Posted on 11/15/2007 7:29:20 AM PST by dead
LONDON (Reuters) - Two Hollywood directors who are part of a wave of films about the war in Iraq and the broader fallout from the September 11, 2001 attacks have said they were only doing what media failed to do -- telling the truth.
Brian De Palma's "Redacted," arguably the most shocking feature yet about events in Iraq, hits theatres on Friday, using a documentary style to tell the true story of the gang rape and murder of an Iraqi girl by U.S. troops in 2006.
Paul Haggis also based "In The Valley Of Elah," already released, on true events linked to the war, although, unlike De Palma's cast of unknown actors, he employed major stars Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron and Susan Sarandon.
Both film makers have attacked mainstream media for their coverage of the Iraq war and events leading to it.
"There is a very big difference between the Vietnam war, where we saw the pictures, and the Iraq war, where we don't," De Palma told Reuters at the Venice Film Festival, where "Redacted" premiered and where he won the best director award.
"I am very angry because I think this is an important issue. I think the fourth estate has let us down terribly."
He told reporters: "It's all out there on the Internet, you can find it if you look for it, but it's not in the major media. The media is now really part of the corporate establishment."
Haggis, who also showcased "Elah" in Venice, agreed.
"During the Vietnam war, we had terrific journalists doing their job, reporting on things that we didn't want to hear.
"Now we don't have that. I think that when that doesn't happen, then it's the responsibility of the artist to ask those difficult questions," he added.
WHO WANTS TO WATCH?
Steven Barnett, professor of communications at London's University of Westminster, believes many in the U.S. media admit that reporting of the war, and particularly the failure to question the reasons given for it, left much to be desired.
"I think American journalism generally agrees its own press was supine, and it is fair to say that Hollywood, perhaps a little belatedly, is picking up the baton."
He agreed that reporting in Iraq was more dangerous than many previous conflicts, and there were reporters in the United States and Iraq who had broken important stories.
Barnett singled out Seymour Hersh of The New Yorker magazine for his stories about abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison, although such cases, he added, were "few and far between."
Mark Cousins, movie critic and author of "The Story Of Film," pointed out that documentary film makers had already distinguished themselves in the case of Iraq, a fact often overlooked by Hollywood.
"Just as in Vietnam so in Iraq, documentaries are in there from the start and there are some masterpieces," he said, naming last year's "My Country, My Country." "Documentary film makers can always be relied upon to be the social conscience."
He also argued that attacking the media was one way for directors to market their movies.
"When you are marketing a film, you have to say 'We need it, it's unique ... here's why you have to come and see my work because you haven't seen the like of it in TV."'
Yet many recent films dealing with wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the repercussions of the September 11 attacks have failed to find an audience, including those who feature top talent.
"In The Valley Of Elah" earned just $9 million at the box office worldwide, according to Web site www.boxofficemojo.com.
"Rendition," a film about detaining terrorism suspects and starring Reese Witherspoon, earned $15 million globally, while audiences for "Lions For Lambs," with Tom Cruise in an Afghan war-themed plot, have been disappointing, according to reports.
(Editing by Paul Casciato)
All the comments about how bad it makes US military look are spot on.
The quality of the production is also bad. It looks like a home shot movie. Don't now what De Palma was doing technically, maybe a documentary feel, which is even worse.
I tried to judge the movie from an entertainment/interest stand point. First reaction, boring, ho hum. Won't be any word of mouth even from libs. Save the $10.
If Cuban is putting this on his HD channel from free, he must know the party's over.
“from free” = “for free”
“Barnett singled out Seymour Hersh of The New Yorker magazine for his stories about abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison, although such cases, he added, were “few and far between.””
Could it be that events, upon which such cases are based, are, in fact, few and far between?
I live here in Dallas, and all I can say is "Go Spurs!"
They portrayed me and my fellow soldiers all as knuckle dragging redneck retards whom only desire sex, booze, drugs, and violence.
It was the worst portrayal of US soldiers I have ever witnessed.
Anyone who quotes ANYTHING in this movie as "fact" or "reality" should be publicly shunned and humiliated.
.....damn....I thought a good night's sleep would cool me off a little.
On top of that, it was a poorly choreographed and acted movie IMHO.
Are these guys effin serious? It amazes me what passes for journalism these days. It’s even more amazing what passes for film making....
I much prefer they be rendered, under an Unofficial Secrets Act..or the Smith Act. >B-)
So, when are you going to bring us the pictures for "Abu Ghraib, The Musical", Brian...???
Hersh didn't break the story, the Army did. And the only thing de Palma and Haggis are really complaining about is that Iraq hasn't granted them the stage that Vietnam did for self-righteous pontificating.
Barnett acts as if it is the role of journalists was to stop the war.
The questions were asked. They (particularly Helen Thomas) didn't like the answers, but they had no firm basis on which to question them outside of innuendo and the presumption of guilt. There's only so much that can be told to reporters that doesn't tip off those opposing U.S. forces on the battlefield.
"I think American journalism generally agrees its own press was supine, and it is fair to say that Hollywood, perhaps a little belatedly, is picking up the baton."
Funny how the reporter couldn't find an American journalist to say that.
Maybe that's because the abuses were "few and far between." Ever think of that, bloke?
I guess the answer should be obvious: depends on what the meaning of "truth" is?
Come on. If U.S. troops gang raped and murdered an Iraqi woman the NYT, LAT, WP, CNN, FNC, MSNBC, CBS, NBC and ABC would have gone full page and wall to wall coverage of the rape and murder.
Greta would be interviewing the parents, Oprah would do a full week dedicated to the rape and murder and Geraldo would be on the tube screaming that he would kick the accused troops but.
We would never hear the end of it. An event such as then one portrayed in the movie would have made Abu Ghraib look like a Fox News Alert on Britney's new form of birth control. The MSM would never let us forget.
Therefore, the event never did occur.
In what universe you liar? The NY Times ran stories about the frat boy hijinks at Abu Ghraib on its front page at least five hundred times. By contrast, it didn't even mention the posthumous Medal of Honor for a Long Island native and Navy Seal. If Hollywood were really interested in telling the untold stories of Iraq or Afghanistan, they'd make a movie about the self-sacrifice of our heroes. Instead they slime them with lying swill like "Valley of Elah".
About which, by the way, I choked on my corn flakes the other day to read a quote from anti-American Canadian Paul Haggis ascribing the writers strike to "corporate greed". This bastard makes millions slandering our country and has the nerve to call somebody else greedy. He ought to be deported, on a rail, wearing tar and feathers. Grrr.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmudiyah_killings
Spc. James Barker On November 15, 2006, Spc. Barker pleaded guilty to rape and murder as part of a plea agreement requiring him to give evidence against the other soldiers to avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced to 90 years in prison, and must serve 20 years before being considered for parole. He wept during closing statements, and accepted responsibility for the rape and killings, saying the violence he had encountered in Iraq left him "angry and mean" toward Iraqis.[8]
[edit] Sgt. Paul E. Cortez On January 22, 2007, Sgt. Cortez pleaded guilty to rape, conspiracy to rape, and four counts of murder as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.[9] Sgt. Cortez was sentenced to 100 years in prison for the rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and the killing of her family last year. He will be eligible for parole in 10 years. Cortez, 24, also was given a dishonorable discharge. Cortez wept as he apologized for the crimes, saying he could not explain why he took part.[10]
[edit] Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman Pfc.Jesse V. Spielman On August 3, 2007, Pfc. Spielman, 23, was sentenced to 110 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after 10 years. He was convicted of rape, conspiracy to commit rape, housebreaking with intent to rape and four counts of felony murder. Spielman had earlier pleaded guilty to lesser charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice, arson, wrongfully touching a corpse and drinking.[11]
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