47
Metascore
18 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 63Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreIf nothing else, the timely Shock and Awe is a blunt reminder of how important a skeptical press is in countering a popular government — or even an unpopular one — that is hellbent on lying, misleading, on doing something for nefarious reasons, and has all of cable news, talk radio and a truth-averse internet backing it up.
- 60Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinLos Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinIf this swift, entertaining film, set during the post-9/11 run-up to the Iraq war, brashly leans left, it has history on its side as well as, it seems, the interests of our soldiers.
- 60The New York TimesBen KenigsbergThe New York TimesBen KenigsbergAt a time when the current president routinely dismisses the accuracy of reporting, Shock and Awe feels more timely than it might have. It also captures an aspect of journalism not often portrayed: the fear of being wrong when the conclusions of your reporting break from those of your competitors.
- 50The Hollywood ReporterDeborah YoungThe Hollywood ReporterDeborah YoungThe message tends to melt into a paint-by-numbers screenplay that pushes too many genre buttons to be thoroughly exciting.
- 50VarietyJessica KiangVarietyJessica KiangThe shock feels less than shocking and the awe less than awesome in Rob Reiner’s righteously motivated but clunkily executed exposé of media manipulation in the run-up to the Iraq War.
- 50New York Magazine (Vulture)Emily YoshidaNew York Magazine (Vulture)Emily YoshidaThe problem isn’t Reiner taking dramatic liberties with the facts, it’s that his toolbox for doing so hasn’t changed since the mid-’90s.
- 38Slant MagazineDerek SmithSlant MagazineDerek SmithRob Reiner's film rests on broad, sweeping proclamations about the importance of factual reporting.
- 37Washington PostAnn HornadayWashington PostAnn HornadayThe director tries to infuse Shock and Awe with the taut procedural drama of “All the President’s Men,” “Spotlight” or “The Post.” But he winds up demonstrating just how difficult it is to make shoe-leather journalism entertaining, much less artful.
- 35Film Journal InternationalSimi HorwitzFilm Journal InternationalSimi Horwitza plodding film with ill-placed, klutzy exposition and credibility-defying and/or colorless characters that are spokespersons for various predictable viewpoints.