The Fog of War - Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara

Whenever people start talking about politics, it's next to impossible to stay objective--which is why I deeply appreciate this excellent documentary by Errol Morris.

Touching on issues of morality in warfare and the responsibilities of the human race in a nuclear age, "Fog of War" is the closest to an objective analysis of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the fire-bombings of Japan that I have ever seen. The reason is Morris' format--a one-on-one interview with Robert S. McNamara, interspersed with news and military footage. This format allows the audience to discuss McNamara's views and experiences and the surrounding issues without first needing to sift through the bias of the director (which is always my complaint with Michael Moore documentaries). In short, we as the audience get to make up our own minds, which is the hallmark of a good documentary.

I have taught this film in my college composition classes several times, and the students seem surprised by how it manages to be thought-provoking and entertaining at the same time. The film quality is superb, and the haunting score by Philip Glass also sets the stage for some tough questions: 1) Is McNamara a war criminal? 2) What would we have done in his place? 3) And more importantly, what can we learn from McNamara's invaluable lessons and experiences?

As a Vietnam era veteran and amateur historian this film provided an entirely new perspective on an important time in our national history. I would highly recommend it to all.

This is a decent film about a highly important figure from decades ago. It's somewhat flawed, however, in that it's just McNamara's own account. He's the only one giving the last word about himself. And while much of the time he seems sympathetic and highly contrite about the tragedies of the world, there are some moments where his highly educated and knowledgeable facade betrays a certain evil underneath. This is where again, and again, he seems like a perfectly moral man under normal circumstances, but when talking about war he says that things done in war are done wrong because there are no moral rules. What? Where did he get such a blindspot? The history of world is full of "rules" for war and they always include not murdering and terrorizing civilians to get what you want. His personal "fog of war" is an utterly despicable excuse. He's part of the rationalizing warmongers who think it's fine to not have morals in the moment. Nonsense. Pure nonsense. By the end I felt like I'd been roped into watching an old man's last ditch attempt to make himself appear decent.

From the soundtrack by Philip Glass to the editing to the archival footage to the recent interviews, Errol Morris does his finest work with this film. Watch it along with Why We Fight, and you will have an eye-opening experience. You don't have to feel sorry for MacNamara, but you owe yourself the chance to listen to him articulate what he has learned and how much he regrets. Not to get too specific, but I think you will see a frightening parallel between the war in Vietnam and more current wars.
This is not propaganda. There is no bias or agenda set down by the filmmaker. You are not asked to sympathize with MacNamara. It's straight talk.

I watched this document for the first time last night, it drew me in from the 30 minute mark and I could not leave my seat until it was over. Befroe I wrote this review I read others. I wanted to read others who felt differently than I did.
I saw that some were upset at Mr. Mc Namara; for those of you that are upset at his culpability and duplicity in the Viet Nam Action, I ask you to re-examine two points. 1. the president offered him two cabinet spots to which Robert said he was not qualified (for either) but like most men he seized upon an opportunity. 2. Robert told President -elect Kennedy that he should get out of Viet Nam as soon as possible, then Kennedy was killed (and not by Lee Oswald).
For those of you who do not regognize a man feeling his mortality and wanting in some way to explain his folly, keep living. For those of you who believe if you were in the same posistion you would have done something different than follow the instructions of you boss(who knows even less than you) then I laugh at you. The reason America was in Viet Nam is the same reason we are have gone to Iraq. Policy set by a few men and a citizenry too complacent to say enough is enough. Do you see a similarity between our time and theirs. Thank you Mr. Mc Namara, I doubt any of our current leaders in the future will have the courage to document anything.