Customer Reviews

The Pentagon Papers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Despite excellent supporting performances, this movie is really a one-man show: it's all about Spader's smart, emotional performance as Daniel Ellsberg.

Very little of the movie happens in the Watergate time-frame from which we know Ellberg's name. Most instead covers the ten years (roughly 1963-1973) during which he reached the point of thinking the most patriotic act he could take was to release top-secret Department of Defense material about the Vietnam war. It's an engrossing exploration of the great questions: what is duty? to whom do we owe loyalty?

Nothing explodes, except during a few striking, necessary scenes in Vietnam. Thanks be for intelligent film-making.

THE PENTAGON PAPERS is a truly engrossing dramatic film! Despite being "made for TV," wonderful performances abound in this movie. James Spader--an extraordinarily gifted actor--gives a top-notch portrayal of Daniel Ellsberg, which keeps the viewers' attention throughout the course of the film. The story has a fascinating plot that explores a complex question: is treason justifiable when it will reveal the truth to the public? Should revealing classified documents to prove the failures of the Vietnam war be considered treason...or should it be considered an act of patriotism? This film thoughtfully considers these questions and more, and leaves you to form your own opinions about whether Ellsberg's actions were right or wrong.

If you are a fan of James Spader, this film is a must...as he is at his best here. For anyone interested in a good story, based on true events, this movie is worth a look!

This movie came out on TNT within a month of the start of "Operation Iraqi Freedom." I had taped it off the TV and made copies of the TV broadcast for just about everyone I knew.
For those of us who watched with jaws dropped as Congress voted nearly unanimously to support the war, the movie brings back in vivid detail the times from the late 60's. I appreciate that it brought out the personal inner turmoil of a man who was initially a "hawk" (because he felt that Communism must be stopped), but who became convinced that the Viet Nam War was wrong and that he needed to do something to stop it, even at the risk of being tried for treason.
Having lived in Washington throughout the entire Watergate affair, leaving a week or two after Nixon, I really appreciate the delicious irony of the fact that Nixon was so anxious to discredit Ellsburg that he had his "Watergate Burglers" break into Ellsburg's psychiatrist office and steal his file. It was this contamination of due process that resulted in Ellsburg's trial being thrown out of court.

This movie is a must-see for any student of democracy, and any American who is under 45....

Though a serviceman involved in the Vietnam War, I never knew so much about what was really going on until seeing this great film. Want to know about Vietnam, political corruption, and the misuse of truth? See it!

The very best kind of film--entertaining, beautiful, easy to watch, and very informative. This film goes further, providing an extremely rare opportunity to make us smarter about the inner workings of our government. This, plus "Why We Fight" and "Hacking Democracy" provide a critically important overview for any American citizen. "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to triumph is for enough good [people] to do nothing." And what can good people do? For starters, spread the word!

This is also a good movie but its showed with the same details just not quite as in depth as some of the other movies on this topic.
But if you were for the Vietnam War, then I recommend you see this movie or at least a movie on The Pentagon Papers topic. The truth will leave you feeling allot of controversy. Was this war justified or not??? I lost four family members in this war. When I see this movie and others on this topic, it makes me angry. This is a war that could have been avoided. And if not avoided then it should have been put into the hands of our generals and left to them to decide how to win it. But according to the Pentagon Papers, our country could not have ever won this war. I hate to think that so many of our soldiers died in vein, to include my own family members. But I do respect our soldiers who indeed tried to free Vietnam with all of their hearts.

This is definitely a good buy.
I've watched this movie with my students and family and it is outstanding for debate material.
It's kinda shocking how much power is involved in censorship, but the truth will set us free.
This is a movie about real events based on Daniel Ellsberg's life and gives a good insight in the scandal of the pentagon.if thrill and conspiracies this is positively a movie for you

This movie starts very slowly, but picks up momentum fast.

It is a clear and even moving account of Daniel Ellsberg, and his transformation from a gung-ho military analyst to the foremost opponent of the Vietnam War.

It does a great job in making his evolution believable.

The acting is good. James Spader is robotic, but that's appropriate to Ellsberg himself. Paul Giamatti is great as his also-evolving colleague. Claire Forlani begins better than she ends; toward the end of the movie she seems to be simply going through the motions--her performance lacks fire and sincerity. The woman who plays Ellsberg's first wife, however, is sensational.

Several nice touches:

The quick cuts between historical footage and what is happening in the film are seamless and powerful.

The scenes in Vietnam are a revelation.

The take on Nixon's thugs (Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Mitchell) is astonishing.

An informative, powerful film.

Not a bad piece of work considering it's a true story, the pacing was a little slow for my taste. Spader was a good choice for the role, a very non-descript actor was needed and that was achieved.