From master documentary maker Errol Morris comes this intriguing look at the life of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. Now in his 80s, McNamara is still vibrant and quite reflective about his role in WWII and Vietnam. How about this for candor, McNamara admits that if the U.S. would have lost WWII he and others would have probably been brought up on war crime charges for the fire bombing and nuclear attack on Japan. This gives you an idea of the overall sentiment of the film, which gives the first hand account of the mechanics of war, which are often paradoxical and seemingly insane.
It's an interesting irony that while McNamara worked for the Ford Motor Company he was instrumental in making cars safer even introducing seat belts, but participated in the death of hundreds of thousands of people in two wars. It's quite fascinating to hear what McNamara says and doesn't say throughout the film. Through the spry 85-year-old, we get a firsthand history lesson of the key military and political events of the past 60 years from WWII to Vietnam. The man who would play such a huge roll in later wars recalls memories from when he was two, watching a WWI victory parade. McNamara scarily relates just how close we were to nuclear war with Russia during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He also candidly talks about his mistakes during Vietnam and the day he realized the war was lost.
Morris does a wonderful job of using archival footage and news clippings to create the varying opinions of the man during his time in office. For the most part, the film is nothing more than clips and McNamara talking to the camera, but it is never once boring. Morris presses McNamara, but this octogenarian is no pushover. Morris tries to get McNamara to apologize for the war, but the former Secretary of Defense never wavers. With the film broken out into 11 lessons, the final lesson comes to mind — you can't change human nature. Just as much as you can't change the past.
Some have criticized McNamara's facts in the film, but that isn't the point. It's his version of the story from his perspective, which was on the frontlines of the decision-making. One wonders if some documentarian in the future will have a chance to sit down with current Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to talk about the many mistakes made in the Iraq War. Okay, I doubt it, for he might have the same frankness as McNamara, but doesn't seem to have the honest humility that McNamara possesses. But I digress. As a chronicle of American history, THE FOG OF WAR is very important and deserved its Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. It also proves the old adage — those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
