SHOCK AND AWE

US, 2017, 90 minutes, Colour.
Woody Harrelson, James Marsden, Rob Reiner, Tommy Lee Jones, Jessica Biel, Milla Jovovich, Richard Schiff.
Directed by Rob Reiner.

This is a very interesting picture of American politics in the aftermath of 9/11. It does not seem to have had the wide release of many other films in a similar vein. It runs for only 90 minutes, but has a solid cast, probing investigative journalism, Rob Reiner directing as well as featuring as the editor of the agency pursuing the issue of Iraq and weapons of mass destruction as the occasion for the invasion of 2003.

Audiences outside the United States may not have heard of the agency in Washington DC, Knight- Ridder. It had its staff of journalists and supplied material to a range of newspapers and outlets around the United States – with the illustration of a Philadelphia paper refusing to take the articles about the weapons of mass destruction issue, not believing the agency but following the press conferences from the White House and the reporting in the New York Times.

The framework of the film is a Washington investigation into veterans, a young African- American man coming in to tell his story, in a wheelchair, asked to stand and take the oath, only for the presiding chair to realise his mistake and apologise. The young man begins to read a statement that begins to tell his story, using a memory device of numbers to indicate all that had happened to him, the invasion of Iraq and the immediate consequences.

There is also an introduction with a military game involving troops pursuing a journalist and subduing him.

It is in this context that we are introduced to two journalists played by Woody Harrelson and James Marsden, as Jonathan Landey and Warren Strobel, eager and their work, with a quite a range of political sources (whose function comes up on screen rather than their names). They work for the demanding editor, Rob Reiner. Also in the picture is an author and journalist played by Tommy Lee Jones (Joe Galloway who wrote We Were Soldiers) who is secondment to the agency and becomes more and more involved in the expose.

There are also several clips of the actual politicians and advisers, George W.Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell presenting his speech justifying the invasion of Iraq to the United Nations

The narrative is presented as an investigation, finding clues, questioning authorities, interrogations, the need for backup – and some officials willing, as in All the Presidents Men (and there is mention of Woodward and Bernstein) to give information anonymously.

As the invasion happens, Knight- Ridder is justified although they were beaten to the post in publishing the information. It is noted that the New York Times apologised later for misinformation, following the propaganda from the White House rather than their own investigations.

1. The title? The American use of the phrase? Military? Especially in the Middle East?

2. The true story, the role of the media in Washington, in the United States, the relationship with the White House? Investigation? Being fed propaganda by the authorities?

3. Washington DC, Knight- Ridder? As an agency, its offices, journalists and their desks? The role of the editor? Supplying information to various outlets? Outlets accepting the information or not?

4. Introduction, the hearing, the veterans, the committee, the young man coming in in his chair, being asked to stand and the Chairman’s apology? Starting to read his statement? Wanting to tell his story? The situation, his being young, at home, work, family, joining up, his parents’ reactions, going to Iraq, the attack, the shrapnel and his injuries? His device of explaining to the committee his remembering events by numbers?

5. The military exercise with the journalist, Jonathan Landey, his being chased, confronted, the training and his reaction?

6. Landy and Strobel, their work as journalists, in themselves, the characters, dedication to their work? Private lives and relationships? Their working together? Travels, the range of sources, the phone calls, the meetings? On-screen descriptions of all the authority figures they met with?

7. Strobel and his relationship? Landey and his wife?

8. The heritage of the Gulf War, the first president Bush, the defeat, the interactions with Saddam Hussein? The heritage for George W.Bush?

9. The impact of 9/11, the visuals, the detail, the reactions? Terror? Government response?

10. The clips from speeches by Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Colin Powell and his address to the UN, Condoleeza Rice, Paul Wolfowitz? The public statements? The private views of many of the officials, as sources for the journalists, the need for verifying opinions and facts?

11. Woolcott as the editor, in himself, his dedication to his work, relationship with the journalist, the getting of stories, wanting verification? Excitement? The fact that they were beaten in the story? His going to the subsidiaries, contacting Philadelphia and their refusal to take the articles?

12. Joe Galloway, the publication of We Were Soldiers? His role as a journalist, his experience? Promotion of his book, his speeches? Woolcott contacting him? His work with the Pentagon? Woolcott invitation, his coming to work for Knight- Ridder? His connections? His becoming more involved in the expose?

13. 9/11 and the focus on Bin Laden, Afghanistan and the invasion, the promotion of the Iraqi connection, weapons of mass destruction, the information given out by various White House officials, the reaction of the public? Press conferences? The New York Times taking up the propaganda material?

14. The buildup to the invasion of Iraq, the government desire to have a war, the range of motivations, getting rid of Saddam Hussein, the oil and business interests? The role of Cheney and Rumsfeld? The pressure on Colin Powell, the information given him?

15. Those searching for weapons of mass destruction, the testimonies, finding nothing?

16. The announcement of the war, the visuals of the invasion, the ship and Bush and Mission Accomplished?

17. The event seen in retrospect, interpreted, American morale boosting, government deception, later interpretations and apologies?