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The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)
Misleading title
One of the worst title for a film/docufilm.
Is it about *strategy of war, *tactics of war, *Coherent analysis of wars US had fought, *McNamara's analysis of the wars he was involved in, *anti-war arguments, *pro-war arguments, or *the human angle of wars?
It is none of the above.
Is it about *McNamara's trip down memory lane or is it *McNamara's autobiography?
No it is not even that. This film is Mr McNamara's (deceased) utterings of a half-apology. He was however sincere in his half-apology. Was it his attempt to clear his guilty conscience? It definitely wasn't.
What I liked about this film
Points 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8
I do like how he puts forward the fact that responsibility lies with the president, advisor's role is to advise, and how he refused to be baited into taking responsibility, when the responsibility lies elsewhere. I liked how he refused to be drawn into answering questions that would have served no purpose in the making of this semi-informative (I am being generous here) film. I liked how he did not go into detail in his personal life or family members. I liked how he refused to be drawn into a controversy (the interviewer clearly wanted to draw a controversial comment from Mr McNamara regarding the Kennedy and Johnson presidency).
What I did not like about this film
The title is misleading. No doubt it's a catchy title, but it does not convey what the film is about. If the title had been "Mr McNamara's (deceased) half-apology for decisions and wars he was involved in and some key bullet points to take away from the experience he has accumulated over the years", it would have been a very appropriate title and I would have rated this film a 6 or 7.
On the subject of war, this is an incomplete film, but some good key points are here.
I have rated this film 1, so that the collective rating comes down to about 6 or 7.
Pelísky (1999)
Thoroughly enjoyable. I would have given 9.5 if there was a option for that.
Grumpiness, teen anguish, relationships, preference, preferences, attitudes, societal attitudes, family.
Kill List (2011)
The climax was unexpected, but...
The climax was unexpected, and the high point of the movie. The rest of the movie is 3.5/10. This movie maybe rated 1 or 10 stars by other reviewers. I am giving fewer stars in the star rating above; because I was disappointed. It is not a disjointed masterpiece (like for say Kill Bill), nor was it one smooth narration (like for say American Hustle), nor the storytelling was suspenseful enough (like for say Borgman) . Acting was adequate+. Not enough plot or character development. It felt like a mercenary film which was enjoyable, made into another movie with the violence greatly reduced, plot/characters developed to the best of the producers/directors' abilities and out came this un-enjoyable movie (for me!). I emphasise !!!for me!!! as everyone is entitled to their own opinions.