Top Ten Iraq War Documentaries

[Justin]

Unique among American wars, the War in Iraq has stimulated filmmakers to comment on the war while it is still being waged. Here are some of the best documentaries that have come out in the past 5 years. They are ordered chronologically and thematically by the topics they cover. So we begin with films that deal with the early stages of the war and our buildup to it and end with a documentary that deals with the story of a veteran dealing with a life-altering injury and his changing views on American involvement in Iraq.

10. Why We Fight (2005)

Director Eugene Jarecki probes the Military Industrial Complex, from President Eisenhower's prophetic farewell address to the buildup for the Iraq War. You can watch the whole thing here:


9. The Fog of War (2003)

An Academy Award winning documentary from director Errol Morris with a score by Philip Glass, The Fog of War is centered on 11 Lessons from former Defense Secretary under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, Robert S. McNamara. While it does not pertain directly to the Iraq War, the film is a fascinating look at how the architects of war make fundamental mistakes, and in McNamara's case mistakes that they live to regret. You can watch the whole film here:


8. Buying The War (2007)

Aired on PBS a year ago, Bill Moyers combines interviews and footage from the months before we invaded Iraq to examine the media's lack of skepticism and journalistic integrity. It is a fascinating look at how the drumbeats of war were proliferated by the media and helped sway popular support for the war. You can watch the documentary on PBS.org. Here's an excerpt:


7. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

Michael Moore's famous and provocative film and winner of the Golden Palm Award at the Cannes Film Festival quickly became the highest grossing documentary of all time when it was released the Summer before the 2004 Presidential Elections. While it didn't change the outcome of the election as Moore had hoped, it remains a pointed critique of the Bush Administrations response to the terrorist attack of 2001. Here's the trailer:


6. No End In Sight (2007)

Oscar Nominated film about the initial mistakes and incompetence of the early stages of American occupation in Iraq. The film contains interviews from some of the top decision makers in charge of American policy on the ground.


5. Gunner Palace (2004)

An on the ground perspective depicting the experiences of American soldiers from the 2/3 Field Artillery who were bunkered in one of Saddam Hussein's palaces and endured months of unrelenting and hostile combat. Here's the trailer:


4. Standard Operating Procedure (2008)

Soon to come out, director Errol Morris examines the MP's stationed at Abu Grahib prision, with interviews and reflections from the soldiers themselves. Here is the trailer:


3. Taxi to the Dark Side (2007)

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary, the film critiques the Bush Administration's policies concerning the treatment and torture of detainees. Here's the trailer:


2. Iraq In Fragments (2006)

This film examines the war from the perspective of Iraqi civilians coping with their war-torn country and their concerns for the future of Iraq and the Iraqi people. Here's the trailer:


1. Body of War (2008)

Soon to be released, Body of War tells "the story of Iraq war veteran Tomas Young who was shot and paralyzed less than a week into his tour of duty. Three years in the making, BODY OF WAR tells the poignant tale of the young man's journey from joining the service after 9/11 to fight in Afghanistan, to living with devastating wounds after being deployed to Iraq instead." The film was the topic of a recent episode of The Journal With Bill Moyers. Here's the trailer:


We'd love to hear of any other documentaries that you think should be included here.

[Justin]

Frontline, on PBS just aired a comprehensive documentary -- with interviews from some of the top officials -- covering all the events decisions that occurred from September 11, 2001 onward, which led us to invade Iraq and how the war would be waged. You can watch it all online here