FAIR GAME 3.0*** (almost 3.5***)
This film, which is based upon actual events, sets out to accomplish two things—to expose the Bush Administration’s deliberate falsification and manipulation of info about Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) to purposely bring about the Iraq War and to watch a married couple under intense pressure, Valerie Plame ( played by Naomi Watts) and Joe Wilson (Played by Sean Penn), get swept up in the Iraq controversy. The first half follows Valerie Plame as she goes about her work as a CIA covert operative. But she cares about the promises she makes to "assets" (people who are working undercover for the CIA) and she is dedicated to her country. She soon finds out that those who run the countrydon’t give a darn about her. She is dumped, fast and hard, when her name is purposely revealed to and reported by the media through revelations from a high ranking source in Vice President Chaney’s Office. She is dumped as retribution for her husband, Joe Wilson, having reported that the White House was lying about the WMDs. Friends and colleagues at work don't want anything else to do with her. They tell her to forget the promises she made to her “assets” whose lives depended on trusting her. But blustery Joe Wilson is fully prepared to fight back. It's his country, not Cheney's or Bush's, and he's going to stand up for the integrity of his name. As it turns out…Good Luck, Joe. When the White House is out to get you, consider yourself gotten. They'll use all their extensive powers to destroy you and your wife and children.

I have to confess that I am a harsh critic of the Bush Administration and the Iraq War, so viewing this movie I got all riled up and spitting mad all over again. Especially the scene of the real State of the Union speech by Bush when he informs the Country of a secret transaction between Iraq and Niger involving aluminum tubes which he said were for purposes of making WMDs. He and his War Hawks knew full well that the intelligence was false, but used it anyway to promote a declaration of war. We were manipulated, tricked, deceived. If they had not used false intelligence, Bush would probably not have gotten support for the war. The consequences of that deception affect us to this very day. ( I somewhat apologize for the editorial remarks here which I always try to avoid in a review, but this is one time and probably the only time I feel so strongly about an issue that I had to speak my mind). By the way, when Plame’s identity was disclosed , a dozen clandestine operations that she was overseeing were jeopardized, and a number of assets, including Iraqi weapons scientists, were killed. This action was unique, because no White House in the history of the United States had ever divulged the identity of our spies for any purpose.
The story, which is based upon actual events, is realistic and quite suspenseful, the acting is excellent and the overall look and feel of the film is top notch.

Clark
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