It is vitally important in our America-centric culture that educators expose other points-of- view whenever possible. That is why I'm showing CONTROL ROOM in the film classes I'm teaching at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
This documentary is not nearly as one-sided as FAHRENHEIT 9/11, nor as emotion provoking. In fact, the filmmakers seem to have edited their work with anticipated criticism it would receive from the right-wing elements of the American press. Perhaps that is why it seems to have been greeted with somewhat of a "ho hum" from both ends of the political spectrum. Since it succeeds in steering a middle course it has not attracted the controversy, nor the attention, received by Michael Moore's work.
This said, CONTROL ROOM is a fascinating work that treats the American Marine who is the U.S. Central Command spokesperson with the same sympathy as the Arab staffers who work for Al-Jazeera. Compared to most of the plonk that is supposed to entertain us in theaters or on DVD today, CONTROL ROOM easily soars above the crowd.
This documentary is not nearly as one-sided as FAHRENHEIT 9/11, nor as emotion provoking. In fact, the filmmakers seem to have edited their work with anticipated criticism it would receive from the right-wing elements of the American press. Perhaps that is why it seems to have been greeted with somewhat of a "ho hum" from both ends of the political spectrum. Since it succeeds in steering a middle course it has not attracted the controversy, nor the attention, received by Michael Moore's work.
This said, CONTROL ROOM is a fascinating work that treats the American Marine who is the U.S. Central Command spokesperson with the same sympathy as the Arab staffers who work for Al-Jazeera. Compared to most of the plonk that is supposed to entertain us in theaters or on DVD today, CONTROL ROOM easily soars above the crowd.