Fair Game

When the United States was looking for retribution for the events of 11 September 2001 one of it's targets was Iraq and that country's alleged weapons of mass destruction. That was the rationale for an act of 'shock and awe' upon that country and a subsequent international involvement that continues to this day nearly a decade later with Australia a participant.
Those weapons were never discovered and it wasn't long before the truthfulness of the information that was relied upon for the international action was called into question. One of the earliest doubters was former US Ambassador Joe Wilson whose covert CIA operative wife, Valerie Plame, was illegally outed in a successful attempt to discredit their views and undermine opposition to the US Government's actions.

These real events are the subject of 'Fair Game' which focuses on Plame (Naomi Watts). Wilson is portrayed by Sean Penn.

The trailers for this film suggest it is a bit of a chase movie but they are quite misleading. This film is an intelligent and absorbing political thriller and a rather chilling representation of the use and abuse of power.

Watts and Penn are as reliable as ever at the head of a large and impressive cast which has no weaknesses. The final seque from Watts to the real Plame speaking at Congressional Hearings is a striking conclusion to an excellent film.