The Green Zone

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening in theatres this Friday is a look inside a cover up with director Paul Greengrass, Universal Pictures and Working Title Films political thriller “The Green Zone”.

This film tells the story of Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller (Matt Damon), a US Army Officer who is out to find weapons of war in 2003 Baghdad. Considered a rogue soldier, he goes where most won’t and does what most will not.

Miller and his team are sent out to look for weapons of mass destruction and find nothing. Time and time again they run into dangerous situations that end with finding nothing.

During one such search Miller comes across information about a cover-up of their work and misinformation. All of this has been causing the missions to continually fail.

Miller must search through covert operations and bad intelligence to discover the truth about the ruling regime or the truth that could escalate the war.

FINAL WORD: There is something about Damon in these roles that is amazing. Coming off his Oscar nomination for “Invictus”, he dons a flack jacket and gets into the heat of it. Damon has made quite an industry as an action star.

Greg Kinnear as Poundstone is also getting very good at being very bad. Brenden Gleeson as Martin Brown plays well off of Damon’s character.

Other cast include: Jason Isaac as Briggs, Antoni Corone as Col. Lyons, Allen Vaught as Col. Jonathan Vaught, Amy Ryans as reporter Lawrie Dayne,

Brian Helgeland, screenwriter of “LA Confidential” has brought about a good story here. Greengrass, who brought “United 93” to the screen, is also responsible for “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum” which have been very successful.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give “The Green Zone” three tubs of popcorn out of five. If you are a fan of the Bourne series of films then this will thrill. It is filled with twists, turns and action, which Damon provides with ease.

Although it is a little late in its delivery with a story about weapons of mass destruction, it is still action packed and well done with very good cinematography, which lends to the story as well.

In the end…the biggest weapon is the truth.