Every so often a film comes along whose cinematic quality is less important than the statement it makes about civilisation. 'Z' is such a film.
Chilling in its execution and its denouement, the film is a powerful anti-totalitarian tract, showing the powerlessness of the forces of truth against an establishment which holds all the cards (but which nonetheless displays appalling incompetence in playing them). That the government in question is right-wing is not important - like Orwell's 1984, this film opposes totalitarianism of all kinds.
The script, direction and performances are good enough, but this is not a film you see for entertainment. It should be shown to every government official in every country in the world, to remind them of the corrupting influence of absolute power (and, incidentally, it ought to be shown to every journalist to remind them what investigative journalism is supposed to be about).
11 out of 10, were it possible.
Chilling in its execution and its denouement, the film is a powerful anti-totalitarian tract, showing the powerlessness of the forces of truth against an establishment which holds all the cards (but which nonetheless displays appalling incompetence in playing them). That the government in question is right-wing is not important - like Orwell's 1984, this film opposes totalitarianism of all kinds.
The script, direction and performances are good enough, but this is not a film you see for entertainment. It should be shown to every government official in every country in the world, to remind them of the corrupting influence of absolute power (and, incidentally, it ought to be shown to every journalist to remind them what investigative journalism is supposed to be about).
11 out of 10, were it possible.