Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures  |  Adult
Boston  |  Portland  |  Providence
 
Features  |  Reviews

Secrecy

A scattered yet effective documentary
By JASON O'BRYAN  |  September 16, 2008
3.0 3.0 Stars
SecrecyINSIDE.jpg

A comprehensive documentary about government secrecy is, to say the least, an ambitious project, but Harvard professors Peter Galison and Robb Moss have managed it in this occasionally scattered yet effective film. As much about the history of secrecy as the secrets themselves, Secrecy traces a line from the seedlings of the Red Scare to our own times, with interviews from both sides of the issue. We learn that the Marine-barracks bombing in Beirut could’ve been avoided but for the press; yet the press also exposed the WMD scam. Innocent men are tortured in secret prisons halfway around the world, but a person who’s been there says that sometimes these tactics are necessary. Secrecy discovers few answers, and yet this ambivalence is its strength. Although it can mistake emotion for poignancy, the film teaches us to ask the right questions, and it makes clear the consequences if we don’t. 85 minutes | Brattle Theatre

Related:
  Topics: Reviews , Peter Galison , Jason O'bryan , Harvard University ,  More more >
  • Share:
  • RSS feed Rss
  • Email this article to a friend Email
  • Print this article Print
Comments

election special
MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 



Featured Articles in Reviews:
Saturday, September 20, 2008  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2008 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group