Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (2009)
94%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: NA
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers is a riveting and thought-provoking documentary that sheds light on one of the most significant events in American history. Through the lens of Ellsberg’s ethical journey, the film explores the complex and often murky world of politics, war, and human behavior. It’s a cloak-and-dagger thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, while also offering a fresh perspective on the Vietnam War and its aftermath. With its timely message about the dangers of false pretenses and the importance of speaking truth to power, this documentary is a must-see for anyone who cares about the future of our democracy.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” is a documentary that tells the story of one man’s journey to expose the truth about the Vietnam War. While the title may be a mouthful, the film is anything but unwieldy. It’s a thrilling and eye-opening account of a pivotal moment in American history. Watching it, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe at Ellsberg’s bravery and determination. Plus, it’s a great reminder that politicians have been lying to us for decades. So, if you’re looking for a documentary that’s both informative and entertaining, this is definitely one to check out.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
First Run
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
2009
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Stereo
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Aspect ratio:16:9 HD
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Runtime:1h 32m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 20, 2010
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Daniel Ellsberg, Pentagon Papers, Vietnam War, government deception, media circus, Richard Nixon, military strategist, leaked documents, top-secret, Judith Ehrlich, Rick Goldsmith, produced by Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directed by Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, reviewed by Marjorie Baumgarten, Chris Vognar, Steven Rea, Joe Williams, J.R Jones, Brian Tallerico, David Harris, Glenn Dunks, Pete Hammond, Bill Gibron, MPAA rating, box office performance, budget, Peter Arnett, Ben Bagdikian
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Ben Bagdikian – Self
Judith Ehrlich – Director, Producer
Rick Goldsmith – Director, Producer
Director(s)
Judith Ehrlich, Rick Goldsmith
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Judith Ehrlich, Rick Goldsmith
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (56) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (54) | Rotten (2)
It’s a bit surprising that a documentary with such an unwieldy title offers such a streamlined and resonant account of history.
April 30, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
For those who know the story, Most Dangerous Man puts it in fresh perspective. If you don’t, there’s probably not a better way to discover it.
April 23, 2010 | Rating: 4.5/5
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
For those who lived through the turmoil of Vietnam, and for the generations that have come since, the film is an important document in its own right.
April 1, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
The film is also an exciting cloak-and-dagger thriller.
April 1, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
Ehrlich and Goldsmith carve out their own little place in the canon by focusing on the ethical journey of one man who refused to shrug off his own responsibility for the war and atoned for it with a seismic act of civil disobedience.
March 25, 2010
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The lessons of The Most Dangerous Man in America are not merely about war, they are about life and human behavior.
March 25, 2010
Brian Tallerico
Movie Retriever
TOP CRITIC
If anything, there is much to learn from The Most Dangerous Man in America that is still applicable today, or at least until our country ceases beginning conflicts on false pretense.
August 5, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
Watching this film in 2018 with The Post so fresh in the mind, however, is a particularly unique experience. The documentary helps flesh out many of the exterior strands of the story that Spielberg’s film left out (deliberately).
February 28, 2018 | Rating: B+
Glenn Dunks
The Film Experience
August 27, 2010 | Rating: 2/5
Pete Hammond
Boxoffice Magazine
Daniel Ellsberg was the first insider to take his concerns outside. The results changed the course of the conversation, and a country.
July 18, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Bill Gibron
PopMatters
But because “Dangerous Man” sees the era through Ellsberg’s eyes, and we hear the disgust in his voice as he describes his younger, gung-ho self, the film becomes a fascinating and clear-eyed self-portrait.
June 4, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Stop me if you’ve heard this one, but sometimes politicians get us into wars that last forever and go nowhere under false pretenses.
June 2, 2010
Sean Burns
Philadelphia Weekly…
Plot
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers is a documentary about the actions of Daniel Ellsberg, a military strategist who leaked top-secret documents about government deception during the Vietnam War, leading to a media circus and the end of the war and presidency of Richard Nixon.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Tomatometer® for The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers is 96%, with only two negative reviews.
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