A thriller from the director of The Bourne Ultimatum, set during the US-led occupation of Baghdad in 2003, about a bunch of CIA agents and a warrant officer (Matt Damon) on the trail of certain weapons of mass destruction. A foreign correspondent (The Wire's Amy Ryan) follows their mission.
The film is based on the 2006 book Imperial Life in the Emerald City by journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran and takes place in the 'Green Zone' – a 10-square-kilometer area in central Baghdad that is the centre of international forces in the city.
Do we like ‘message films’? I’m not such a fan but some might appreciate the seven-year-old sentiment expressed in Green Zone about the double standards and campaign of confusion set by American authorities in Iraq.
Paul Greengrass helms and his shaky-cam style used for his two Bourne movies makes another jiggly appearance. His direction is terrific. Seemingly unrehearsed as if the chaos is unfolding in front us, the action feels fresh, impromptu and effortless, as if the camera has just captured it accidentally. All the beats of the action are there and it’s easy to follow.
But despite best intentions, the frenetic visuals don’t quite mask the preachy tone of this project. It’s old news to any of us with even a passing interest in world events. The hunt for non-existent WMDs was big in 2003, but can it still hold a wow factor seven years later?
Plus, Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne was far more fun than his Sgt Miller. This military man is about as good-guy as you can get – a white, moralistic American with an unflappable desire to do the right thing.
This is a slick and polished action thriller. Damon and Greengrass push their agenda, no bad thing considering it will reach a big audience, but their revelations about the sneaky Yanks are not that surprising at all.
By Andrew Hedley, Flicks.co.nz
good movie to watcxh with your man
Really liked this one, a great watch! Really good story with exciting twists and unexpected turns.
an unforgettable matt damon movie but the bourne movies are better.
I loved this movie! - I wouldn't consider myself a major action/thriller movie fan - as they are all pretty predictable - but this film kept me on the edge of my seat - it didn't come across at all like the typical american whoo rah flick - definitely recommend it and will probably buy the dvd!
I was a bit hesitant before seeing this movie because the trailer wasn't much chop, but the movie was very good. Highly recommended. It was not the usual America self-congratulating nonsense.
It is a thriller, not a documentary. It's my belief that the nature of the neocon evildoing has by now become pretty clear. Others will disagree. The bottom line is: This is one hell of a thriller.
Bourne goes epic. A wham-bam actioner, but its pointed political subtext ensures Damon and Greengrass deliver their most provocative mission yet.
Christopher Rouse's rapid-fire editing nervously stitches the stunts, chases, fights and confrontations together. It's a remarkable film.
Made with daring and passion, it attempts the impossible and comes remarkably close to pulling it off. So close, in fact, that the skill and audacity used, the shock and awe of this highly entertaining attempt, are more significant than the imperfect results.
When Mr. Greengrass made “United 93,” his 2006 reconstruction of one of the Sept. 11 hijackings, some people fretted that it was too soon. My own response to Green Zone is almost exactly the opposite: it’s about time.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 18th Mar 2010.
Release date: March 18th 2010.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
