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Control Room
Control Room
Actors: Samir Khader, Josh Rushing, George W. Bush, Hassan Ibrahim, Deema Khatib
Director: Jehane Noujaim
Genres: Indie & Art House, Documentary, Military & War
NR     2004     1hr 24min

Control room is a rate film that is both timely and timeless: timeless because it ecplores the ancient and complex relationship between the western and Arab worlds timely because it reveals how satellite television has cha...  more »
     
     

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Movie Details

Actors: Samir Khader, Josh Rushing, George W. Bush, Hassan Ibrahim, Deema Khatib
Director: Jehane Noujaim
Creators: Jehane Noujaim, Abdallah Schleifer, Alan Oxman, Andrew P. Hurwitz, Andrew Rossi, Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt, Emily Gardiner, Hani Salama, Mette Hoffman Meyer, Julia Bacha
Genres: Indie & Art House, Documentary, Military & War
Sub-Genres: Indie & Art House, Iraq War, Politics, Military & War
Studio: Lions Gate
Format: DVD - Color,Widescreen - Subtitled
DVD Release Date: 10/26/2004
Theatrical Release Date: 01/01/2003
Release Year: 2004
Run Time: 1hr 24min
Screens: Color,Widescreen
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 2
Members Wishing: 0
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: Arabic, English
Subtitles: Arabic, English, French, Spanish

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Member Movie Reviews

Deborah D. (pmdeborah) from YORK, PA
Reviewed on 7/23/2010...
This documentary gave me a true look at the war and not one made up by the so called liberal media in America.
0 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Movie Reviews

Fair and balanced news? Isn't that what they all say?
Linda Linguvic | New York City | 11/27/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This award winning 2003 documentary tells the story of the war in Iraq from the point of view of Al Jazeera, the television network that brings the news to 40 million people in the Arab-speaking world. Many of the challenges it faces are shared by journalists everywhere. They risk their lives to bring a story to the people. And they are all under pressure to spin the story to their employers' wishes.

The viewer meets the people who produce this news network. There's the director Samir Khader, the chain smoking and cynical head of the organization. He freely admits he'd be willing to work for Fox News if offered the job and wants to send his children to America for their educations. There's Hassan Ibrahim, a former BBC correspondent. He's a well-spoken pudgy man with a clear mind, who sees the world through a slightly different filter that I do. And a lot of what he says makes sense challenging my perceptions on a very human level. There's Deema Khatib, one of the Al Jazeera staff members, whose playful expressive large brown eyes sparkle with a great sense of humor, She's unveiled and modern and obviously well educated. Then there is Lieutenant Josh Rushing, who clearly is doing his best to explain U.S. policy. He's blue eyed and personable and very American and has a calm demeanor and a high intellect. His interchanges with Al Jazeera personnel show a depth of understanding for all sides of the question. And yet he is steadfast in his support of America.

The film begins in March 2003 as American troops invade Iraq. Al Jazeera shows pictures of the casualties. The American news media does not. Al Jazeera is fast to point out some troubling realities of American foreign policy. And, in this documentary at least, it attempts show that its news coverage is fair and balanced. But then, again, isn't that what they all say?

This film made me think.

And what made me think even more were the special features included on the DVD which show more interviews with the subjects of the film and adds a bit of humanity to them all, including the American Lieutenant who has the hard job of trying to placate all sides.

The situation in the world today is complex. I came away with more insight into its depths. There are no real answers. Only serious questions.

This is fine and troubling film that challenges all our perceptions. Highly recommended."
So much more than bargined for...
Amber N. King | Southeaset Alaska USA | 10/05/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This documentary is spell binding and without spin.... It was an instant-replay to the start of the war all over again from an unfiltered lens, most refreshing. Michael Moore had all the fireworks and media blitz but this little gem had all the details. This is truely a movie to celebrate the free speech and to gain an understanding of others. America it's time to take off the blinders and re-evaluate our country and what it means to all of us. Cheers to Jehane and her crew for making such an important piece of film."
Fair and Balanced
Robert Carlberg | Seattle | 11/04/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I used to wonder why Al Jazeera gave airtime to Osama bin Laden and terrorists threatening hostages with beheading. I thought tensions in the region would probably be considerably reduced if such hate mongers couldn't get heard.

After viewing the DVD however I have a different perspective. Al Jazeera may be one of the only "pure" news organizations on the planet. They apparently do not feel a responsibility to 'spin' the news or filter what they show in order to support any viewpoint, even if the content is disturbing. With them all information is news, regardless of viewpoint or origin. They have invited American commanders to speak on the air, as well as Iraqi defense ministers. Madmen as well as the reasonable. To them it's all news.

In so doing, they have angered both the US administration and their own Arabic audience because they refuse to bow to pressure from either side to draw conclusions or make value judgments. They simply present the available facts and let the audience make up their own minds.

Isn't it ironic that our own media doesn't have that faith in their viewers."