EUGENE JARECKI

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBBB. 

USA/France/United Kingdom/Canada/Denmark, 2005.  Arte, BBC Storyville, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Charlotte Street Films, TV2 Danmark.  Screenplay by Eugene Jarecki.  Cinematography by Etienne Sauret, May Ying Welsh, Brett Wiley.  Produced by Eugene Jarecki, Susannah Shipman.  Music by Robert Miller.  Film Editing by Nancy Kennedy.  

Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki has created an engrossing, intelligent and fascinating documentary about the history of American warfare in the twentieth century and beyond. Beginning with Eisenhower’s farewell speech warning Americans of the ‘military/industrial complex’, it continues on to show how Eisehower’s fears of an emphasis on military defense has resulted in wars being fought to support the industry of defense. Attitudes towards World War II (as displayed in Frank Capra’s Why We Fight film series) versus the strong feelings about involvement in Vietnam and the more recent invasion of Iraq are examined, with tons of stock footage and terrific interviews combining to create an educational, informative and entertaining experience. One of the best films about military politics since Hearts And Minds, this is as good a movie as Fahrenheit 9/11 should have been.

Toronto International Film Festival:  2005