The complexities, secrecy and the truth surrounding the reasons for entering the Iraq War are explored in Paul Greengrass' new film, "The Green Zone".

     Director Greengrass re-teams with Matt Damon, after working together on two of the action-packed "Bourne" films... for this cinematic exercise in uncovering the shady truth behind a controversial subject. 

     The film is set in Iraq in 2003, where Damon plays Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller and the men under his command are seeking to find secret caches of WMD's in Iraq.

    MIller is forced to put himself and his men at considerable risk seeking these weapons... however, after his third hazardous mission turns up empty, he begins to have doubts if any WMD's even exist.  Soon, Miller begins to question the veracity of the intel he's getting form his superiors... and it's not long before he's openly questioning them on the issue as well, leading to some tense confrontations.

    Soon, Miller's openly stated doubts about the existence of any WMD's in Iraq gets the attention of both friends and foes.   Pentagon official in Iraq, Clark Poundstone ( Greg Kinnear ) is convinced, at least outwardly, that WMD's exist in Iraq and insists the mission to find them is justified. 

   However, CIA operative, Martin Brown ( Brendan Gleeson ) is less convinced and believes that something is just not right about the whole WMD affair.  Brown has had doubts about the existence of WMD's at all in Iraq... and is pleased to find an ally supporting his opinion in Miller, who has been on the ground to actually visit the alleged WMD sites... rather than the cloistered bureaucrats safely hidden behind the walls of Baghdad's "Green Zone", a heavily militarized area that's the only safe but isolated haven amid the chaos surrounding it.

   Add to this mix, a Wall Street Journal reporter played by Amy Ryan, who has an information source in Poundstone... but, she suspects he's holding out on information to her.  Soon, Miller and Brown join forces to find Iraqi General Al Rawi ( Yigal Naor ) an Iraqi official who apparently knows the truth behind the existence... or not, of the WMDs and could expose the truth behind America's invasion of Iraq.

    However, it's implied in the film that Poundstone doesn't want the truth exposed... and dispatches shady American military units and men to block and confiscate every apparent lead that Damon's Miller character tries to follow that will lead him to the General. 

    It's at this point, "Green Zone" becomes a cat and mouse game of seeing who can get to the General first... Miller or Poundstone's men who seem intent to silence whatever truth the General could expose about the WMD's and, perhaps, the entire reason for the war.

    This search soon develops into a series of hi-energy, frenetically staged and explosive firefights, chases and intrigue as the two factions literally battle it out to capture the General.  Miller and the CIA are trying to find him to expose the truth.  Poundstone, on the other hand, seems bent on finding the General to silence him permanently to ensure the public message that the invasion and war was to secure WMDs.

    "Green Zone" makes no pretense at taking a middle ground in the still murky truth behind the invasion of Iraq.  To be sure, history has proven no WMDs were found in Iraq - the stated reason by the Bush Administration for invasion and war. 

    However, "Green Zone" firmly and unapologetically stakes out the position that government forces were at work overtly and covertly to hide the truth... and indeed, a government conspiracy to silence by murder those who could expose the alleged truth of a coverup.  Obviously, such an account will resonate or fall flat with audiences... depending on their political views in the country's current deeply polarized state.

    Some will see "Green Zone" as a brilliant exposition of the truth regarding the invasion of Iraq as they see it.  Others will see the film as left-wing propaganda.   It's difficult to say which truth is indeed, THE truth regarding a cover-up of facts. 

    The success or failure of "Green Zone" will depend upon word of mouth and the audience's political leanings despite the film's obvious attempt to be an action-thriller that appeals to all.  It's plot and message simply cannot and does not appeal to a mass audience in this current climate.  In that regard, "Green Zone" comes across as somewhat of a vanity project... rather than a mainstream film that appeals to all... or simply poses legitimate questions that leads the audience to ponder the real truth for themselves.

    However, beyond the film's political pros or cons... it has some flaws cinematically and in the screenplay by Brian Helgeland.   Despite a fine performance as Damon, in respectfully what amounts to Jason Bourne in army fatigues... it strains credibility that he, seemingly, is the only officer in Iraq who has doubts about WMDs and is willing to "go rogue" against his superiors with his men to uncover the truth. 

    After all, despite whatever doubts Miller may have about his mission... it's doubtful he would risk career and court-martial for he and his men, by going on his own unsanctioned mission for the CIA.

    Additionally, if the stakes are so high that the Pentagon underling, Poundstone is willing to use covert operatives who appear and disappear with ease to kill the General with all the information... one is left to simply ponder why Poundstone doesn't have these covert operatives eliminate Miller as well. 

    He's an easy open target... and it wouldn't be the first time a soldier has been fragged on purpose in a dangerous, chaotic war zone... or simply killed by "friendly fire" or any number of Iraqi snipers that are established early in the film. 

   Eliminate the suspicious Miller... and you eliminate the problem of exposure.

    Greenglass has often done fine work on other films, from the Bourne installment he directed to "United 93".  However, in "Green Zone", his frenetic shaky-cam effect for action realism seems overdone and frequently gratuitous.  Granted, "Green Zone" is a action film cocooning a controversial point of view... but, the action is filmed in such a frenzy that it can literally makes audience viewers nauseous with the camerawork... in the same way the science-fiction monster film, "Cloverfield" affected audiences.

    I love action sequences... but in "Green Zone", I felt myself too often distracted by trying to hold down my dinner... and increasingly less focused on the plot.  It became a cinematic roller coaster ride that I wanted to end 30 minutes early.

    Lastly, "Green Zone's" final act resolution involving the aforementioned newspaper journalist played by Ryan is too tidy.  It's also, for me... all too reminiscent of the expose-themed endings of several other films wide ranging in scope from Robert Redford's "Three Days of the Condor".... to amazingly, the final scene of the comic book film, "Watchmen".  

    If only whistle-blowing the truth in the real world were that simple and easily swallowed.

   At least Washington Post Editor, Ben Bradlee in "All The President's Men" had Woodward and Bernstein - who were truly seasoned reporters - check and re-check their facts, with confirmation before printing the truth.  "Green Zone" would have us believe an anonymous soldier in the field can bring the world-wide press to take his anonymous word at face value.  

    Certainly, the real chain of events leading to journalistic questioning of the existence of WMDs was far more complex and involved than this.  However, "Green Zone" simplifies this complexity into the act of one man taking on the system... indeed, the government... and bringing it down with one well placed e-mail sent to a lot of reporters who apparently - in this film - aren't as smart as Damon's conscientious grunt on the ground.

     Finally, from a bottom line point of view, "Green Zone" cannot help but suffer with audiences by the inevitable comparison to Kathryn Bigelow's Oscar winning, "The Hurt Locker" ... which will only gain a higher profile with audiences on DVD and elsewhere as a  result of it's well deserved kudos.

   "Green Zone" is simply an adequate diversion for those who are Matt Damon fans.  If you're looking for affirmation of your poltical belief system against the Bush administration, you'll love this film, cinematic flaws and all. 

   Others, again - on the opposing point of view will leave the theater in disgust annoyed by what they'll perceive as so-called "liberal Hollywood" propaganda.

... me ?    I just needed a good dose of Dramamine to settle my queasy stomach.

For video reviews from film critic, Tim Estiloz ... and much more from the BLTV staff - visit Boston Latino TV : http://bostonlatino.tv/  and more written film reviews at : http://www.examiner.com/x-23026-Boston-Movie-Examiner and  - Visit Tim's website at : http://www.timestiloz.com/Site/Home.html  - Tim is a member of the Broadcast FIlm Critics' Association.