THE PLOT THUS FAR
It’s the dirty little secret of the War on Terror: all bets are off, and almost anything goes. We have fundamentally changed the rules of the game and the rules of engagement. Today drone strikes, night raids, and U.S. government condoned torture occur in corners across the globe, generating unprecedented civilian casualties. Investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill (author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Mercenary Army) traces the rise of the Joint Special Operations Command, the most secret fighting force in U.S. history, exposing operations carried out by men who do not exist on paper and will never appear before Congress. No target is off-limits for the JSOC kill list, not even U.S. citizens. Director Richard Rowley and whistle-blower Scahill’s DIRTY WARS is a chilling battle cry for the soul and conscience of an America few of us know exists.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Dirty Wars” is a film for people that already know that American Armed Forces have been engaged in some shady activities. If you don’t believe so, you’ll reject the film before it’s fifteen minutes into its run time. Such things as pregnant women murdered in Afghanistan shot to death by US special forces in their own home greet you. Then, innocent villagers in Yemen blown to pieces by US cluster bombs. If that wasn’t enough, there’s a bit about Somali warlords paid by the United States government to kill foreigners. Meanwhile, there’s a little bit of info on Osama and the related goons of the last decade.
The film succeeds in presenting complex issues without moralizing, and finds the right balance between veracity and entertainment. The movie does seem to stretch and play up material sometimes for false suspense and dramatic effect, although I found the insight into the changing nature of warfare to be its most interesting and primary aspect.
The DVD comes with a featurette and a trailer as the special features. The A/V Quality is strong with a supportive transfer and a Dolby audio track. The Dolby track doesn’t really set an impressive sound stage. Still, it carries the dialogue. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!