Featured Audience Ratings

• Dan S

  
  A mesmerizing, slightly offbeat documentary from the great Errol Morris ("The Thin Blue Line") concerning former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and his experiences in both WWII and Vietnam, and looking back on his decisions and how to pertain to the days we live in… More
  A mesmerizing, slightly offbeat documentary from the great Errol Morris ("The Thin Blue Line") concerning former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and his experiences in both WWII and Vietnam, and looking back on his decisions and how to pertain to the days we live in now. McNamara appears to be a very likable, flawed individual (like we all are) who seems to be historically misunderstood given his reputation that he screwed up the Vietnam War quite badly. Instead we get an honest, genuine look at a man who gives a fair look at himself and his decisions, admits to his mistakes, but remains proud of his many accomplishments. Definitely a more humanizing look at a politician, in a day and age where people love to eat these people for lunch. One of the better documentaries I can recall, and anyone from the Kennedy-Johnson era should give this a look.

• Jim H

  
  Robert McNamara explains his life during the two World Wars and the Vietnam War. For those of us who are students of history but didn't live during the times of the Vietnam War and WWII, this film doesn't have the resonance it might otherwise have. What I see is McNamara… More
  Robert McNamara explains his life during the two World Wars and the Vietnam War. For those of us who are students of history but didn't live during the times of the Vietnam War and WWII, this film doesn't have the resonance it might otherwise have. What I see is McNamara the apologist and McNamara the regretful soldier, personalities that he freely oscillates between almost at will. He wags his finger at the camera so many times that I felt like he was giving me, a small boy, a lecture on how to live. The film becomes a compilation of McNamara saying, "I did my best, but I fucked up, but damn it, I did my best!" Overall, I think this film is a good introduction to people who know little about the wars, but it ultimately devolves into a talking head documentary.

• Ken S

  
  Not a whole lot to say other than see it!

• Jeremy S

  
  Ranks amongst the most fascinating documentaries I have ever seen. More than a Vietnam War or politics or war itself, The Fog of War is a testimony to the life of Robert MaNamara, as if we the audience are godlike watching while a human being explains his life, his passions, his… More
  Ranks amongst the most fascinating documentaries I have ever seen. More than a Vietnam War or politics or war itself, The Fog of War is a testimony to the life of Robert MaNamara, as if we the audience are godlike watching while a human being explains his life, his passions, his mistakes, asking for foegiveness and compassion in the face of history and death.

• Mike S

  
  The actual subject itself, which this documentary revolved around, wasn't really all that captivating to me. The reason for that is the simple fact that it doesn't hit very close to home, as it's mainly targeted towards an American audience, and therefore not something… More
  The actual subject itself, which this documentary revolved around, wasn't really all that captivating to me. The reason for that is the simple fact that it doesn't hit very close to home, as it's mainly targeted towards an American audience, and therefore not something I can relate to as much as I would have liked. On the other hand, thanks to the brilliant way it is told and presented by Robert McNamara, it somehow became more appealing than I would have otherwise thought of it. His great narration gave it a very human and modest touch, which, in the end, came to lift up my rating a notch above "average".

• Morgan G

  
  Far scarier than a horror movie.

• Daniel H

  
  It's pro war! It's anti-war! It's pro-war... well, not really. It's just about McNamara, and his uncanny ability to avoid both of the previous questions. Some might find the neutral tone refreshing, regardless. Not about miltiary strategy, but the morally-neutral… More
  It's pro war! It's anti-war! It's pro-war... well, not really. It's just about McNamara, and his uncanny ability to avoid both of the previous questions. Some might find the neutral tone refreshing, regardless. Not about miltiary strategy, but the morally-neutral engineering of military PR and morale in the late 20th century.. the day-to-day business of an unpopular war.

• Michael G

  
  A very interesting history lesson.

• Jeffrey M

  
  Fog of War is a brilliant, fascinating, and absolutely absorbing documentary. It features an elderly, introspective, but also very lively Robert McNamara as he reflects on the lessons heâ(TM)s learned from his life experiences, notably the quagmire in Vietnam. The documentary does an… More
  Fog of War is a brilliant, fascinating, and absolutely absorbing documentary. It features an elderly, introspective, but also very lively Robert McNamara as he reflects on the lessons heâ(TM)s learned from his life experiences, notably the quagmire in Vietnam. The documentary does an excellent job of illustrating and relating all the lessons involved, and is particularly chilling in its recounting of the Cuban missile crisis. Fog of War will go down with Why We Fight and Inside Job, as the best political documentaries between 2000-2010.

• John B

  
  One of the best documentaries ever produced. Congratulations to Errol Morris and to Bob McNamara for finally coming clean about his regrettable involvement in the Vietnam War campaign. A sense of relief for the man and a telling tale on the failure of policy.

• Joseph E

  
  One word..Amazing.

• Curt C

  
  This was meant find fault or inconsistancies in Robert McNamara's actions as Secretary of Defense I'm told. However, I came out of this finding him a brilliant man doing the best he possibly could under inconceivable conditions. Incredibly thought provocing and engaging… More
  This was meant find fault or inconsistancies in Robert McNamara's actions as Secretary of Defense I'm told. However, I came out of this finding him a brilliant man doing the best he possibly could under inconceivable conditions. Incredibly thought provocing and engaging material, even if I got the "wrong" message; the 'evil music' tricks were quite apparent however.

• Brian R

  
  It's Robert McNamara talking about his youth, his days as President of Ford and working as Secretary Of Defense for President Kennedy and LBJ. It's interesting to hear him speak and remember the turbulant times of the 1960's and even questioning his own motives of war… More
  It's Robert McNamara talking about his youth, his days as President of Ford and working as Secretary Of Defense for President Kennedy and LBJ. It's interesting to hear him speak and remember the turbulant times of the 1960's and even questioning his own motives of war and his controversial decisions during the Vietnam War. I particularly liked the story McNamara mentions of how America was so close to a nuclear war catastrophe and how sudden a threat like that was avoided.

• Anthony V

  
  McNamara gives 11 lessons he's learned from his vast experience with American warfare. Should be required viewing for US citizens.

• Bill C

  
  I've been watching a lot of forgettable fluff lately. This is not that. I watched this movie several years ago and caught it on cable a few times. Once I here his wavering voice it just draws me in. Like Alfred Noble, McNamara pioneered safety in the modern automobile but was… More
  I've been watching a lot of forgettable fluff lately. This is not that. I watched this movie several years ago and caught it on cable a few times. Once I here his wavering voice it just draws me in. Like Alfred Noble, McNamara pioneered safety in the modern automobile but was part of orchestrating the fire bombing of Tokyo. He was hand picked by the Ford family to be the first non-Ford as president of the ford motor company. Kennedy snatched him away to be secretary of defense during Cuba through Vietnam. The movies shot with him talking directly to the camera. There are a few cutaways to some stock footage. He speaks with a degree of unfiltered honesty not to be expected from someone involved in government. He is a mathematician like me, with a strong moral compass. I guarantee you will not be bored watching this movie. It will give a new perspective on modern events it takes them from historic characters that made this happen to flawed people who did the best they could with what they had.

• deb .

  
  <b>"We all make mistakes. We know we make mistakes. I don't know any military commander, who is honest, who would say he has not made a mistake. ...the fog of war."</b> A shocking view behind the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War.… More
  <b>"We all make mistakes. We know we make mistakes. I don't know any military commander, who is honest, who would say he has not made a mistake. ...the fog of war."</b> A shocking view behind the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. Definitely thought provoking.

• Constanza B

  
  It is one of the best documentaries ever made. A very thought and provoking film, useful for teaching the Cold War to A Level or IB classes.

• Linda K

  
  One of the few great documentaries which truly addresses to the real questions of war. Something that some countries dont do much. But if you like politics, maybe this documentary will be the one to watch for and think about its importance in this point in time.

• Kit X

  
  beautiful

Read all 19 featured audience ratings