W.M.D. is hyperbole yet also unsettlingly truthful, in the same world as No Man's Land and Full Metal Jacket. Painting a bleak depiction of the Iraq War (is there any other version besides bleak?) it oscillates between outrageous, laugh-out-loud and shockingly graphic.
The director chose a cinéma vérité style that made us feel like we are trapped in the same room as the band desperate soldiers who kidnap the President to try to uncover the truth behind the Iraq War. He is only called "The President" throughout the film, but it's obvious that he represents George W. Bush. I sometimes found myself squirming in my chair as the soldiers employ the same interrogation techniques on the President of the United States as were used on Iraqis.
The cast is strong overall, and there are some memorable performances. John Posey does an excellent job playing a depiction of George Bush without devolving into a caricature. Contrary to what you might expect, we actually feel ourselves empathizing with the president as he goes through this horrendous ordeal. Tom Kiesche, who is larger than life both figuratively and literally, embodies the outrage many of us felt as we were first duped into the conflict then forced to witness this 10-year train wreck happen. Weetus Cren gives a chilling portrayal of what happens when a sadistic miscreant is thrust into a situation where he has the ability to inflict harm on other people.
W.M.D. forces us to confront the implications of these morally dubious techniques as we see someone recognizable, rather than 'enemy' foreigners, endure them. It also forces us to remember a botched conflict we'd rather now forget, the aftermath of which is still as topical as ever.
The director chose a cinéma vérité style that made us feel like we are trapped in the same room as the band desperate soldiers who kidnap the President to try to uncover the truth behind the Iraq War. He is only called "The President" throughout the film, but it's obvious that he represents George W. Bush. I sometimes found myself squirming in my chair as the soldiers employ the same interrogation techniques on the President of the United States as were used on Iraqis.
The cast is strong overall, and there are some memorable performances. John Posey does an excellent job playing a depiction of George Bush without devolving into a caricature. Contrary to what you might expect, we actually feel ourselves empathizing with the president as he goes through this horrendous ordeal. Tom Kiesche, who is larger than life both figuratively and literally, embodies the outrage many of us felt as we were first duped into the conflict then forced to witness this 10-year train wreck happen. Weetus Cren gives a chilling portrayal of what happens when a sadistic miscreant is thrust into a situation where he has the ability to inflict harm on other people.
W.M.D. forces us to confront the implications of these morally dubious techniques as we see someone recognizable, rather than 'enemy' foreigners, endure them. It also forces us to remember a botched conflict we'd rather now forget, the aftermath of which is still as topical as ever.
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