Power and Terror - Noam Chomsky in Our Times (2002)

72% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(897 ratings)

Noam Chomsky is arguably the most important and best-respected dissident political analyst in the United States. While his outspoken opinions on American foreign policy have hardly endeared him to the mainstream media (or the leading lights of either the Republican or Democratic parties), his sharp… More Noam Chomsky is arguably the most important and best-respected dissident political analyst in the United States. While his outspoken opinions on American foreign policy have hardly endeared him to the mainstream media (or the leading lights of either the Republican or Democratic parties), his sharp but well-considered opinions have made him a mainstay of leftist political journals and a tireless opponent of misdirected military violence and political bullying. Power and Terror: Noam Chomsky in Our Times is a documentary which explores Chomsky's lectures and writings on the Bush administration's responses to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Chomsky discusses foreign policy decisions which helped to create the climate in which the 9/11 attacks could happen, as well as military and political decisions against Afghanistan and Iraq which have taken their toll largely upon civilians -- which, by Chomsky's estimation, makes the United States as much a terrorist agency as our opponents. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 14 min.
Directed By: John Junkerman
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Nov 22, 2002 Limited
On DVD: Jun 17, 2003
Studio: First Run Features

Critic Reviews

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
Junkerman's dull film, and its important if inflammatory message, will bore all but Chomsky's fellow travelers to death.
Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News
If the documentary is a jumbled mess, the man ... is mesmerizing, lucid, thought-provoking and brave.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Kept me interested for its full 74 minutes with a series of surprises.
Janice Page, Boston Globe
Would have benefited from putting a wider lens on the man and his detractors, as seen in 1992's superior Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media by Mark Achbar and Peter Wintonick.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Because what Noam is thinking is always of interest, this brief and reverential film is as well.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
The authority of Chomsky's rhetoric has a sternly cleansing force that can't be dismissed.
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
This sometimes fawning documentary is selling a simple image of Chomsky to his faithful, not expanding on or further discussing the man's ideas.
Kurt Dahlke, Apollo Guide
There are better and more entertaining ways to grapple with Noam Chomsky's theories.
David Elliott, San Diego Union-Tribune
As film it's drab. As Chomsky it's compelling.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
Whether or not you agree with Chomsky, this film will give you a political perspective not easily found in the mainstream media. It's worth seeing for that alone.
Erik Lundegaard, Seattle Times
Visually, it's about as exciting as C-Span. Doesn't matter. Chomsky, at 74, is as radical as ever.
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
May have been more interesting if there were somebody from the Right responding to his views. It doesn't even have to be an equal to Chomsky - anyone will do.
Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News
Whether one agrees with him totally, to some degree or not at all, it's hard not to appreciate the thoughtfulness of Noam Chomsky's gently spoken, hard-defended positions.
Marc Cooper, L.A. Weekly
Chomsky's rapier-sharp intelligence, his curmudgeonly wit, his goofy charisma -- not to mention his considerable political acumen -- are all but lost in this sometimes-lugubrious hodgepodge.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Cast

Noam Chomsky

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