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Control Room

Samir Khader (Actor), Josh Rushing (Actor), Jehane Noujaim (Director, Writer) Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
3.8 out of 5 stars 123 ratings
IMDb7.6/10.0
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Genre Documentary
Format Subtitled, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, DVD
Contributor Samir Khader, Deema Khatib, George W. Bush, Tom Mintier, Josh Rushing, Julia Bacha, Hassan Ibrahim, Donald Rumsfeld, Jehane Noujaim, David Shuster See more
Language English
Runtime 1 hour and 24 minutes
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Product Description

Amazon.com

Startling and powerful, Control Room is a documentary about the Arab television network Al-Jazeera's coverage of the U.S.-led Iraqi war, and conflicts that arose in managed perceptions of truth between that news media outlet and the American military. Egyptian-American filmmaker Jehane Noujaim (Startup.com) catches the frantic action at Al-Jazeera headquarters as President Bush stipulates his 48-hour, get-out-of-town warning to Saddam Hussein and sons, soon followed by the network's shocking footage of Iraqi civilians terrorized and killed by invading U.S. troops. Al-Jazeera's determination to show images and report details outside the Pentagon's carefully controlled information flow draws the wrath of American officials, who accuse it of being an al-Qaida propagandist. (The killing of an Al-Jazeera reporter in what appears to be a deliberately targeted air strike is horrifying.) Most fascinating is the way Control Room allows well-meaning, Western-educated, pro-democratic Arabs an opportunity to express views on Iraq as they see it--in an international context, and in a way most Americans never hear about. --Tom Keogh

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.78:1
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 5.25 x 0.75 inches; 3.2 ounces
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Jehane Noujaim
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, DVD
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 24 minutes
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Samir Khader, Josh Rushing, George W. Bush, Hassan Ibrahim, Deema Khatib
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, Arabic, French, Spanish
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Lions Gate
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0002X8U4I
  • Writers ‏ : ‎ Jehane Noujaim, Julia Bacha
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 123 ratings

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
123 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the documentary's unbiased information style and outstanding production values. They find it thought-provoking, with one customer noting its serious subject matter. However, customers disagree on its entertainment value, with several finding it not particularly engaging.

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16 customers mention "Documentary quality"16 positive0 negative

Customers praise the documentary's unbiased information style and in-depth interviews, with one customer noting how it provides insights into the world and media.

"...who hasn't seen this documentary in the theatres it is an EXCELLENT documentary which will give you insights into the world and media regardless of..." Read more

"...In conclusion the documentary is informative. It challenges viewers to view the 2003 Iraq invasion from the Arab perspective...." Read more

"...But in reality, Al Jazeera is about as unbiased as you can get. They report everything, I mean literally everything as it happens, uncensored and..." Read more

"...The film is an historical documentary that fills in many of the "blanks" that exist with coverage of the Iraq war from pro-American government..." Read more

7 customers mention "Production value"7 positive0 negative

Customers praise the production value of the movie, describing it as outstanding and better made.

"...The best documentary DVD I've ever seen. One of the best overall movies I've seen in the last few years, documentary or otherwise...." Read more

"This production is interesting but not because of its agenda. Its agenda is clearly pro-Arab and anti-American...." Read more

"...9/11" that dealt with the Iraq war this is much better - better made, better at giving the viewer a feel for the reality of it all, better at seeing..." Read more

"...its time covering al-Jazeera in action, I found that it was truly a fair film. What the film is 'about' is covering al-Jazeera covering the Iraq war...." Read more

6 customers mention "Thought provoking"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie thought-provoking, with one customer describing it as a serious film on a serious subject.

"...The different audio commentary tracks also promote more food for thought from the sometimes very different perspectives of the various commentators...." Read more

"Samir Khader offers a provacative and exceptionally insightful interpretation of Al Jazeera's journalist's perspective of the Iraq War...." Read more

"...But for those looking for a serious film on a serious subject, this is worth watching at least once." Read more

"Bottom line- has some nuggets of wisdom for people to ponder, but not arrayed in a logical fashion...." Read more

3 customers mention "Entertainment value"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the movie not entertaining.

"...It is not really that entertaining, and makes no pretense at giving any answers. Even the last scene ends abruptly without warning or explanation...." Read more

"A little boring at times, but very good unbiased information documentary-style...." Read more

"Good but not great documentary..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Dave
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent movie, DVD LOADED with EXTRAS!!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2004
    Verified Purchase
    For anyone who hasn't seen this documentary in the theatres it is an EXCELLENT documentary which will give you insights into the world and media regardless of what your political leanings may be. The DVD is loaded with extras.

    This movie is not a political rant and is not just an "election year" movie, not by a long shot. This documentary will hold its own decades from now. [Please see other reviews for basic concept/topic of this documentary, no point in my repeating the movie overview].

    For anyone who saw this movie in the theatre, you will want to GET THE DVD(!!) for the excellent extras and commentaries. I've seen the movie twice in theatres and purchased the DVD so I could share it with others who missed it. I was surprised to see the level of extras in the DVD, outstanding job!

    The DVD contains the movie shown in the theatre, plus has three additional commentary audio tracks: 1) normal movie audio, 2) commentary by the producer and cinematographer, 3) commentary by Marine Captain Josh Rushing (recorded after the movie was made), and 4) commentary by two Al Jazeera news producers.

    There is also a large amount of additional interviews/footage that didn't make it into the original movie. Subtitles are available in English, Arabic, French, Spanish. Wow

    One of the things I really, really liked about this documentary is that it isn't out from the get go to demonize anyone. The vast majority of the people portrayed in the film (US military press core, western news media, arab news media, etc.) come across as basically well intentioned people with very different perspectives of what is going on and what needs to be done, different cultural understandings, etc.

    The different audio commentary tracks also promote more food for thought from the sometimes very different perspectives of the various commentators. When was the last time you saw a movie with audio commentary from a U.S. Marine Captain and another audio commentary with Al Jazeera producers?

    The best documentary DVD I've ever seen. One of the best overall movies I've seen in the last few years, documentary or otherwise.

    This important movie will be viewed many times in the future, long after the war and political disputes have moved on...

    If you haven't seen the movie, you will be pleased with the DVD. If you've already seen the movie, you will be VERY pleased with the DVD.

    Outstanding job, Jehane, I'm very impressed with your work and your approach!! Thank you for making this film. -- Warren
    21 people found this helpful
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  • Language Lover
    1.0 out of 5 stars Bad propaganda.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is nothing but al jazzera propaganda. I'm wondering what terrorist organization my money went to.
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  • J. Domalski
    4.0 out of 5 stars Graduate level review
    Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The Control Room is a documentary that looks into Al-Jazeera’s coverage of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. The documentary lacks commentary and therefore does not directly criticize or justify the invasion. However, the documentary does urge its viewers to consider the invasion from the perspective of the Arab world. The central characters from Al-Jazeera are Samir Khader (senior producer), Hassan Ibrahim (journalist), Abdallah Schleifer (media analyst), and Mohammed Jasem (general manager). The film also centers on Lieutenant Josh Rushing who was Central Command’s Press Officer. The film took place at the headquarters of Al-Jazeera in Doha Qatar as well as at CENTCOM, located outside of Doha Qatar. The films timeline begins with the buildup to the invasion and ends when Baghdad was toppled.
    The documentary is important because it forces one to consider the Arab perspective of the invasion. In the very beginning of the documentary, while the U.S. prepares for the invasion, the words “the Arab world watches and waits,” are displayed on the screen. This is the cue to the viewer to switch roles in the “us versus them” mentality. The documentary shows Hassan Ibrahim, on multiple occasions, stressing and emphasizing that the U.S. needs to view the events from a typical Arab. Towards the end of the documentary, even LT Rushing sees the need that both sides need to see each other’s perspective.
    In the beginning of the film you see Ibrahim sitting in a lounge talking with some Arab men. In regards to the invasion, one Arab comments “do I have the right to kick you out of your house and move in?” After the toppling of Baghdad, Ibrahim states “that it is degrading to the Arab world to watch another Arab capital ransacked….the Arab world sees the technologically advanced Israeli Army crushing Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and they associate them with the American Army destroying Iraq.” The message is the Arabs tie the fall of Baghdad to the Israeli-Palestine conflict or as Ibrahim puts it “those two images fuse and become one.”
    Ibrahim was able to separate the administration from the rest of the American population or not associate every American as supporting the invasion. In response to the question “who is going to stop the U.S.,” Ibrahim stated that he “believes in American Democracy, and that the U.S. people are going to stop the U.S. Empire.” This sets Ibrahim apart from Samir Khader, the senior producer. In the beginning of the documentary, Khader states that “Al-Jazeera is there to educate the Arabs in democracy using openness, other opinions, no taboos, respect of the other opinion, and free debate.” Yet Khader contradicted his statement when he chastised an Al-Jazeera worker for interviewing Jeffery Steinberg from Washington D.C. who was critical of the war. Khader called Steinberg a “crazy activist and had no logic or balance, that he was hallucinating.” This contradiction seemed to suggest that Khader was biased. Rushing points out that Al-Jazeera plays to Arab nationalism. To interview someone within the U.S. who was critical of the war would have threatened the role that Khader wants Al-Jazeera to play.
    It may be easy to claim that Al-Jazeera plays to Arab nationalism. But it is also easy to see that American news networks, especially Fox, play to American patriotism. In the beginning of the documentary and at the end of the film, Khader remarks that “you cannot wage war without the media….the [U.S.] media is there to defend the values of Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Bush.” In simpler terms, Al-Jazeera believed that the administration hijacked the media. From the American perspective, Al-Jazeera was viewed as being biased especially when they would show pictures of dead Iraqi’s from U.S. bombings. The network was also criticized for showing footage of American hostages and dead U.S. soldiers. Rushing agrees that the U.S. media plays to American Patriotism and Al-Jazeera as supporting Arab nationalism, but that Al-Jazeera is a bit different as they exude anti-Americanism. The opposing views and perspectives on one-another make the viewer wonder if the news can ever be neutral. This is significant since the media can play a big role in shaping public opinion.
    One part in the film showed that tensions often existed between the media outlets and the U.S. military. The media wanted more information on military operations, and blamed the military for burying the lead. In one section of the film, the U.S. military briefly showed, at a press conference, a deck of Iraq’s Most Wanted playing cards. The media wanted to see the deck of cards, but the military never gave the press the cards to examine. From the military’s perspective, they were not burying the lead, they were trying to avoid giving the press an intelligence report. Once again, the documentary was showing both sides to the story.
    Near the end of the movie, the film devotes time to the U.S. bombing of the Al-Jazeera office in Baghdad. Al-Jazeera believed that the U.S purposefully targeted the office, especially since the U.S. knew the coordinates of the building. The U.S. stated that they targeted the building because they received reports of gunshots from the location. Khader remarks that the U.S. was sending a message, and that Al-Jazeera was powerless to do anything about the bombing. What this section of the film does, or what Khader seems to promulgate, is the victim narrative—that the Middle East is the victim of Western imperialism.
    In conclusion the documentary is informative. It challenges viewers to view the 2003 Iraq invasion from the Arab perspective. At the same time, it also urges viewers to consider if all media’s are inherently biased and that “where you stand is where you sit.” As the film progresses, it is noticeable that LT Rushing begins to view the war differently and questions his own bias. This is what happened to me when I was in Iraq. Regardless of what one may think about this documentary, it is important to remember as Hassam Ibrahim points out “The Arab world is watching.”
    One person found this helpful
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  • Gen Res
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2004
    Verified Purchase
    Wow, this was really good! Al Jazeera is said to be too pro-American by the Arab world and has too much propaganda according to Mr. Bush and Donald Rumsfield.

    But in reality, Al Jazeera is about as unbiased as you can get. They report everything, I mean literally everything as it happens, uncensored and people blame for trying to show things their way. An example is, our U.S. government thought that Al Jazeera was taking a supposedly "pro-Saddam" view by showing the dead civilians in Iraq. Then on the same note, our government got mad that Al Jazeera showed the POWs and dead American soldiers when all Al Jazeera is trying to do is show that there is a human cost to war by showing the very unfortunate deaths on both sides.

    In Control Room, American soldiers, the U.S. government, Iraqis, and people who work at Al Jazeera talk uncensored about their opinions and feelings.

    The part that I thought was the most powerful is when a Al Jazeera worker is upset about the way U.S. government is handling it's foreign policies but admires the U.S. public and our constitution - he says that he believes in our constitution and Americans have enough sense and power to do what is right and they will.

    This is a great documentary if want to see news which actually follows the saying - we report you decide.
    14 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Gustaf Claassens
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Awesome!! Everything just great; thanks a million!!
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  • Patricia M. Dryburgh
    4.0 out of 5 stars Yes, there were two sides to this story too.
    Reviewed in Canada on February 18, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Step through the mirror to see the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, through the eyes of the Iraqis.
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