Cinema Society

FAIR GAME

Average
Rating

3

Monday, November 01, 2010, AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1

7:10PM: Introduction, Auditorium 4

7:15PM: Introduction, Auditorium 5

7:30PM: FAIR GAME

Auditoriums 4 & 5

Discussion will follow screening in Auditorium 4

AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

FAIR GAME

A suspense-filled glimpse into the dark corridors of political power, FAIR GAME is a riveting action-thriller based on the autobiography of real-life undercover CIA operative VALERIE PLAME (Naomi Watts), whose career was destroyed and marriage strained to its limits when her covert identity was exposed by a politically motivated press leak.

As a covert officer in the CIA’s Counter-Proliferation Division, Valerie leads an investigation into the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Valerie’s husband, diplomat JOE WILSON (Sean Penn), is drawn into the investigation to substantiate an alleged sale of enriched uranium from Niger. But when the administration ignores his findings and uses the issue to support the call to war, Joe writes a New York Times editorial outlining his conclusions and ignites a firestorm of controversy.

Directed by Doug Liman (THE BOURNE IDENTITY), FAIR GAME stars Naomi Watts and Sean Penn. A Summit Pictures release, it opens commercially in San Diego on November 5th.

Running Time: 107 Minutes

Rated PG-13 for some language

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT TAKES PLACE ON A MONDAY!

Send a Comment

4-Nov-10: jh - Rating: 3

In bringing history to life, FAIR GAME succeeded. The scenes in Kuala Lumpur, the CIA conference rooms, the Bush administration offices, the Plame/Wilson home, and Iraq rang alarmingly true. I believed in Naomi Watts's Valerie Plame. It was more difficult for me to buy Joe Wilson's credibility. The filmmakers may have depicted Joe Wilson's yellowcake story accurately, but would you buy a used car from Joe Wilson?

2-Nov-10: KD - Rating: 2

This was one of the rare times I've given a movie less than a 3. I thought Sean Penn did a fabulous job, as always, but I didn't find Naomi Watts to be believable as a CIA agent, and this annoyed me throughout the movie. I'm also not that big on political movies.

2-Nov-10: me - Rating: 3

I enjoyed the movie. It had passionate acting by Sean Penn (though I don't think he really had to 'act' much for this role).

It may have presented Val Plame-Wilson's story but I do not feel that it fairly presented historical facts.

I'm giving it a "3" not as a 'true story' but as a 'spy thriller'.

2-Nov-10: Philippe - Rating: 4

I really liked this movie, despite the very annoying hand-held shots. The story is told very nicely. Not sure why they are releasing this movie AFTER the elections...

2-Nov-10: Georgi - Rating: 3

Fair Game: just fair. The genre isn't truly my cup o' tea...That being said, the director had a responsibility to draw us in and care either about the Valerie and Joe, or the young woman doctor, or even about the CIA's compromise and dilemma in attempting to prove WMD's existance. It didn't feel as though any of these emotional connections were made. Interesting historically, and moved quickly but some of the extreme close-up shots looked like the ad for a nasal allergy spray--that is when the camera was staying steady long enough. Sean Penn can really do no wrong in my book and the overall acting was solid and sincere. But, the movie just didn't grab me.

2-Nov-10: RichG - Rating: 3

My politics were justified by this piece of propaganda. The one-sided point of view was interesting and well done. Sean Penn captured Joe Wilson. Right down to the belly. We'll never know if the REAL couple had any chemisttry. None existed between the two stars. Like two ships passing in the night. The director needs to put down the hand-held camera and step back from the close-ups.