This is the first movie I have felt a need to review, due to the subject and its importance.
<<POSSIBLE SPOILERS>>
Having read Ellsberg's book on the subject, I was really looking forward to a good dramatization of the events; however, this movie falls short. It is extremely abbreviated in its coverage of the events, often wasting time on relatively insignificant things such as Ellsberg's relationship with Patricia Marx and the excessively long sequence of Tony Russo's partytime in Malibu. This time could have been better spent explaining the events surrounding Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers rather than Ellsberg and his personal life, although that aspect cannot be ignored completely.
For example, there were a lot of things that occurred leading up to Ellsberg actually obtaining the McNamara study, and a lot more between that and actually approaching three congressmen with the study including Ellsberg actually writing NSSM-1 included in the study and meeting with Kissinger about it, attempting to probe him about the papers.
Additionally, one of the most dramatic elements of the book regarding Patricia's reading of the papers is her reaction to the actual language used in the papers, omitted from the film for whatever reason.
There are also a significant number of factual errors as they relate to Ellsberg's book, although the events are not exactly wrong, but more of a misrepresentation of the events - however, many of these can be attributed to the requirement of staying within a two-hour limit.
Overall, my review is tainted for having read the book, but I will give it a 6 of 10. It could be much, much better. If you are interested in the subject, and it is fascinating, read Ellsberg's book "Secrets." It is very much worth the read.
<<POSSIBLE SPOILERS>>
Having read Ellsberg's book on the subject, I was really looking forward to a good dramatization of the events; however, this movie falls short. It is extremely abbreviated in its coverage of the events, often wasting time on relatively insignificant things such as Ellsberg's relationship with Patricia Marx and the excessively long sequence of Tony Russo's partytime in Malibu. This time could have been better spent explaining the events surrounding Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers rather than Ellsberg and his personal life, although that aspect cannot be ignored completely.
For example, there were a lot of things that occurred leading up to Ellsberg actually obtaining the McNamara study, and a lot more between that and actually approaching three congressmen with the study including Ellsberg actually writing NSSM-1 included in the study and meeting with Kissinger about it, attempting to probe him about the papers.
Additionally, one of the most dramatic elements of the book regarding Patricia's reading of the papers is her reaction to the actual language used in the papers, omitted from the film for whatever reason.
There are also a significant number of factual errors as they relate to Ellsberg's book, although the events are not exactly wrong, but more of a misrepresentation of the events - however, many of these can be attributed to the requirement of staying within a two-hour limit.
Overall, my review is tainted for having read the book, but I will give it a 6 of 10. It could be much, much better. If you are interested in the subject, and it is fascinating, read Ellsberg's book "Secrets." It is very much worth the read.