Why We Fight
Seen it?2005 | 98 min | Documentary, History
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (78% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious and history buffs. If you loved 13th or Seabiscuit, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Harrowing, eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 38 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13: peril. Probably too much for younger kids.
Is American foreign policy dominated by the idea of military supremacy? Has the military become too important in American life? Jarecki's shrewd and intelligent polemic would seem to give an affirmative answer to each of these questions.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
78% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$1 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 10K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Eugene Jarecki
- Chalmers JohnsonSelf - CIA, 1967-1973
- Joseph CirincioneSelf - Carnegie Endowment for Peace
- Gore VidalSelf - Author, "Imperial America"
- Charles LewisSelf - Center for Public Integrity
- Richard PerleSelf - Advisor, U.S. Dept. of Defense
- William KristolSelf - Project for the New American Century
- John McCainSelf - Senator (R/AZ)
- Ken AdelmanSelf
- John AshcroftSelf (archive footage)
- Osama bin LadenSelf (archive footage)