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Reviews
Control Room (2004)
Inspiring example of true freedom of speech in action.
This is a brilliant and compelling insight into the Arab view of current events. One of the most striking features is the extent to which the Al Jazeera reporters go to present diverse opinions, and the amount of sympathy and respect they still have for America. Rumsfeld accuses it of selective reporting, but the truth is it is not selective enough for his liking - insisting instead on continuing to show the ugly reality of the US action in Iraq rather than the fantasy version the US administration would have us believe. Al Jazeera has already lost one reporter killed in what appears almost certainly to have been a calculated act of intimidation by the US military. The Al Jazeera staff deserve recognition for their courage and their determination to pursue two essentials for true freedom and democracy - free speech and an informed public.
State and Main (2000)
To be avoided
I was initially lulled into believing I was going to be treated to a witty and intelligent satire. But after about 15 minutes the cracks start appearing - the wit becomes so forced and laboured that it becomes agonising. The cast are excellent, but the lines they are given are just so constantly gosh-darned clever that you feel yourself grimacing as each new quirky and zany, yet oh-so-predictable, plot twist is dragged out. I guess it's an interesting movie for the polarisation it produces in viewer opinions, but I just felt like biting somebody when it finally ended.