The Fog of War - Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara
starring: Robert McNamara
directed by: Errol Morris
directed by: Errol Morris
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The story of america as seen through the eyes of former secretary of defense robert mcnamara. One of the most controversial & influential figures in world politics he takes us on an insiders journey through many of the seminal events of the 20th century.Studio: Sony Pictures Home EntRelease Date: 05/13/2008Starring: Robert McnamaraRun time: 107 minutesRating: Pg13
Amazon.com:
The Fog of War, the movie that finally won Errol Morris the best documentary Oscar, is a spellbinder. Morris interviews Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, and finds a uniquely unsettling viewpoint on much of 20th-century American history. Employing a ton of archival material, including LBJ's fascinating taped conversations from the Oval Office, Morris probes the reasons behind the U.S. commitment to the Vietnam War--and finds a depressingly inconsistent policy. McNamara himself emerges as--well, not exactly apologetic, but clearly haunted by the what-ifs of Vietnam. He also mulls the bombing of Japan in World War II and the Cuban Missile Crisis, raising more questions than he answers. The Fog of War has the usual inexorable Morris momentum, aided by an uneasy Philip Glass score. This movie provides a glimpse inside government. It also encourages skepticism about same. --Robert Horton
The story of america as seen through the eyes of former secretary of defense robert mcnamara. One of the most controversial & influential figures in world politics he takes us on an insiders journey through many of the seminal events of the 20th century.Studio: Sony Pictures Home EntRelease Date: 05/13/2008Starring: Robert McnamaraRun time: 107 minutesRating: Pg13
Amazon.com:
The Fog of War, the movie that finally won Errol Morris the best documentary Oscar, is a spellbinder. Morris interviews Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, and finds a uniquely unsettling viewpoint on much of 20th-century American history. Employing a ton of archival material, including LBJ's fascinating taped conversations from the Oval Office, Morris probes the reasons behind the U.S. commitment to the Vietnam War--and finds a depressingly inconsistent policy. McNamara himself emerges as--well, not exactly apologetic, but clearly haunted by the what-ifs of Vietnam. He also mulls the bombing of Japan in World War II and the Cuban Missile Crisis, raising more questions than he answers. The Fog of War has the usual inexorable Morris momentum, aided by an uneasy Philip Glass score. This movie provides a glimpse inside government. It also encourages skepticism about same. --Robert Horton
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Historical Spin
McNamara is clearly spinning history and running from his ghosts. I once read that he was known for simply making up any 'facts' he needed.
His comment in the film that "Noneof our allies supported us (in Vietnam)" would come as a surprise to South Korea,Thailand,Australia,New Zealand and the Philippines - all of whom had troops in Vietnam.
He claims to have opposed the consensus of military leaders to bomb Cuba during the missile crisis, but then goes along with them ... Read More
Rating: 
- Great
Errol Morris came to fame in the late 1980s with his anti-police corruption documentary The Thin Blue Line, and has spent the last couple decades gracing cinephiles with controversial, yet distinguished, films. Last year's Oscar-winning documentary The Fog Of War: Eleven Lessons From The Life Of Robert S. McNamara is his best yet, and one of the best films- documentary or not- ever made. It works as a history of the American Military of the last 50 years, and a personal portrait of ex-Defense Secretary ... Read More
Rating: - A Green Visor War Criminal Speaks
The brilliance of this documentary is Morris's decision to just let McNamara talk, with minimal prompting.He talks about the Vietnam War, the killing of innocent civilians and the death and maiming of our American soldiers as though he were a mathematician or an accountant attempting to solve a complex algebraic formula.He exhibits a chilling detachment of decision from consequence.
The only time he weeps is when he recalls JFK's assassination.He never seems to see a connection between ... Read More
Rating: 
- The Fog Of War Gets Foggier
In the normal course of events former high level bureaucrats inAmerican presidential administrations usually save their attempts at self-justificationfor high ticket published memoirs or congenial `softball' speaking tours and conferences. In short, they prefer to preach to the choir at retail prices. Apparently, former Kennedy and Johnson Administration Cold Warrior extraordinaire Secretary of War Robert Strange McNamara felt that such efforts were not enough and hence he had to go before the cameras ... Read More
Rating: 
- A war criminal remembers ...
The old boy is a war criminal, remember that! The fog was in his head, when he helped to lie the USA into attacking a country that posed no threat to the USA or anyone else. (Sound familiar?)
- Historical SpinMcNamara is clearly spinning history and running from his ghosts. I once read that he was known for simply making up any 'facts' he needed.
His comment in the film that "Noneof our allies supported us (in Vietnam)" would come as a surprise to South Korea,Thailand,Australia,New Zealand and the Philippines - all of whom had troops in Vietnam.
He claims to have opposed the consensus of military leaders to bomb Cuba during the missile crisis, but then goes along with them ... Read More
- GreatErrol Morris came to fame in the late 1980s with his anti-police corruption documentary The Thin Blue Line, and has spent the last couple decades gracing cinephiles with controversial, yet distinguished, films. Last year's Oscar-winning documentary The Fog Of War: Eleven Lessons From The Life Of Robert S. McNamara is his best yet, and one of the best films- documentary or not- ever made. It works as a history of the American Military of the last 50 years, and a personal portrait of ex-Defense Secretary ... Read More
- A Green Visor War Criminal SpeaksThe brilliance of this documentary is Morris's decision to just let McNamara talk, with minimal prompting.He talks about the Vietnam War, the killing of innocent civilians and the death and maiming of our American soldiers as though he were a mathematician or an accountant attempting to solve a complex algebraic formula.He exhibits a chilling detachment of decision from consequence.
The only time he weeps is when he recalls JFK's assassination.He never seems to see a connection between ... Read More
- The Fog Of War Gets FoggierIn the normal course of events former high level bureaucrats inAmerican presidential administrations usually save their attempts at self-justificationfor high ticket published memoirs or congenial `softball' speaking tours and conferences. In short, they prefer to preach to the choir at retail prices. Apparently, former Kennedy and Johnson Administration Cold Warrior extraordinaire Secretary of War Robert Strange McNamara felt that such efforts were not enough and hence he had to go before the cameras ... Read More
- A war criminal remembers ...The old boy is a war criminal, remember that! The fog was in his head, when he helped to lie the USA into attacking a country that posed no threat to the USA or anyone else. (Sound familiar?)
