Released:  Out now 

WMDs! Come out, come out wherever you are...

Title:                Green Zone (18)  

The team from two thirds of the Bourne trilogy reunite, not to make it a ‘quadrilogy’ (sic), but to try their hand at an alternative: a politically charged Iraq movie.  Based on the book ‘Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone’ the title refers to the supposed safe area of Baghdad, controlled by US forces following the invasion in 2003.  

Rather than focus on the war itself, Green Zone looks at the controversial justification that the-powers-that-be used for going into Iraq, Weapons of Mass Destruction.  (Such a well used, ominous term it’s earned its own capitals). 

“…plenty here for the hardcore action aficionados”  

So, at its core it’s a conspiracy thriller but there’s plenty here for the hardcore action aficionados, particularly those that appreciate the handheld intensity that have become the calling card for director Paul Greengrass.  

Matt Damon plays Roy Miller, a US Officer tasked with finding and reporting the presence of WMDs (such a well used, ominous term that it’s earned its own acronym), but guess what?  He comes up empty-handed.  Shocker…  Of course, that small detail shouldn’t stop a full scale invasion so they go ahead anyway.  Having morals, Miller questions the decision and as he digs deeper he must face the consequences of his actions whilst fighting for the truth to be told.  

“…surpasses even the spectacle of Black Hawk Down”  

Whilst not as visceral as the brutal hand-to-hand combat in the Bourne movies Green Zone is still incredibly action packed with an accomplished take on modern warfare and panning shots of a bombarded Baghdad that surpass even the spectacle of Black Hawk Down.  The plot moves at breakneck speed and has enough intrigue and competing agendas to draw the audience deep into the subterfuge.   

“Greengrass rolls his grenades with devastating effect”  

Green Zone has the benefit of having far more political clout than Bourne movies, as the movie makes as many assertions as its protagonist asks questions. Greengrass is no stranger to courting controversy and the release date is timely as he rolls another grenade into the whole ‘is the war in Iraq legal?’ debate, with devastating effect.    

Green Zone could quite easily be titled ‘Iraq: the re-Bourne conspiracy’ and it’s highly unlikely Greengrass/Damon fans will be disappointed.  It’s unfortunate that the film is marred by a predictable ending, but it’s forgivable when getting there is such a blast.      

Iraq: the re-Bourne conspiracy…  

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