Fair Game is the portrait of a marriage under extraordinary circumstances. The film is set the period before and after the invasion of Iraq.Naomi Watts plays Valerie Plame a career CIA officer who worked mainly under cover.
Her husband, Joe Wilson is a career diplomat who is asked to investigate a claim that Iraq is seeking to acquire yellow cake from Niger in order to manufacture uranium. He does as he asked, and writes a report stating that the Niger claim is false.
The White House, determined to prove that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the world,goes ahead and says the Niger claim is true. This is when things gets tricky for Joe and Valerie.The professional becomes very personal as Valerie is outed by the press leaked by the White House.All hell rains down on the Wilson household once Joe publicly challeges President Bush's claims.
Sean Penn is great as Wilson, he bristles with anger as he sees a ruthless White House turn on him. Naomi Watts is just as good as she plays a woman who has had to live a life of secrets and deception in the service of her country.She is shocked when that country turns on her for political reasons. Her face when she is outed is a picture of pain. She knows that her career is dead.
There is a great supporting cast from Sam Sheppard, Bruce McGill and Noah Emmerich.Credit to Director Doug Liman for getting committed performances from all concerned.
The film also gives us a sneak preview of the machinations of the White House especially the office of Vice President Dick Cheney and the pressure exerted on CIA analysts.
This film would make a great triple bill with The Green Zone and W.
Her husband, Joe Wilson is a career diplomat who is asked to investigate a claim that Iraq is seeking to acquire yellow cake from Niger in order to manufacture uranium. He does as he asked, and writes a report stating that the Niger claim is false.
The White House, determined to prove that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the world,goes ahead and says the Niger claim is true. This is when things gets tricky for Joe and Valerie.The professional becomes very personal as Valerie is outed by the press leaked by the White House.All hell rains down on the Wilson household once Joe publicly challeges President Bush's claims.
Sean Penn is great as Wilson, he bristles with anger as he sees a ruthless White House turn on him. Naomi Watts is just as good as she plays a woman who has had to live a life of secrets and deception in the service of her country.She is shocked when that country turns on her for political reasons. Her face when she is outed is a picture of pain. She knows that her career is dead.
There is a great supporting cast from Sam Sheppard, Bruce McGill and Noah Emmerich.Credit to Director Doug Liman for getting committed performances from all concerned.
The film also gives us a sneak preview of the machinations of the White House especially the office of Vice President Dick Cheney and the pressure exerted on CIA analysts.
This film would make a great triple bill with The Green Zone and W.