The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)
95%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
14 wins & 16 nominations total
The Fog of War draws on decades of bitter experience to offer a piercing perspective on the Cold War from one of its major architects.
The Fog of War” is a documentary that takes a deep dive into the mind of Robert S. McNamara, a controversial figure in American military history. Critics have called it “engrossing,” “illuminating,” and “disturbing,” but let’s be real, it’s also a bit of a wild ride. McNamara speaks with candor about his role in the Vietnam and Cold Wars, and it’s hard not to feel a little bit of whiplash as he jumps from introspection to denial to self-aggrandizement to contrition. But hey, at least it’s not as boring as your high school history class, right?
Production Company(ies)
Sony Pictures, Classics Radical Media, Sen Art Films,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for images and thematic issues of war and destruction
Year of Release
2004
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 45m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 26, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 11, 2004
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, war, politics, Vietnam War, Cold War, Robert McNamara, Lyndon B Johnson, directed by Errol Morris, produced by Errol Morris, Michael Williams, Julie Ahlberg, written by Errol Morris, reviewed by Joshua Rothkopf, Antonia Quirke, Nick Schager, Nell Minow, Nev Pierce, PG-13, $4.2M box office, archival footage, conflicted, introspection, contrition, history, modern warfare, ideology, Southeast Asia, Secretary of Defense, Kennedy administration, Johnson administration, Academy Award-winning, thematic issues, English, Sony Pictures Classics, runtime 1h 45m, distributor, cast & crew, critic reviews, audience reviews, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $5,038,841
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,948,703
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,038
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 866,816
US/Canada gross: $4,198,566
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $6,623,181
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,726
US/Canada opening weekend: $41,449
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $65,385
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,106
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
Lyndon B. Johnson – Self
Errol Morris – Director
Errol Morris – Producer
Michael Williams – Producer
Julie Ahlberg – Producer
Director(s)
Errol Morris
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Errol Morris, Michael Williams, Julie Ahlberg
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
14 wins & 16 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (141) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (136) | Rotten (5)
[A] mesmerizing portrait of former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara…
March 16, 2020
Joshua Rothkopf
In These Times
TOP CRITIC
Although Errol Morris’s film takes us through the nasty dramas behind various wars, few of McNamara’s clarifications come as a surprise.
December 18, 2017
Antonia Quirke
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating look into the mind of one of 20th century America’s most controversial military figures
May 3, 2005 | Rating: A-
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
July 27, 2004 | Rating: A
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
An engrossing and illuminating documentary.
April 6, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Nev Pierce
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
For those of my generation, the true resonance in the film may be in the constant juxtaposition between the then and the now of the McNamara life.
March 16, 2004
Stephen Hunter
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
A polarizing figure, McNamara speaks with almost unthinkable candor about his role in The Vietnam and Cold Wars with equal parts introspection, denial, self-aggrandizement, and contrition.
June 22, 2020
Rocco T. Thompson
Screen Rant
It’s difficult to imagine anyone from George W. Bush’s administration coming forth with such awe-inspiring, agenda-free candor, contrition, insight and misgivings about America’s foreign policy. A documentary about morals, respect and blind luck.
September 24, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
A great and disturbing film.
July 7, 2009
Thomas Peyser
Style Weekly (Richmond, VA)
This is the most culturally significant documentary imaginable and should be mandatory for repeated viewing by all public officials the world over.
May 10, 2009 | Rating: A+
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 5/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Even handed, but never to a fault, this critical and at times even touching examination of Robert McNamara’s life and role in the Cold War is as brilliant as I hoped it would be.
June 21, 2007 | Rating: A-
Jason Gorber
Film Scouts…
Plot
Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara confronts his and the U.S. government’s actions in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War in the Academy Award-winning documentary, The Fog of War.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Fresh Kernels page.for The Fog of War includes a list of cast and crew members, but does not provide any goofy or funny comments about them.
Errol-Morris.jpg
