Green Zone

2010

Green Zone

Critics Consensus

Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass return to the propulsive action and visceral editing of the Bourne films -- but a cliched script and stock characters keep those methods from being as effective this time around.

54%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 184

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Movie Info

United 93 director Paul Greengrass explores the aftermath of the Iraq invasion in this feature adaptation of author Rajiv Chandrasekaran's literary exposé Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone. A onetime Baghdad bureau chief of the Washington Post, Chandrasekaran was present as American forces attempted to set up a provisional government on the grounds surrounding former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's opulent palace. The resulting governing body, according to critics, existed in a bubble so far-removed from the grim realities of the Iraq War that it failed to properly assess the needs of the people. In this fictional thriller set during the U.S.-led occupation of Baghdad, director Greengrass and screenwriter Brian Helgeland use Chandrasekaran's journalistic account as the foundation for the story of an officer who joins forces with a senior CIA officer to unearth evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller (Matt Damon) is certain that Hussein has been stockpiling WMDs in the Iraqi desert, but in their race from one empty site to the next, they soon stumble across evidence of an elaborate cover up. As a result, Miller realizes that operatives on both sides of the conflict are attempting to spin the story in their favor. Now, as Miller searches for answers made ever more elusive by covert and faulty intelligence, the truth becomes the most valuable weapon of all. Will those answers prove pivotal in clearing a rogue regime, or escalate the war in a region that grows increasingly unstable with each passing day? Amy Ryan co-stars as the New York Times foreign correspondent who travels to Iraq investigating the U.S. government's allegations about weapons of mass destruction, with Greg Kinnear appearing in the role of an additional CIA officer, and Antoni Corone essaying the role of a colonel. Brendan Gleeson rounds out the main cast for this Universal Pictures production. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Cast

Matt Damon
as Roy Miller
Greg Kinnear
as Clark Poundstone
Brendan Gleeson
as Martin Brown
Amy Ryan
as Lawrie Dayne
Jason Isaacs
as Briggs
Antoni Corone
as Colonel Lyons
Igal Naor
as Al Rawi
Said Faraj
as Seyyed Hamza
Aymen Hamdouchi
as Ayad Hamza
Nicoye Banks
as Perry
Jerry Della Salla
as Wilkins
Sean Huze
as Conway
Raad Rawi
as Ahmed Zubaidi
Bijan Daneshmand
as Zubaidi's Aide
Bryan Reents
as Poundstone's Aide
Michael O'Neill
as Colonel Bethel
Allen Vaught
as Colonel Jonathan Vaught
Paul Rieckhoff
as Gonzales
Martin McDougall
as Brown's Aide
Khalid Abdalla
as Freddy
Driss Roukhe
as Tahir al-Malik
Muayad Ali
as Qasim
Soumaya Akaaboune
as Sanaa
Faical Attougui
as Al Rawi Bodyguard
John Roberson
as Infantry Sergeant
Troy Brown
as Soldier at WMD Site
Michael T. Judge
as JMOC Tech
Paul Jones
as JMOC Soldier
Patrick St. Esprit
as Military Intel 2 Star
Tim Ahern
as General at VTC
Timothy Ahern
as General at VTC
Whitley Bruner
as Senior CIA Man at VTC
Intishal Al Timmi
as Hawkish Iraqi
Jamal Selamoui
as Hawkish Aide
Mohamed Kafi
as Iraqi Officer
Kadhum Sabur
as Mystery Man
Boubker Hilal
as Qasim's Aide
Thamou el Metouani
as Seyyed's Housekeeper
Salah Eddine Elamari
as Seyyed's Son
Naji El Jouhary
as Seyyed's Son
Aroun Benchkaroun
as Seyyed's Son
Hajar Machroune
as Seyyed's Daughter
William Oakes
as Camp Cropper Tech
Ziad Adwan
as Translator
Ian Bendel
as Camp Cropper Guard
Venie Joshua
as Camp Cropper Guard
Miguel Berroa
as Camp Cropper Guard
Peter Shayhorn
as Camp Cropper Guard
Miguel Palaugalarza
as Camp Cropper Warden
Christopher Lilly
as Camp Cropper Warden
Sabir Ed-Dayab
as Iraqi Prisoner
Omar Berdouni
as Righteous Ali
Alex Moore
as CIA Tech
Alistair Bailey
as CIA Tech
Paul Cloutier
as Special Forces Tech
Wallace Bagwell
as Alpha Leader 1
William Meredith
as CPA Presser
Tommy Campbell
as Chopper Comms Commander
James 'Kimo' Wills
as Chopper Comms Tech
Jered Bezemek
as Convoy Commander
Johnny Nilsson
as Republican Palace Reporter
Michael Dwyer
as MET D
Edouard H.R. Gluck
as MET D
Brian Siefkes
as MET D
Adam Wendling
as MET D
Abdul Henderson
as MET D
Paul Karsko
as MET D
Robert Miller
as MET D
Eugene Cherry
as MET D
Alexander Drum
as MET D
Brian Van Riper
as MET D
Matthew Knott
as MET D
Nathan Lewis
as MET D
Salman Hassan
as Zubaidi Conference Speaker #1
Ammar Khdir
as Zubaidi Conference Speaker #2
Youssif Falah-Jassem
as Zubaidi Conference Speaker #3
Latif Al Anzi
as Zubaidi Conference Speaker #4
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Critic Reviews for Green Zone

All Critics (184) | Top Critics (48)

  • I don't like polemics, not even those supporting my position. This film does not support my position...the movie contains far too little in terms of a coherent, believable plot.

    Jan 12, 2018 | Full Review…

    Ed Koch

    The Atlantic
    Top Critic

  • Green Zone is the rare miss from frequent collaborators Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass.

    May 6, 2011 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

    Laremy Legel

    Film.com
    Top Critic

  • It's one thing for the filmmakers to (sort of) fictionalize real people, but Green Zone wraps up with a wish-fulfillment fantasy that is about as believable as watching reinforcements riding in to save Custer.

    Jan 3, 2011 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

    Peter Rainer

    Christian Science Monitor
    Top Critic

  • Paul Greengrass's loud, Damon-driven documentary-style thriller confusingly weaves fact and fiction and whipsaws between various conspiracy theories, while the nonstop action mimics an Xbox splatter game.

    Mar 25, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Thelma Adams

    Us Weekly
    Top Critic

  • I can't believe people will not go to see Green Zone in their droves. I certainly hope they do, for it is a shocking, replenishing film, not to be missed.

    Mar 16, 2010 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…

    Andrew O'Hagan

    London Evening Standard
    Top Critic

  • Green Zone has technical flair, but we expect more from Greengrass.

    Mar 15, 2010 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Peter Bradshaw

    Guardian
    Top Critic
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