With Shock and Awe on DVD and Digital HD today, we checked out the movie over the weekend, the new movie starring Woody Harrelson, Rob Reiner, James Marsden, Jessica Biel and Tommy Lee Jones is based around the time that the term ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction‘ was very much on the lips of many in 2003.
With America on the very edge of a horrific war with Iraq, Shock and Awe is the true story of how the very phrase was twisted with shocking effect.
Set post 9/11 with politics being the focal point, a group of journalists working for the Knight Ridder company, start covering George Bush’s planned invasion of Iraq back in 2003, the journalists are sceptical of the president’s claim that Saddam Hussein has ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction‘, the journalists Jonathan Landay (Woody Harrelson) and Warren Strobel (James Marsden) take it upon themselves to play a very risky game and question the true nature of the White House’s reason for the conflict.
Shock and Awe depicts the journalist’s race to find out and show the truth, to change the course of history, in an attempt to prevent another war.
Shock and Awe starts with a young soldier in a wheelchair in a courtroom before we are taking back to a short while before that horrific day when the towers were hit. We are introduced to the main characters and delving into what is happening.
Directed by Academy Award® nominee Rob Reiner (Stand By Me; A Few Good Men), Shock and Awe is an interesting look at journalism and politics of the time of that a war was on the cards, Reiner has produced a well-directed movie and one that had me interested to see where the journey would take the journalists and how they work to find out what is behind the Iraq connection.
The movie does have a somewhat taboo topic, but putting aside any political views, the film is nicely made, the cast are suited well for there roles Woody Harrelson (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri) is believable in his role, Tommy Lee Jones (No Country for Old Men) is certainly the right choice as Joe Galloway and James Marsden (X-Men; TVs Westworld) certainly comes across well as Warren Strobel, Jessica Biel plays her role very well as well, I was also surprised to see Milla Jovovich in the movie.
Using stock footage of new reports etc from the time to build up the story, Shock and Awe may not be everyone’s cup of tea, let’s face it most people see a film that is based on something political and run a mile, I personally enjoyed it, it’s a fascinating look into the world of journalism and politics in America and how easily words can be manipulated with results that are so destructive that lives are lost.
Shock and Awe is out on Digital HD and DVDÂ now!
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
