Green Zone
Green Zone
R | 11 March 2010 (USA)
Green Zone Trailers

During the U.S.-led occupation of Baghdad in 2003, Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller and his team of Army inspectors are dispatched to find weapons of mass destruction believed to be stockpiled in the Iraqi desert. Rocketing from one booby-trapped and treacherous site to the next, the men search for deadly chemical agents but stumble instead upon an elaborate cover-up that threatens to invert the purpose of their mission.

Reviews
torstensonjohn

The film revolves around the invasion of Iraq and why we were really there. The political connotations and drive of certain political people were relevant. It is a good story of fictional telling with some accuracy. The suspense/drama was decent in it's plot, the cast was a draw but not weathering the fallout of the premise. Matt Damon playing the lead was dull in it's entry. All in all it was a good film but not great.

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Floated2

Green Zone has been classified as a rare miss for both Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass. We remember when Green Zone was first released showing the trailers, it was relatively hyped up and described as a "Bourne film in war". The film wasn't received as well as the first three Bourne films and has flopped at the box office. Within the story, It's 2003, where we see Matt Damon plays (Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller), head of a WMD-finding unit in Baghdad which keeps coming up empty at all the alleged sites. Suspecting bad leads, Miller goes maverick in his attempts to trace their original source, raising eyebrows and fighting the received orthodoxy. With all we know about the wool-pulling to make the case for war, it's a kick to follow a main character on the ground who smells a rat this early, wary of the stalling tactics the Pentagon are offering instead of conclusive proof.Overall Green Zone doesn't grad the attention as one would have hoped for. It has its moments but in comparison to the Bourne films, Green Zone doesn't stack up and comes up short. Also compared to the Hurt Locker, in which we can see some similarities but the Hurt Locker feels as much of a more superior film.

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eric262003

In 2003 at the time of the Iraqi invasion, speculators believed that this dangerous mission was a necessity as the military must finally terminate all the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) that was once in the hands of Saddam Hussein. In 2010, it was discovered that Hussein wasn't hiding any WMD and the mission came out empty. It's unknown if the information that got to them was misconstrued, a failure or a lack of competence, the speculation was at an all0time high. In Paul Greengrass' "Green Zone", this gripping thriller emanates from Baghdad, Iraq takes us back in the early days of a Coalition invasion where the search for WMD goes underway. Based on Washington Post Baghdad correspondent Rajiv Chandrasekeran's novel, "Imperial Life in the Emerald City" and under the penmanship of screenwriter Brian Helgeland we have a brilliant fictional story with scenes that may ring some realism behind it.Chief warrant officer Roy Miller (Matt Damon) is a a determined man going into more liberated Iraq in search for these WMD. His frustration worsens due to every location he searches come out empty. Bush Administrator Clark Poundstone (Greg Kinnear) believes that the WMD intelligence does exist and the source of information is from an incognito informant who goes by the name "Magellan". Meanwhile CIA Operative Martin Brown (Brendan Gleason) contradicts that there's no WMD and secretly informs Miller about it. An Iraqi named Frankie (Khalid Abdalla) reports to Miller that a Republican Guard name Al Rawi (Igal Naor) is on the scene. Both Brown and Poundstone want Al Rawi captured for contrasting reasons. As Miller's investigations get deeper he finds himself in an uncompromising position by being tracked down by fellow soldiers.Although a lots of scenes are based off of Rajiv's book it is not a recreation of it. It's purpose is just a backdrop of the scenes but "Green Zone" is completely different story. And while Rajiv freely gives accurate names and leaves nothing behind, Greengrass and Helgeland spruce up their movie with fake names and identities for fear of retribution. If you read Rajiv's book it appears Roy Miller is based off of Monty Gonzalez, Clark Poundstone is really Paul Bremmer and Wall Street Journal reporter Lawrie Dayne (Amy Ryan) is based on New York Times journalist Judith Miller.In the two hour duration, Greengrass lets the thrill ride takeoff and the intensity and energy never deters. In a nutshell, this is a pretty archaic story about an individual who's on a wild goose chase surrounded by corruption goes out of his way in to unravel the truth. And yes Miller is the protagonist and Poundstone and his sycophants are the antagonists, there's still a plethora of grey areas that come around.The handling of the camera shots during the action scenes are purely satisfying with the in-your-face approach you feel like you're in the middle of the action. The movie camera and the fast-editing can make this film feels like another rehash of the Bourne films Greengrass and Damon have done over the years, with the only difference is that visual indicators has a more coherent approach to it. The visuals are relatively stunning and the score by John Powell adds the ambiance towards the scenes to make it all the more scintillating.Damon famous for his man-on-the-run films (like Bourne) was the right choice for this role and never once does he feel disconnected. Though clichéd, his clean-cut approach is convincing that he was the right choice to play the good guy. Greg Kinnear breaks type-cast here with in role as a corrupt man who's idealism gets the better of him. Brendan Gleason plays a rare creature in the movie industry, an honest CIA operative. Even Khalid Abdalla who was an evil hijacker in "United 93" plays a more sympathetic translator to Mr. Miller who's in the middle of choosing loyalties.What makes "Green Zone" stand out is the way it balances fact and fiction quite proportionately. And even though it seems like it plays out harshly towards the Bush administration, it's quite the misnomer. It's a fictional thriller striving to see how far one will go to see if WMD truly exist. If you're both a fan of political thrillers and fast-paced action films, you're all in for a real treat.

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LeonLouisRicci

So here it is 2010 and there is a lot of Grief, Suffering, and Embarrassment to Go Around. So the Movie is a Catharsis of Sorts for those Frustrated at Themselves for being so Gullible as the Leaders that with Slight of Hand Sold a Lie and so many Died and so many were brought Pain. Here it is 2010. Maybe the Movie will Help Ease that a Little with a Release of Adrenaline Spewed at those who are Responsible.The Film was not a Hit. It did Mediocre Business and the Critics were on Both Sides of the Border. The Enjoyment of the Movie is most likely Directly Attached to Your Political Leanings and says Nothing about the Film on its Own. As it Stands it is a Competent Wartime Thriller that is Enhanced by the War Torn Locations and the Chaotic Invasion and Plays like "as it is happening".But it it a Bitter Pill to Swallow because of the Truth Factor about "No WMDs" and the Unclear Motivations (unless it is oil) for Invading in the First Place. Matt Damon Heads a Good Cast and it is all done with Gravitas and Suspense. The Battle Scenes are Cutting Edge Exciting (if you can handle the shaky-cam). But in the End there is a Bad Taste. It is the Repellent Real Events and not the Movie. It just Cannot Separate Itself from Recent Revelations and the Fact that No One has Taken Responsibility for all the Carnage and Deception. It Remains a Sad State of Affairs and the Film is Tainted by that Poison.

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