Green Zone (2010)

User Review

• 

  Barneyonmovies

  8 / 10

  WHAT I LIKED: The only reason that Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon's 'Green Zone,' wasn't well-received is effectively because it's a fairly polemic film about a thoroughly contentious issue, but regardless of its one-sided stance it's hard to deny this is a thoroughly visceral and engaging thriller that jumps head-first into the issues behind the Iraq War with all guns blazing. That's an admirably bold move, and whilst this thing shouldn't necessarily be taken entirely blankly, it does raise some important issues in highlighting the overall confusion and lack of clarity that surrounded this conflict and so many others. It would have arguably been impossible to do that without taking its clear approach unless Greengrass wanted to make another documentary, but a documentary this definitely is not as you'll undoubtedly be gripped from start to finish as Greengrass proves that only he can do his style real justice by building an all-consuming and bewildering world of chaos with nail-biting tension and exciting and authentic action. Couple that with a great performance from Matt Damon and the awesome Jason Isaacs and what you get is firslty an engaging thriller, and second a scathing portrayal of the chaos and confusion behind the Iraq War.
  WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on this, but from the many accounts I've read, the way this film documents the lies is undoubtably a huge simplification. That makes it more accessible, but it does stop it from becoming a properly balanced and nuanced affair that everyone can take as seriously as it seems to demand.
  VERDICT: Another Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass vehicle that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout, 'Green Zone,' is firstly a great thriller, but it's also a thoroughly polemic film - and that's both a good and bad thing.

  Like?

  0 member like this review.