Very relevant for the times

Rating: 8/10 (20 December 2005)

It is a very well-timed movie. Today's America has its own version of fear-mongering (terror alerts) and violation of civil liberties (official spying), and media censorship that may not be so different from the McCarthy era. Hats off to George Clooney for pointing to that without being garishly Michael Moore-ish. The choice of black and white, the stark lighting that pronounced the overall air of tension was very apt. The cigarette smokes was used to great effect. I loved the way the story was told, with every tension buildup melting into vocals. However, I found the story itself somewhat linear, and characters not deeply delved into. I would applaud the movie for its political message and the subtle way the message was conveyed, but not for its literary qualities.