Video: The first successful anti-war Iraq film?
posted at 12:35 pm on April 24, 2008 by Allahpundit
Drama hasn’t worked, so they’ve got three options: (1) start making pro-war films (giggle); (2) stop making war films altogether; (3) try comedy. Lighter fare would be an improvement if only for sparing us the ordeal of watching A-list actors emote grotesquely, Olbermann style, once again over the horrors of neocon folly. This one starts off promisingly enough — the parody is b-r-o-a-d, but then so was “Dr. Strangelove” — and then appears to get bogged down in, of all things, plot. A big blank canvas on which to indict the military-industrial complex, and they turn it into a Keystone Kops assassination caper? I’ll reserve judgment until it’s released, of course, but the fact that Hilary Duff’s character is named “Yonica Babyyeah” does not inspire confidence. (Then again, neither would the name “Jack D. Ripper.”)
Here’s the article on which the film is partly based, in case its politics weren’t screamingly obvious already. Click the image to watch.
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Looks like a sequel to “Grosse Point Blank.”
Slublog on April 24, 2008 at 12:41 PM
I have grown weary of “Stars”.
ronsfi on April 24, 2008 at 12:42 PM
M.A.S.H. model of financial success?
Limerick on April 24, 2008 at 12:42 PM
It doesn’t look so bad to me. Maybe I just don’t get it.
BackseatDriver on April 24, 2008 at 12:44 PM
There’s always “Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay”… a sequel to an already mediocre film, only this time in achingly bad taste.
Lehosh on April 24, 2008 at 12:44 PM
I wonder if they realized that “Tamerlane,” the name of their farcical corporation, was actually a Muslim emperor who brutally conquered half of Asia in the name of Islam.
Jimmy the Dhimmi on April 24, 2008 at 12:46 PM
lol this is humorous
its like steve urkel and laura winslow
never gon get it!
blatantblue on April 24, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Actually, it almost looks like a prequel to “GPB.”
q2600 on April 24, 2008 at 12:47 PM
In the hands of a Kubrick, “Jack D. Ripper” enhances the surreal campiness of brilliant satire. I’m skeptical that we’ll see the same kind of subtle ingenuity from a guy who’s gifted us with Queer Eye and Confessions of a Matchmaker.
omriceren on April 24, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Um, looks like the movie is about profiteering out of war. Isn’t making money out of movie that jokes about war equally as nauseating?
terryannonline on April 24, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Cusack is a dyed in the wool moonbat, I do like some of his stuff, but in person he is a PITA, I won;t be seeing this although Duff , Joan C and Tomei are some delightful talents.
bbz123 on April 24, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Ugh, I hate my computer. Will have to check this one out later.
People Injecting Tasty Animals? :)
upinak on April 24, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Hillary Duff? Wow, they really are going after the kiddie market, aren’t they? Shrug. Yet another in the long line of Hollywood products I can’t boycott because I don’t go to any movies at all, and haven’t for a long time.
Really, every time you go to a movie you put money in the pockets of folks who agree with Michael Moore and Michelle Obama 99% of the time.
funky chicken on April 24, 2008 at 12:57 PM
That’s a good point. Looks like John Cusack is out to make anti-war cool again. I’ve always wondered why I couldn’t quite admire him. He’s always been too smart by half, for me.
silverfox on April 24, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Now, I don’t mind a war movie, case in point “Saving Private Ryan” was pretty amazing (and not too long ago). I remain skeptical that Hollywood is capable of making a good movie, much less a good war movie. Without of course, random mean-spirited insinuations about flyover country, the pointlessness of fighting terrorism, etc, etc.
And I’m sorry but any movie mocking 9/11 is TOO bloody soon. That includes Harold and Kumar and pretty much anything else they put out as “satire” lately.
mjk on April 24, 2008 at 12:58 PM
I wonder if the family of Nick Berg will find that teaser humorous? I’m guessing no.
blankminde on April 24, 2008 at 12:59 PM
mjk on April 24, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Tom Hank, who also did the “Band of Brothers” is very pro Soldier except for the Wars now.
Not many actors are worth a crap anymore, even the good ones like Hank.
upinak on April 24, 2008 at 1:03 PM
It’s amazing to think about how far the reality of our competence in Iraq is from what this film depicts. It becomes a question of relevance.
silverfox on April 24, 2008 at 1:03 PM
meets
Zaire67 on April 24, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Pass
Ciannaky on April 24, 2008 at 1:08 PM
It’s also a hacky rip-off of Heller’s Milo Minderbinder.
Cuffy Meigs on April 24, 2008 at 1:09 PM
I’m just wondering how much money the anti-war crowd has made. I’m sure everyone at MoveOn.org is doing well. I’m sure Michael Moore is doing financially well. Code Pink seems to have enough to spend their whole days holding up signs at hearings.
terryannonline on April 24, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Wait’ll they get the threats – “BEHEAD THOSE WHO INSULT THE JIHAD!”.
Wait! Why?! We hate America, too!
eeyore on April 24, 2008 at 1:15 PM
They lost me at the prosthetic leg jokes. Some sick sh*t.
dm60462 on April 24, 2008 at 1:17 PM
The pitch meeting must have been interesting
It is like, Catch-22 meets Strangelove, dude.
RobCon on April 24, 2008 at 1:17 PM
I thought it looked kind of funny.
Don’t worry, though, the nine-dollar-a-ticket local theaters will keep me away.
joewm315 on April 24, 2008 at 1:40 PM
just the title is enough for me to say no.
opusrex on April 24, 2008 at 1:46 PM
It doesn’t even look all that funny.
It’s certainly no Billy Madison.
nailinmyeye on April 24, 2008 at 1:54 PM
I actually found myself both entertaining and amused …
… until it came to that particular scene.
I give liberals credit, though – its about time they figured out this approach.
But for the love of God, don’t ask Hillary Duff to do an accent. That was cringe-worthy just in the preview. Just have her get nekkid. This is America, dammit.
Professor Blather on April 24, 2008 at 2:03 PM
You must never wonder that. Ever.
Guards! To the camps with terryann! Re-education is necessary for this one …
Professor Blather on April 24, 2008 at 2:04 PM
I saw a scene from the film the other day. It looked awful.
SpencerFan on April 24, 2008 at 2:06 PM
Why pay $10 bucks to be lied to about the war when MSNBC and CNN will lie to you for free around the clock in the comfort of your own home?
EJDolbow on April 24, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Jukin Movie Prediction Institute predicts………Another BOMB.
jukin on April 24, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Given that Harold & Kumar is opening on thusands of screens, while this one is opening on two, I’m thinking H&K has a better chance of making money.
Karl on April 24, 2008 at 2:18 PM
I’m waiting for the “Harold and Kumar Escape from the Democrat National Convention”, should be a laugh riot.
NoDonkey on April 24, 2008 at 2:36 PM
There, fixed that for ya.
Rick on April 24, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Not really – we still end up paying for those unwanted news channels, given that they come with most (if not all) standard cable and dish packages.
Rick on April 24, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Um, not even nearly.
Watchman on April 24, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Dude. What did Hillary Duff do to her face? Perhaps a high-end full remodel job? Seriously, she looks like that Cat Woman freakshow.
INFDL on April 24, 2008 at 2:58 PM
That working during Vietnam. Even with the troops.
MB4 on April 24, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Seriously? This is real?
Let’s make a movie off a Naomi Klein article published in Harpers Magazine and get John Cusack to star and set a release date for 9/11/2008 and pray the people will come see it.
This is real? This cannot be real.
gabriel sutherland on April 24, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Berg’s father holds the opinion that Zarqawi’s death was a “tragedy” and that Bush did more damage that Saddam ever did.
amerpundit on April 24, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Hey Allah, did you get my tip on this?
Baphomet on April 24, 2008 at 11:47 PM
Why am I having “Wag the Dog” flashbacks?
Theophile on April 25, 2008 at 1:17 AM
Dan Aykrod and John Cusack (his politics aside)?
I’ll admit I’ll have to take a look at it now..
Reaps on April 25, 2008 at 6:44 AM
And Ben Kingsley?
I’ll admit the trailer seemed like a drawn out 1-picture joke about Afghanistan turning into a giant McDonalds parking lot, although the last scene at the end didn’t seem too bad.
hmm.
Seems a lot of talent for what doesn’t really seem like.. a particularly good film. Judging from the trailer.
Reaps on April 25, 2008 at 6:49 AM