going on will at some point in the future find this expose quite enlightening. For me it held my interest about one third the way through and the rest was just more of the same. Been there, done that.

For those far left liberals, this film is just more fodder to lament about how awful things are. For the far right, it is just another unpatriotic jab at the president. For most other people, the film is informative and revealing, but needs a whole lot more spice to keep this writer awake.

COLLATERAL

A summertime implausible action film with wit, brains, style, and character.
By Fred H. Arm

In this half crime thriller and half surprisingly comical buddy pix, Michael Mann's "Collateral" smashes full-bore through LA in one night of murder and mayhem. Tom Cruise stars as Vincent, a cold-blooded hitman who picks Jamie Foxx ‘s cab as his vehicle for the night to slaughter five would-be witnesses scheduled to testify in an upcoming Drug King Pin’s trial. The highly talented Michael Mann (Heat, The Insider, The Last of the Mohicans) brings to the screen one tight-fisted, yet highly implausible crime thriller that delivers generous doses of high-end action amidst compelling character moments. Foxx plays an aimless, yet intelligent and kind-hearted, young cab driver named Max. Max becomes increasingly anxious as the bodies begin piling up, while the police are just beginning to pick up the crime’s scent.

Plot wise, the story is highly unlikely and implausible, yet Mann and screenwriter Stuart Beattie manage to elevate the material beyond simplistic gimmickry. Vincent promises Max 700 dollars to be his wheelman while he dispatches his victims one-by-one. It does not take a genius to figure out that Max is most likely doomed once Vincent's dirty little mission is accomplished. This is the backbone of the tension and terror that runs throughout the film. Although it has a formulaic finale involving a lot of running through deserted office buildings and streets, a subway train, and some really bad shooting of a supposed expert hitman.

Mechanically, the film seems to have been shot mostly on digital video, yet maintaining a starkly striking style. Collateral is fascinating to watch, notwithstanding the killings and far-fetched gunplay. Cruise seems to be really relishing his Bad Guy role that you cannot seem to resist watching his every move. He is quietly evil, yet he is infinitely fascinating and peculiarly likable. Collateral is not exactly profound or even a novel crime story. However, it is remarkably satisfying and thrilling.

It is great to see an action fantasy so mature and refined during this summer’s goofy spectacles and mindless dramas. This is a fun and good-looking movie, with a strangely haunting and original concept. It has the cast to pull it off and a talented director doing his part to carry the theme to an electrifying new level.