Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Is American foreign policy dominated by the idea of military supremacy? Has the military become too important in American life? Jarecki's shrewd and intelligent polemic would seem to give an affirmative answer to each of these questions.
Jarecki's documentary presents a well-structured and damning polemic on the military-industrial complex, drawing directly on Eisenhower's farewell address as its spine. The argument is marshaled with intelligence and emotional resonance, earning a strong Plot mark. Cinematography is competent but functional documentary work — intercutting archival footage with talking-head interviews in a manner that is professional but not visually distinctive. Novelty is moderate: the subject of American militarism had been explored before, though Jarecki's framing through Eisenhower's warning gives it a sharper conceptual anchor than most agitprop docs of its era. The film ends on a reflective but not particularly surprising note, landing solidly but without a memorable final punch. Acting is not applicable in the traditional sense, but the quality of interviewees and their on-camera presence is generally strong without being exceptional.