Live From Baghdad
The Gulf War, 1991. No story was worth risking your life for...except the story of a lifetime.
In 1990, CNN was a 24-hour news network in search of a 24-hour story. They were about to find it in Baghdad.
Veteran CNN producer Robert Wiener and his longtime producing partner Ingrid Formanek find themselves in Iraq on the eve of war. Up against the big three networks, Weiner and his team are rebels with a cause, willing to take risks to get the biggest stories and - unlike their rivals - take them live at a moment's notice.
As Baghdad becomes an inevitable US target, one by one the networks pull out of the city until only the crew from CNN remains. with a full-scale war soon to be launched all around them, and CNN ready to broadcast whatever happens 24 hours a day, Wiener and Formanek are about to risk their lives for the story of a lifetime.
Member Reviews
Seems like ages ago... - crazyboutmovies
It was interesting to watch a movie about the FIRST Gulf War - the one that actually had a legitimate cause.
HBO is turning out films that match the quality of the major movie studios. Michael Keaton and Helena Bonham Carter lead the talented ensemble cast that give us a good taste of the lives of reporters working under highly dangerous conditions. Perhaps they do it for their own egos - to get the story nobody else could get, but we are the ones who benefit from their often heroic efforts to bring the news that otherwise would be obfuscated or hidden by governments.
It was so wonderful to see David Suchet playing the role of the Iraqi Minister of Information. He is a very talented and versatile actor who can play anything from Poirot to the terrorist in "Executive Decision."Liked It More Than I Thought I Would! - E
A much better film than anticipated. Very interesting, particularly because I can recall being a university student, glued to the TV set with my room-mates in 1991, watching all the "light" (gunfire). CNN was portrayed as the "poorer paid vultures" based in Iraq. Fascinating how wartime journalists do need to be adrenaline junkies in order to do their jobs. A good movie to rent.Great movie! - heatherc
It felt like being in a time warp - watching a movie about the '91 Gulf War. But Michael Keaton and Helena Bonham Carter pull it off, and the result is an enjoyable movie. The story is great, and it's interesting to see how the coverage of the war led to the growth of CNN. Of course, the movie does tend to paint CNN in a particularly good fashion, but it's not too blatant, and it doesn't detract from the movie.
I recommend this one. It was great!
Member Reviews
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Seems like ages ago... - crazyboutmovies
It was interesting to watch a movie about the FIRST Gulf War - the one that actually had a legitimate cause.
HBO is turning out films that match the quality of the major movie studios. Michael Keaton and Helena Bonham Carter lead the talented ensemble ...Liked It More Than I Thought I Would! - E
A much better film than anticipated. Very interesting, particularly because I can recall being a university student, glued to the TV set with my room-mates in 1991, watching all the "light" (gunfire). CNN was portrayed as the "poorer paid vultures" based in ...Great movie! - heatherc
It felt like being in a time warp - watching a movie about the '91 Gulf War. But Michael Keaton and Helena Bonham Carter pull it off, and the result is an enjoyable movie. The story is great, and it's interesting to see how the coverage of the war led to the ...