CIA: Movie 'Zero Dark Thirty' departs from reality

[soulflower]

The CIA is joining the Senate in making clear that the dramatizations of torture and other aspects of 'Zero Dark Thirty' are mostly Hollywood, not reality:

In an unusual letter to CIA employees, acting Director Michael Morell said that the highly anticipated film, “Zero Dark Thirty,” leads viewers to believe that a “few individuals” were behind the hunt for the al-Qaeda leader, instead of the “hundreds of officers” who were involved over the course of a decade. He also rejected the film’s depiction of the CIA’s interrogation program — and the implication that it helped extract valuable information from detainees.

“The film takes considerable liberties in its depiction of CIA personnel and their actions, including some who died while serving our country,” Morell said. “We cannot allow a Hollywood film to cloud our memory of them.”

Producers have described the film as the result of investigative reporting, but acknowledged that it takes dramatic license in chronicling the 10-year hunt.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...y.html?hpid=z3

I haven't seen the movie so I won't criticize it.

[Omaha Beach]

So the PC police at CIA dont want to admit that torture works in getting valuable information from enemies. What else is new?

[zenwalk]

People who complain about "bad history" in entertainment should stick to documentaries. Anyone who gets their history from movies and TV is in for a giant let down.

[Smokey 1]

People who complain about "bad history" in entertainment should stick to documentaries. Anyone who gets their history from movies and TV is in for a giant let down.

Some are more accurate than others. I worked on one where they went to great pains to get the history right.

[Byng]

The CIA is joining the Senate in making clear that the dramatizations of torture and other aspects of 'Zero Dark Thirty' are mostly Hollywood, not reality:



I haven't seen the movie so I won't criticize it.

I have heard that overall it is an excellent movie that pretty much sticks to the story line but that way to much emphasis was put on the torture scenes because they make for such riveting watching.

A whole list of notables are coming out against the exaggeration of the role that torture played including a letter to the Director from Senators Carl Levin, Dianne Feinstein and John McCain.

I am looking forward to seeing the movie.

[Grindelwald]

Personally I look foward to 'Game Change' in January

[zenwalk]

Some are more accurate than others. I worked on one where they went to great pains to get the history right.

Good point. Quite a bit more is known about Gettysburg or Lincoln for instance. There's a historic obligation to get it right because of the millions of armchair historians out there with a major crush on the Civil War. But a "let's kill an Arab" movie (which this sounds like it is) more closely resembles a Sylvester Stallone movie. The success of a blow them up movie is always guided by the expectations on the part of the 18-28 year old male since they are the ones that will buy the ticket.

[Diego]

Next thing you know, someone will be telling me that "Tombstone" wasn't 100% accurate

How disappointing!

[pepper]

The CIA is joining the Senate in making clear that the dramatizations of torture and other aspects of 'Zero Dark Thirty' are mostly Hollywood, not reality:



I haven't seen the movie so I won't criticize it.

if the films makers were selling this as a detailed acurate depiction or as historical documentary, this rebuke by the government wouldn't look so silly. but as your link explains, they acknowledge taking dramatic license. If thats for a political reason or just entertainment's sake, it's basically just a movie.

Just about every movie based on historical events had messed with the facts and details.

[flyboy56]

if the films makers were selling this as a detailed acurate depiction or as historical documentary, this rebuke by the government wouldn't look so silly. but as your link explains, they acknowledge taking dramatic license. If thats for a political reason or just entertainment's sake, it's basically just a movie.

Just about every movie based on historical events had messed with the facts and details.

Where did the producer(s) get so much information that is by many considered classified?

[Omaha Beach]

I have heard that overall it is an excellent movie that pretty much sticks to the story line but that way to much emphasis was put on the torture scenes because they make for such riveting watching.

A whole list of notables are coming out against the exaggeration of the role that torture played including a letter to the Director from Senators Carl Levin, Dianne Feinstein and John McCain.

I am looking forward to seeing the movie.

Levin and Feinstein and McCain would better serve the country trying to get it out of the fiscal mess ALL of them created for the rest of us instead of worrying about a movie. As for torture working McCain knows, firsthand it does since he has been honest enough to admit he broke under torture.

[demopublican]

The Obama Govt is just upset that their version of the events is being challenged.

[flyboy56]

Levin and Feinstein and McCain would better serve the country trying to get it out of the fiscal mess ALL of them created for the rest of us instead of worrying about a movie. As for torture working McCain knows, firsthand it does since he has been honest enough to admit he broke under torture.

McCain has always said torture does not work and most being tortured will try to answer the way they are expected and not with the actual truth if they even know the truth.

[skeemer]

Where did the producer(s) get so much information that is by many considered classified?

Interpolation.