The Fog of War
2003 · Movie · PG-13 · 107 min · ★ 7.7 · 92% critics
Built from archival footage and an interview with Robert McNamara, this documentary traces his life from a WWII-era military role to leading a major automaker, then overseeing the Vietnam War as defense secretary under presidents Kennedy and Johnson. It examines how decisions were shaped during major conflicts.
Also known as The McNamara Project · The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara · The Fog of War: 11 Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara
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Details
- Years
- 2003
- Release date
- 2003-10-26
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Critic score
- 92/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.7/10 (298 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a reflective, history-focused documentary about decision-making in war, built from archival recordings and a long interview; Not for you if you prefer strictly balanced analysis or lighter, less intense historical documentaries like Why We Fight or Winter Soldier.
Pros: thought-provoking lessons; compelling insider view; strong historical material | Cons: viewpoint feels one-sided; controversial framing; emotionally heavy topics
Themes
- vietnam
- politics
- biography
- historical figure
- historical society
- secretary of defense
- anti war protest
- cuban missile crisis
- cabinet position
- armed forces
- spin doctor
- self immolation
- +7 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Documentary Feature Film · 2004
Cast & crew
Robert McNamara
as Self
Errol Morris
as Self (uncredited)
Fidel Castro
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Barry Goldwater
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
John F. Kennedy
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Nikita Khrushchev
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- CL
Curtis LeMay
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Richard Nixon
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Harry Reasoner
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Franklin D. Roosevelt
as Self (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Directed by Errol Morris