Why We Fight 2005

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: Jarecki's thoughtful, nonconfrontational approach makes it absorbing viewing, regardless of whether or not you buy his arguments. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: It's impossible to imagine anyone, right-leaning or left, coming away from this hugely important documentary unshaken by its representation of the United States and its military establishment. Read more

Allison Benedikt, Chicago Tribune: Jarecki seems to have had his answers before asking the questions. He's a master at filtering, at choosing the best quotes to bolster his argument and at connecting dots that, perhaps, shouldn't be. Read more

Manohla Dargis, New York Times: ... even those of radical political persuasion might find it hard to accept Mr. Jarecki's argument that American militarism is, underneath the talk about freedom and democracy, a simple question of dollars. Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: Fluidly edited by Nancy Kennedy, Why We Fight interweaves these personal stories not only with history but with one another, yielding some choice ironies. Read more

Tom Keogh, Seattle Times: Even if one disagrees vehemently with Jarecki's interpretations of events and history, it's hard not to be impressed by the rigorousness with which he gathers his arguments. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: I would like to believe that we still live in a world, and in a country were people will want to see something and will want to be informed. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Why We Fight has passion and ambition and research to spare. Too bad Jarecki didn't take a somewhat fresher, more balanced approach in making his case. Read more

Keith Phipps, AV Club: Ultimately, Why We Fight reveals itself as yet another leftie doc with an anti-war agenda. But the mere fact that it takes time to ask questions and listen to opposing viewpoints sets it apart from the pack. Read more

Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic: The fact is, Jon Stewart on The Daily Show uncovers this same hypocrisy every night, and does it in two minutes with irony and humor, while Why We Fight attempts it with outrage and scolding. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Stands as a class-act stylistic rebuttal to Fahrenheit 9/11 -- it asks questions rather than bludgeons us with ridicule, and it has the grace to hint that we can think for ourselves. Read more

Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times: Jarecki's well-argued, if demoralizing, documentary is a thoughtful discussion of current U.S. foreign policy and lessons not learned. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: In addition to the usual pontificators like Gore Vidal, whose world weariness has assumed Olympian proportions, the director provides interviews with such right-wing counterparts as Richard Perle and William Kristol. Read more

Michael Booth, Denver Post: Eugene Jarecki's Why We Fight takes on enough subjects to make five great documentaries, but as a result is so scattered that it doesn't quite make for one good one. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: We're left with a vision of America grown accustomed, if not addictively numb, to the deadening spirit of war. Read more

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: More leftist propaganda masquerading as documentary. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: The film is a clear-headed anomaly of reason that one hopes won't get lost in the bicker-and-scream shuffle of TV punditry. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: Extends beyond the titular question to touch on such issues as why we are hated so much and why we get it wrong so often. Read more

Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger: There have been so many protest pictures on the scene since the Iraq war began -- from Michael Moore, Robert Greenwald and other provocateurs -- that Why We Fight leaves you with a mild sense of deja vu rather than a fresh sense of outrage. Read more

Jack Mathews, New York Daily News: Whether we've reached the critical mass of "misplaced power" is the gist of the current national debate, and Why We Fight is a useful tool in that argument. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: After Ike makes his point in the opening minutes, the film itself essentially just elaborates it. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: A film that stands out for its passion, ambition and clarion-call sincerity, even amid the contemporary onslaught of political documentaries. Read more

Neva Chonin, San Francisco Chronicle: A somber polemic that presents a convincing case against using war as an economic booster -- although, Jarecki argues, that is precisely what the United States has been doing under every president since Truman. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Whichever truth you hold to be self-evident, Why We Fight will encourage you to reassess your beliefs and reconsider the meaning of national security. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: The strength of this documentary lies in its balance, or at least the careful appearance of balance. Both sides of the issue receive their due ... Read more

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star: Compulsory viewing in an age when the war of words is every bit as entrenched (and fierce) as the one with weapons. Read more

Time Out: Extremely timely and urgently relevant. Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: It's thoughtful, and you have to take it seriously and with respect. Read more

Robert Koehler, Variety: A thoroughgoing and affecting film on the nature and causes of the American military-industrial complex. Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: Jarecki's film forcefully argues that the much abused word freedom cannot paper over the conflicts between capitalism and democracy. Read more

Stephen Hunter, Washington Post: Memo to left-wing anti-Bushies: Stories like this work. Don't lecture. Tell stories! Much better! Read more