'Green Zone'

March 19, 2010

by Marcus at the Movies
Thursday, March 18, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Matt Damon is Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller. He is working closely with a top CIA operative in Iraq, who is being served up bogus info on weapons of mass destruction by a big-shot Pentagon official, who has his own agenda for the war. Sound familiar?

Miller is very vocal after several wild goose chases, and expresses his opinion to top brass who don't take to kindly to Miller's military meddling.

The military is funny that way.

Miller takes matters into his own hands, and diverts by taking his men on a mission of fact-finding. Again he's making waves and ruffling feathers, even with his subordinates.

Even reporters have gotten wind of the story. One is played by Amy Ryan.

The film takes on the persona of the Bourne movies. "The Bourne Identity" wears camo. But it falls way short of that series, let alone an Oscar winner like "The Hurt Locker."

Miller gets all his intel on the word of an Iraqi named Freddy. Freddy is a U.S. sympathizer who has hated life under Saddam, but it's now Miller's war and it's with his own government and military.

"Green Zone" will come way short of getting the green it needs to break even. It cost over $100 million to make, and made only $14 million opening weekend. Its red flag: Not yet screened by critics.

There was horrible timing for this loser, coming out a week after "The Hurt Locker" wins best picture, and about eight years after the war. And I'm surprised Mr. WMD expert himself wasn't in the film. Maybe Sean Penn was busy.

Hey I know, we could get Sean Penn for the sequel and he could actually find the WMD.

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