Big Screen Blurb: Fair Game

All is fair in love and war...and apparently all is fair in politics as it relates to justifying espionage intelligence...oh, who are we kidding...in politics in GENERAL! Fair Game is based on the true story of Valerie Plame, a CIA agent who was outed as such by the White House in 2003. A discretion which was an apparent attempt at discrediting her husband, Joe Wilson, who had written an article critical of the intelligence used to justify the war on Iraq.

Fair Game can sit keenly next to Green Zone in the "What the hell happened in Iraq?"-genre. Fair Game's focus is a little less violent, but just as intriguing. Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts) is your run-of-the-mill CIA agent, who is a gatherer of top secret intelligence. She's covering, of course as a civvie.That is, until she's outed as a CIA agent in one swift stroke of the pen. Why? Good question. Months before Plame was pulled from the CIA closet, Joe Wilson (Sean Penn) had used his Nigerian diplomatic ties at the request of the CIA. This was done to learn more about some purchases by Iraq that were suspected of playing a role in the creation of nuclear weapons. His search essentially came back empty. After the U.S. engaged Iraq in war, Wilson sees a news report about the information used to justify suspicions regarding the existence of WMD in Iraq. He learns that his discovery had been used to help justify that war--a finding that was grossly misrepresented. Wilson then proceeds to use his own Weapon of Mass Destruction--in this case, his computer--to write about the wrong. His goal was seemingly to inform the American people that the information being pushed on them was inaccurate. The White House didn't take kindly to this and bada-bing-bada-bang, the next thing you know Plame's true identity is revealed. Cover lost. Job lost. Life turned upside down and yadayadayada the indiscretions of the Bush Administration roll on.

It's an interesting story and rates 3.5 Stars in my book. It's fast paced, well-acted, and pretty disturbingly real. Aside from the sad statement this story screams about ole George's reign, Fair Game effectively showcases the personal side of this tale. The focal point being the marital and relationship woes brought on by this series of unfortunate events. We see the couple struggle separately and together in trying to work through a very intensely public ordeal.

What we probably needed to see more of, however, was the couple's relationship when things were normal (well, normal for them). You had a sense in the early stages of the movie that they had a good relationship, but as the movie rolls on, you wonder how strong those ties really were from the start. In other words, were they really a couple who had fallen and stayed in love. Was there love so strong that it could survive such a public scrutiny. Apparently, it was supposed to be, but I just really didn't see it. In Plame, you don't really see a 'family-first' devoted mom. How could she be? In Wilson, you certainly see a patient husband and loving dad. Put together, however, I never really witnessed a sizzling chemistry on-screen. I think it was supposed to be there; it just wasn't effectively showcased.

Bottom line: if your intrigued by the stories of the fumblings of the Bush Administration, rent Fair Game, it's estimated to be out on DVD/Blu-Ray in April. Or, if you have some pent-up, remnant steam to blow off about ole George's crew, go see it big.

Well, tonight is my big Christmas Party so I need to put the finishing touches on the house for the event. Best to all...
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