Control Room (2004)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Jehane Noujaim

Writers:

Julia Bacha (writer)
Jehane Noujaim (writer)

Release Date:

18 June 2004 (Denmark)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

Different channels. Different truths.

Plot:

A documentary on perception of the United States's war with Iraq, with an emphasis on Al Jazeera's coverage.

Plot Keywords:

Iraq | News | Middle East | Translator | News Reporter

Awards:

7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Samir Khader	...	Himself
Josh Rushing	...	Himself (as Lt. Josh Rushing)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George W. Bush	...	Himself (archive footage)
Hassan Ibrahim	...	Himself
Deema Khatib	...	Herself
Tom Mintier	...	Himself
Donald Rumsfeld	...	Himself (archive footage)
David Shuster	...	Himself

Directed by
Jehane Noujaim

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Julia Bacha		writer
Jehane Noujaim		writer

Produced by
Nick Fraser	....	executive producer
Emily Gardiner	....	associate producer
Mette Hoffman Meyer	....	executive producer
Andrew P. Hurwitz	....	executive producer
Jehane Noujaim	....	executive producer
Alan Oxman	....	co-producer
Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt	....	co-producer
Andrew Rossi	....	associate producer
Hani Salama	....	producer
Abdallah Schleifer	....	executive producer
Rosadel Varela	....	executive producer
Rosadel Varela	....	producer

Original Music by
Thomas DeRenzo
Hani Salama

Cinematography by
Jehane Noujaim

Film Editing by
Julia Bacha
Lilah Bankier
Charles Marquardt
Alan Oxman

Sound Department
Patrick Donahue	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Pat Donahue)
Matthew Haasch	....	sound editor

Visual Effects by
Mitch Paulson	....	digital preview colorist

Camera and Electrical Department
James Longley	....	additional camera operator

Editorial Department
Will Cox	....	colorist
Will Cox	....	on-line editor
Rebecca Haimowitz	....	post-production associate
Paul Kondo	....	assistant editor
Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt	....	additional editor
Gabriel Rhodes	....	additional editor
Andrew Rossi	....	additional editor

Music Department
Thomas DeRenzo	....	orchestrator
Mona El Daief	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Winston Emano	....	publicist
David Magdael	....	publicist
Louis Spiegler	....	executive consultant
Steven Wallace	....	publicist

Thanks
Roberto Busó-García	....	thanks (as Roberto Buso)
Cathy Riva	....	special thanks
Nelson Walker III	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Noujaim Films

Distributors

• Madman Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Magnolia Pictures (USA)

Other Companies

• Postworks New York  post-production sound services

Runtime:

USA:84 min | Turkey:57 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

Arabic | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:M | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M

Company:

Noujaim Films

Quotes:

Rumsfeld: Truth ultimately finds its way to people's eyes and ears and hearts.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2004-06-12)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Hope

Should be REQUIRED for some viewing

I'll be the first to admit that this film is good but not great. All politics aside, I was just left hanging in the balance wanting MORE. Though I can appreciate their limited access to outside footage and English-speaking counterparts, certain scenes tended to drag on a bit and left me wondering what could have been.

That said, per my subject heading, I feel that this should be REQUIRED viewing for any concerned citizen grappling with the media coverage and news-spin of this and all other wars. Much like BRAVO's "Anatomy Of A Scene", the unfolding of the 'end of the war' and the subsequent toppling of Saddam's statue in the square both serve as serious examples of Al Jazeera news coverage vs. 'The Big Boys'. It's just completely different when seen through the intelligent, capable eyes of the Al-Jazeera staff than what we're spoon-fed by Fox, et. al. Check it out...... Really.....