Saving Jessica Lynch (2003) (TV)

Director:

Peter Markle

Writer (WGA):

John Fasano (written by)

Release Date:

9 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Based on the true story of the rescue of Private Jessica Lynch, by the United States army, in Iraq.

Plot Keywords:

Iraq | Rescue | Prisoner Of War | Part Fiction | Saddam Hussein

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Nicholas Guilak	...	Mohammed Al-Rehaief
Laura Regan	...	Pfc Jessica Lynch
Brent Sexton	...	Greg Lynch Sr.
Mark Moses
Benjamin King	...	1st Sergeant Robert J. Dowdy
Crystle Lightning	...	Pfc Lori Piestewa
Susan Pari	...	Iman Al-Rehaief
Denise Lee	...	Spc Shoshana Johnson
Brent Anderson	...	Capt. Troy King
Reed Frerichs	...	Pvt. Dale Nace
Navid Negahban	...	Fedayeen Colonel
Michael Rooker	...	Colonel Curry
Cristina Campos	...	Abeer Al-Rehaief
Lina Patel	...	Dr. Hamida
Amy Jones	...	Dee Lynch

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials) | Brazil:94 min | Japan:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Italy:T

Filming Locations:

Building One, Studios at Las Colinas - 6301 North O'Connor Road, Irving, Texas, USA

Company:

Daniel L. Paulson Productions

Trivia:

In the promos for the movie that NBC would run at the bottom the screen during other shows, the title of the movie, "Saving Jessica Lynch" can be seen first in Arabic that morphs into English.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When the convoy is driving through Nasiriyah just before they are attacked, Reunion Tower (a major feature of Dallas' downtown skyline) is clearly visible in the background.

Take your pick on who are the good guys and who are the bad.

I came away from this film the same way as I do when I watch a Second World War film or documentary about the war on the Eastern front in which the Germans are fighting the Russians. The Germans were invaders and were ruthless yet the Russians were equally as bad and they were just defending their homeland against an aggressive invader so just let them all fight and kill each other (which they pretty much did). In viewing this I could not find myself cheering for the U.S. Troops or feeling sorry for them when they came under attack from the Iraqis. It makes no difference if the U.S. said that what they were doing was right and just and were there as liberators (The Germans said the same thing) . The U.S. waged an aggressive unprovoked war under what could very well be false pretenses. Additionally as the mess in Iraq continues it was hard to really enjoy the film. Have we won? Have we lost? It's way to early to say and it was way to early to make a picture about this. Much of what really happened and took place may not be known for some time and when the full story finally does come out as they all eventually do when it comes to war stories it may make this picture seem hypocritical, foolish and totally phony. If you want to see another film about a controversial U.S. war that was made while the real war was still being waged then check out John Wayne in The Green Berets.