Shock and Awe

Name: Shock and Awe
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Thriller
Released: July 13, 2018
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 47
Cast: Al Sapienza, James Marsden, Jessica Biel, Kate Butler, Luke Tennie

2018

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

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5.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

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Shock And Awe

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Movie Details & Credits

| Release Date: July 13, 2018 | R

Starring: Al Sapienza, James Marsden, Jessica Biel, Kate Butler, Luke Tennie, Margo Moorer, Milla Jovovich, Richard Schiff, Rob Reiner, Stephanie Honore, Steve Coulter, Terence Rosemore, Teri Wyble, Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson

Summary: Shock and Awe is based on the true events of Knight Ridder journalists who were the only ones who “got it right” in the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq War when they questioned the true nature of the Bush White House’s justification for the conflict.

Director: Rob Reiner

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 90 min

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Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper

Jan 3, 2019

At times Shock and Awe is reminiscent of journalistic procedurals from “President’s Men” to “Spotlight” to “The Post,” and it gets the nitty-gritty details of an early 2000s newsroom just right. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Godfrey Cheshire

Jul 13, 2018

Shock and Awe reminds us all of this, and of the American media’s shameful complicity in fomenting an unjustified and vastly destructive war. Read full review

Ben Kenigsberg

Jul 12, 2018

At a time when the current president routinely dismisses the accuracy of reporting, Shock and Awe feels more timely than it might have. It also captures an aspect of journalism not often portrayed: the fear of being wrong when the conclusions of your reporting break from those of your competitors. Read full review

Deborah Young

Apr 26, 2018

The message tends to melt into a paint-by-numbers screenplay that pushes too many genre buttons to be thoroughly exciting. Read full review

Wendy Ide

Apr 26, 2018

Densely factual and sometimes a little unweildy, this is a film in which good intentions outweigh style and execution. Read full review

Derek Smith

Jul 9, 2018

Rob Reiner's film rests on broad, sweeping proclamations about the importance of factual reporting. Read full review

Kate Taylor

Jul 26, 2018

This sadly derivative film has one too many screenings of "All the President’s Men" written all over it. Read full review

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User Reviews

Bizzylorenzo70

Aug 19, 2018

Having followed those times very closely, it's my opinion that everything in Rob Reiner's latest film is spot-on true. There's an all-star cast here and the film moves along at a most engaging pace, with reminders to me of All the President's Men and Spotlight in its way of presentation.Having followed those times very closely, it's my opinion that everything in Rob Reiner's latest film is spot-on true. There's an all-star cast here and the film moves along at a most engaging pace, with reminders to me of All the President's Men and Spotlight in its way of presentation. Yes, it has its agenda but what's wrong with an agenda that tells the truth no matter how hard it is to swallow.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Slovenly_Muse

Aug 15, 2018

Yes, it can be clunky at times, but this film says everything about journalism (especially in wartime) that The Post miserably failed to explore. This film is not interested in political dunking on the disastrous decision to invade Iraq, rather it is concerned with illuminating theYes, it can be clunky at times, but this film says everything about journalism (especially in wartime) that The Post miserably failed to explore. This film is not interested in political dunking on the disastrous decision to invade Iraq, rather it is concerned with illuminating the importance of a free and skeptical press, and demonstrating the fatal flaws in a news media industry that is more concerned with access than accuracy. A sobering reminder that journalists (and politicians) hold countless lives in their hands, and if they are careless with the truth, the real consequences are suffered by those on the ground. This film leans left only in the sense that "Reality has a liberal bias." In fact, its decision to focus on the consequences of the invasion on the American soldiers sent into Iraq to pay the ultimate price for Cheney's dishonesty, while mostly ignoring the civilians in the Middle East who are living (and dying) in a destabilized war zone because of these lies, seems a deliberate choice to appeal to conservatives. Regardless of your political leanings, this film is powerful and honest, and more important now than ever before. Don't miss it!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

dwfubar

Aug 4, 2018

For those of us who actually paid attention to the facts and not the hysteria, it's nice to see a film honoring due diligence and multiple sourcing facts. This movie has a great cast and should be seen if not in a theater at home. Remember when those idiots started calling French fries,For those of us who actually paid attention to the facts and not the hysteria, it's nice to see a film honoring due diligence and multiple sourcing facts. This movie has a great cast and should be seen if not in a theater at home. Remember when those idiots started calling French fries, freedom fries? Well the French also had the facts right and I am sorry they didn't get a mention in this film.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

DaddyO3

Jul 16, 2018

Pathetic excuse for a movie. Don't waste your time or money on this one. .

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

EdTMueller

Jul 16, 2018

Meathead drops another bomb. You just have to watch the trailer to glimpse the poor direction, overwrought dialogue and poor acting. Avoid this turkey at all costs.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Proteus

Jul 26, 2018

Clooney and Reiner are fighting it out for who can make the worst, most out of touch, most tone deaf movie of the year. Reiner still thinks its 1995 and thinks people believe the now discredited Fake News liberal propaganda machine.

Could be a tie between George and Rob for most cluelessClooney and Reiner are fighting it out for who can make the worst, most out of touch, most tone deaf movie of the year. Reiner still thinks its 1995 and thinks people believe the now discredited Fake News liberal propaganda machine.

Could be a tie between George and Rob for most clueless Hollywood liberal.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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