The Unknown Known dir. Errol Morris, USA, 2014
"There are known knowns; there are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns; that is to say, there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns - these are things we do not know we don't know."
This famous statement from Donald Rumsfeld, former US Secretary of State, oft repeated throughout this film, should be Rumsfeld's epitaph and is a fitting description for this documentary. Morris' usually revealing and startling style of documentary is expertly diverted by the crafty-old-man smirk and twinkle in the eye from Rumsfeld as he deflects Morris' efforts to delve into the deeper, darker parts of recent US history. Unfortunately, we are left no nearer to an understanding of the man or his motivations, but are only given glimpses of his political and family life.
We are not allowed answers or insight into issues such as war profiteering (never mentioned), his relationship with Dick Cheyney (barely mentioned) and Halliburton (never mentioned), the US support of dictator Sadam Hussein and the supply of arms (glossed over), or his role in sending the western world to war in Afghanistan and Iraq (glossed over).
One could hear Errol Morris' frustration in his questioning of Rumsfeld, and at one point he even asks Rumsfeld - why are we here? - as the interview is so superficial and Rumseld is offering no insight whatsoever in his role in recent history. What we are offered is a portrait of a man who considers himself a wordsmith and comes across as an obsessive pedant. One can only surmise that he was seeking some sort of PR humanisation for himself, such as was achieved admirably for Robert McNamara with Morris' The Fog of War. Unfortunately for Rumseld, such an outcome is only achievable if you give something of yourself, which McNamara did in spades. Rumsfeld remains "the unknown known".
2.5 stars
"There are known knowns; there are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns; that is to say, there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns - these are things we do not know we don't know."
This famous statement from Donald Rumsfeld, former US Secretary of State, oft repeated throughout this film, should be Rumsfeld's epitaph and is a fitting description for this documentary. Morris' usually revealing and startling style of documentary is expertly diverted by the crafty-old-man smirk and twinkle in the eye from Rumsfeld as he deflects Morris' efforts to delve into the deeper, darker parts of recent US history. Unfortunately, we are left no nearer to an understanding of the man or his motivations, but are only given glimpses of his political and family life.
We are not allowed answers or insight into issues such as war profiteering (never mentioned), his relationship with Dick Cheyney (barely mentioned) and Halliburton (never mentioned), the US support of dictator Sadam Hussein and the supply of arms (glossed over), or his role in sending the western world to war in Afghanistan and Iraq (glossed over).
One could hear Errol Morris' frustration in his questioning of Rumsfeld, and at one point he even asks Rumsfeld - why are we here? - as the interview is so superficial and Rumseld is offering no insight whatsoever in his role in recent history. What we are offered is a portrait of a man who considers himself a wordsmith and comes across as an obsessive pedant. One can only surmise that he was seeking some sort of PR humanisation for himself, such as was achieved admirably for Robert McNamara with Morris' The Fog of War. Unfortunately for Rumseld, such an outcome is only achievable if you give something of yourself, which McNamara did in spades. Rumsfeld remains "the unknown known".
2.5 stars