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The Pentagon Papers

  • TV Movie
  • 20032003
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
James Spader in The Pentagon Papers (2003)
  • Drama
  • History
  • Thriller
Defense worker Daniel Ellsberg seeks to publish a series of classified government documents detailing the true nature of America's involvement in the Vietnam War.Defense worker Daniel Ellsberg seeks to publish a series of classified government documents detailing the true nature of America's involvement in the Vietnam War.Defense worker Daniel Ellsberg seeks to publish a series of classified government documents detailing the true nature of America's involvement in the Vietnam War.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Rod Holcomb
  • Writer
    • Jason Horwitch
  • Stars
    • James Spader
    • Claire Forlani
    • Paul Giamatti
Top credits
  • Director
    • Rod Holcomb
  • Writer
    • Jason Horwitch
  • Stars
    • James Spader
    • Claire Forlani
    • Paul Giamatti
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 17User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 win & 4 nominations total

    Photos17

    Claire Forlani in The Pentagon Papers (2003)
    Claire Forlani in The Pentagon Papers (2003)
    The Pentagon Papers (2003)
    The Pentagon Papers (2003)
    The Pentagon Papers (2003)
    The Pentagon Papers (2003)
    James Spader in The Pentagon Papers (2003)
    The Pentagon Papers (2003)
    The Pentagon Papers (2003)
    Claire Forlani in The Pentagon Papers (2003)
    The Pentagon Papers (2003)
    James Spader in The Pentagon Papers (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Spader
    James Spader
    • Daniel Ellsbergas Daniel Ellsberg
    Claire Forlani
    Claire Forlani
    • Patricia Marxas Patricia Marx
    Paul Giamatti
    Paul Giamatti
    • Anthony Russoas Anthony Russo
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Harry Rowenas Harry Rowen
    Kenneth Welsh
    Kenneth Welsh
    • John McNaughonas John McNaughon
    Maria del Mar
    Maria del Mar
    • Carol Ellsbergas Carol Ellsberg
    Sean McCann
    Sean McCann
    • John Mitchellas John Mitchell
    James Downing
    James Downing
    • H.R. Haldemanas H.R. Haldeman
    Richard Fitzpatrick
    Richard Fitzpatrick
    • John Ehrlichmanas John Ehrlichman
    Jonas Chernick
    Jonas Chernick
    • Neil Sheehanas Neil Sheehan
    Amy Price-Francis
    Amy Price-Francis
    • Jan Butleras Jan Butler
    Aaron Ashmore
    Aaron Ashmore
    • Randy Kehleras Randy Kehler
    George R. Robertson
    • Senator Fulbrightas Senator Fulbright
    • (as George Robertson)
    Robert Seeliger
    Robert Seeliger
    • FBI Agentas FBI Agent
    Roland Rothchild
    • FBI Agentas FBI Agent
    Damir Andrei
    • Leonard Boudinas Leonard Boudin
    Carl Marotte
    Carl Marotte
    • Charles Nessonas Charles Nesson
    David Fox
    David Fox
    • Judge W. Matthew Byrneas Judge W. Matthew Byrne
    • Director
      • Rod Holcomb
    • Writer
      • Jason Horwitch
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Daniel Ellsberg, a hawkish analyst for the Rand Corporation think-tank and later for the U.S. government, supports the war in Vietnam until two powerful occurrences: the experience, first-hand, of combat and political turmoil in Vietnam, and the discovery of secret Defense Department documents detailing the deliberate fabrication of reasons to initiate and expand the war. Facing a crisis of conscience, Ellsberg becomes convinced that the American people have not been told the truth about the war, its justifications, or its likely outcome. He decides to expose the secret history of the war in hopes that the American public, its eyes opened, will force the government to end the war. In order to do so, he must risk his career and his freedom, perhaps even his life. —Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
    • vietnam war
    • information leak
    • lingerie slip
    • politics
    • pentagon papers
    • 4 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • His greatest act of patriotism was an act of treason.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • History
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for some war images and brief sexuality
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Anti War website says of this tele-feature: "The movie is not based on 'Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers,' (the script was written before 'Secrets' came out), and oddly, FX never contacted Dan ['Daniel Ellesberg'] about the film or consulted him in any way. (The only contact, an impersonal one, was to send Ellsberg.Net - along with hundreds of other websites - a mass email after the film was made, asking that we place their banner ad on the site, in exchange for a link from theirs, which we did). Someone with access to the film, who thought Dan should be able to see the film that portrays him before it airs, 'leaked' an an advance copy of the film (FX never gave it to him and was dismayed he had seen it before . . .".
    • Goofs
      The exterior of a bar supposedly located in Saigon clearly displays signs written in the Thai language, and some of the signs are from contemporary times, as evidenced by product logos, rather than from 1965.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2003)

    User reviews17

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Suffers--right out of the gate--from injecting romantic interest into war crime
    Not bad. But I file this under the rubric of being yet-another face- saving exercise. It showcases all the horrors of Vietnam, and Elsberg as a kind of redemptive icon. Understand: I'm sure Elsberg had his realization and the work he did to undo the damage is... yes, even heroic. But there's something about producing a consumable media product that dances these elements about on a screen (and throws in a de rigueur love interest) for our delectation that only serves to hint at the fathomless American lostness; American perdition.

    The U.S. has yet to stand on a mountaintop and scream it: Vietnam was a war crime. The Vietnam Memorial on the mall is a monument to (more or less) unwitting dupes to planetary deadly gangster hubris. Germany has come to terms with its war crimes; when will the U.S. come to terms with its own?

    Sigh: I give it an 7 because, dammit, it's a technically fine product, and it does tell a story, and it's arguably (still) an important story. But it loses points for the same reason that a "Brave New World" "feelie" would lose points among sensible folks. I worry that this flick is yet-another makeover of the corpse of The-U.S.-in-Vietnam.
    helpful•2
    1
    • rzajac
    • Nov 15, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 9, 2003 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Pentagon Papers
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • City Entertainment
      • FX Network
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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