The Path to 9/11

[JerryM]

Anyone watch Part 1 last night? I enjoyed it a lot. Was very well done. The production values were high--especially the scenes in Pakistan/Afghanistan and the battle sequences seemed very realistic. Must have cost plenty.

The movie apparently aroused the ire of some Clinton administration officials, who felt it blamed them unfairly. But I didn't detect that, at least not in this first part. It does portray the government as perhaps overly cautious in its pursuit of OBL. But given what they knew then, and the general political situation of the time, restraint might have been necessary, especially regarding a secret military operation on foreign soil. It does show some successes, such as the captures of Ramzi Yousef and the Nairobi embassy bomber, and how a bombing attack at the Millenium celebration was foiled. I really don't see it as a slam to the previous administration at all. Not yet anyway.

Tonight's final part should be good. Can't wait to see how the Bush administration fares. But on the whole, it's very absorbing. A definite contender for a bunch of Emmys next year.

[streckfu]

Originally Posted by JerryM

The movie apparently aroused the ire of some Clinton administration officials, who felt it blamed them unfairly. But I didn't detect that,

Because ABC relented and edited the content to remove those scenes.

[Andyman]

I watched it a bit and found it quite interesting.

What I was most pleased with is the what I believe to be accurate portrayals of what it's like in the Middle East. Those scenes in Islamabad where the informer is walking around with a cell phone among goats and chickens on the main streets really illustrates how different life is over there, and perhaps will give some insight as to why the US is viewed as it seems to be by the people that live there.

[kcollins4]

I liked it. I also thought the scenes in the middle east were well done. Will be watching part 2 tonight.

[Whitehall]

I'm not a fan of docudramas as a matter of principle but the uproar from the Democratic Party made it a must-watch for me. The Senate Demo leadership's threat to retaliate against Disney/ABC was infuriating. The ABC News post-screening Nightline was a reminder that the news organizations have a seemingly permanent liberal bias. I thought Richard Clark had been throughly debunked by now.

Overall it was very well done and even a fair presentation of the legitimate concerns against more aggressive action. Where does law enforcement have to give way to warfare? We still have not reached a consensus on that that issue yet. Part 1 does show the shortcomings and limitations of law enforcement. Even Madeleine Albright got to make some good points. It did not place Ramzi and OBL in a broader terrorism context but one can't attempt to do too much.

Harvey Keitel is, as usual, excellent. It reminds me of another cop part he did much earlier in his career called "Bad Timing: A Sexual Obsession" where he is a detective in Vienna digging into an apparent attempted suicide. Directed by Nicholas Roeg.

I will say that the production and script has a bit too much cop show mentality about it. As when the hard working cop has to buck the bureaucracy to deliver justice - like a frustrated Dirty Harry.

I'll be glued to the TV tonight for part 2.

[reggaenaut]

The Dems were correct to scream when this docudrama contained so many pivotal actions that were not real that even some on FOX NEWS cried foul.

[tentoze]

Now boys, if you want to take this political, take it down the street.

[FoolForARadio]

I think tonight they will prove that Bill Clinton IS Osama Bin Ladin. Tall. Bill Clinton - Bin Ladin. Why didn't I see it before now?

[kcollins4]

I thought I, and others could make some comments about this movie, without it getting political. I was mistaken. Entertaining MOVIE.

[Eric H]

I recall a certain Ronald Reagan biopic that got the Republicans so fired up it got pulled, what's good for the goose...

I havent watched this picture so I can't comment on it, however I do question the timing.

[RichPA]

Originally Posted by kcollins4

I thought I, and others could make some comments about this movie, without it getting political. I was mistaken.

Apparently so.