Green Zone (Paul Greengrass, 2010)

Man, Green Zone is preachy.

Well executed set-pieces aside, Paul Greengrass's latest wears its political sensibilities very much on its sleeve and after being told repeatedly by the Iraqi people that it was not up to America to intervene, I got fed up. It's been seven years since the beginning of the war and the film doesn't tell us anything we don't already know, ultimately making its political subtext entirely redundant.

Up until the arrival of Jason Isaacs and his epic moustache, I was enthralled. I have always defended Greengrass's handheld style and in Green Zone, along with United 93 (from which most of the background cast originate, including a bizarre cameo from Ben Sliney of the FAA) it adds a level of immediacy that has become his trademark and effectively fits the auteur theory. Every moment of conflict is felt, as are the frustrations of Matt Damon and his team and their lack of success in finding any WMD's (on a personal note, after Team America I find it very difficult not to giggle when hearing someone utter the phrase "WMD"). The action beats are also expertly primed. Even from The Bourne Supremacy, Greengrass is one of few directors around who can wrack up tension to near breaking point and keep you there (see United 93).

However, whilst it hits all the thriller aspects with aplomb, I eventually found myself getting bored. We know there were no weapons and we know the reasons for war were questionable and possibly illegal so, at the end, the film's purpose is questionable. For the most part, I go to the cinema to be entertained, not preached to. If I wanted a lecture I'd attend a politics seminar.

A final exciting chase through the streets of Bagdad makes up some lost ground. It's just a shame it ends with an Iraqi shouting "it's not for you to decide..." and so on. You get the picture.

3/5