Green Zone could almost be the fourth Bourne film. They have the director of the last two Bourne films and Mr. Bourne himself. It is a great combination. This film is action-packed, full of suspense, and has a story that some people may not like or accept, but there is some truth to this film. It focuses on Iraq in 2003 and the search for weapons of mass destruction that were never found. Now, Green Zone is not based on a true story, but while it was made to entertain, this film does explore and try to explain what may have happened while trying to find the truth in all of the lies, cover-ups, and deceit.
Matt Damon plays Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller and he is in the center of all the action. Miller’s team go to these WMD sites and come up empty-handed. And it is on several different occasions. After so many sacrifices for nothing, Miller starts to question the intelligence that is directing them to these abandoned spots. And a U.S. official (Greg Kinnear) with a lot of power who likes to abuse it wants Miller to do his job and to not ask questions. Then, on the other side, there is a CIA chief (Brendan Gleeson) who has been in Iraq for a long time and knows the details on the WMD situation. Miller catches his attention and brings him on board to get some proof.
Khalid Abdalla plays Freddy who is a worried citizen of Iraq and has some useful information for Miller and his crew. This gets him right in to the thick of things and he is along for the ride. Lawrie Dayne (Amy Ryan) is the last piece of the puzzle who writes for the Wall Street Journal and has been writing stories about the WMD and reporting it to the American citizens. The only problem is “the source” is a mystery and so is the truth. So her stories have false information, but Americans are soaking it all in.
Paul Greengrass is a great director, especially when it comes to fast-paced, shaky camera work and quick editing. But he knows how to control it and how to make it exciting. Green Zone is exciting. Once it starts, it never really stops. Miller starts to question what he is really doing and from there, it leads to chasing, shooting, and a search for people who know what the hell is going on. It is not like a Bourne film, but it is still just as good. The difference is that the situations Miller gets into are more believable and realistic.
One of the best things about the film is the perspective of it. With all the key characters, they all come from a different place and have a different perspective of the same situation. The CIA chief wants what is best for the Iraqi people and their country. He wants the Iraqi army to stay intact and they could be helpful in rebuilding the country. The WSJ writer wants the facts, and the U.S. official wants people to believe in America by any means necessary. And I mean by any means necessary.
Miller is a soldier who is doing his job until he begins to wonder what exactly that is. He wants answers and who could blame him? Freddy has the one perspective of a citizen of Iraq. He knows what his country has been through and what could happen to it in the future. His last lines are the most important and ring the truest.
Green Zone delivers everything that it should and what we would expect. It is fast and thrilling. It focuses on a matter that may get some people fired up, but its main concern is to make you think and be entertained. With Damon’s sincere and honest performance, along with the direction of Greengrass that we have come to love and accept, it does just that.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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