Fair Game
User Score
7.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 60 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 60
  3. Negative: 5 out of 60

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  1. Brooklyn
    Dec 9, 2010
    10
    Most know the story, or should, but it needed to be re-told. Can't remember the last time I left a theater more moved by a film, although in this case I was shaking in anger. It's a wonder that such a corrupt administration was elected . . . twice, but I guess people who can deny global warning, who imagine that tax cuts are constant with controlling budget deficits and that breaks for the wealthiest 1% somehow help the economy can similarly rationalize the outing of a true patriot who dedicated her life to serve her country in dangerous and important work.… Expand
  2. 10sne1
    Jun 9, 2011
    10
    This is a geopolitical thriller. It would be widely entertaining were it not for the fact that it is based on real events in very recent global history in which a corrupt White House coddled officials who were guilty of treason in outing a CIA official, leaving valuable American assets around the world twisting in the wind, and then getting the media to Blame the Victim by painting Plame as a low-level insignificant paper pusher and not the high-level agent she actually was. Yes, of course that's a biased statement. But no one comes to this film unbiased. Ideologies dictate how one will respond to this powerful denoument of sleaze and connivance at the highest levels of power. If you like Bush-Cheaney you hate this vile besmirching of their unimpeachable character. Of course you do. I fear the degree to which voting Americans are handing over their birthright to the loudest shouter or the richest contributor. As a line in the film reminds us, Benjamin Franklin replied to a woman that "I have given you a republic, madam. Now it's your job to keep it." We are in danger of losing it. And oh, by the way, Naomi Watts embodies Valerie Plame so convincingly that you have to blink twice at the end to realize you're watching Plame testifying before the congressional committee, not Watts playing Plame.… Expand
  3. gpauwen
    Aug 21, 2011
    10
    I really liked this movie. Great story, great acting, a very wise lesson, and a simple one: don't give up ! Sean Penn is pretty much awesome in every movie he is in, Naomi Watts was great, too !
  4. movieboy
    Jan 29, 2011
    9
    It would seem that one's response to this excellent film is colored by political affiliation. I thought it was a superbly made political drama that highlighted one aspect of the Bush/Cheney administrations b.s. that got us into Iraq. As to one user's reviewer complaining "this is fiction, not factual," based on Judith Miller's article in the Wall Street Journal, big deal. 1. she's bummed because she's not featured in the film, and 2. it's the right wing Journal, what do you expect. So some of the "facts" were altered, oh wow. That does not in anyway dismiss the primary issue that the Niger/Iraq uranium claim was not true, and Plame was outed because her husband tried to show Bush lied. Both Watts and Sean Penn are terrific in the film. One of the best of 2010. Essential viewing.… Expand
  5. emkadv
    Dec 9, 2010
    9
    Unless you still believe that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (something even G. W. Bush admits turned out to be untrue), you should like this movie. It is a fascinating portrayal of the difficulties of fighting a bureaucracy when all you have on your side are the facts.
  6. asthobaskoro
    Mar 3, 2011
    8
    Smart and with integrity, blend fact-based biopic, documentary (with some actual footage), drama and politic. Sean Penn and Naomi Watts are good pairing, it will thrill you out!
  7. Shiira
    Dec 3, 2010
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The American public is fair game for ridicule when it comes to the subject of how a good majority of us reacted towards the events leading up to our country's invasion of Iraq. Either we were asleep or misinformed, and Joe Wilson(Sean Penn), the husband of outed spy Valerie Plame who wrote an op-ed piece entitled "What I Didn't Find in Africa" shortly after the "shock and awe" of 2003, is employed by the filmmaker to make us feel stupid about our collective apathy and naivety. Watching the Penn-like Joe in "Fair Game"(after all, the Hollywood actor is also a committed political activist) is akin to being stuck in the company of the smartest man in the room. Make no mistake about it, Joe Wilson has an air of smugness about him, an honest-to-goodness blowhard, but when you consider the lives lost among our military personnel and the collateral damage they caused on the other side of the Atlantic, we probably do deserve a little cigar smoke blown in our faces, and be taken to task. When Joe calls his wife's friend's husband a "racist p*ssy", it's an indictment on many Americans who would have agreed with that man's expressed leeriness toward the prospects of being on a plane with an Arab, only to years after 9/11. For all intents and purposes, Joe just called us a bunch of racist p*ssies, especially if you share such a xenophobic viewpoint to this very day. At that pub, at the outset of "Fair Game", there's a brief shot of Joe glancing up at the television just before he returns to the small party of couples gathered at his table. It's a tight shot: just him, the bartender, and a seated customer nursing his beer at the bar, so it would be pure speculation to say that nobody else in that drinking institution shares his interest in current events. As it turns out, he probably was the only one. Later in the film, Joe stares up at the television again, but this time, the filmmaker goes wide, and reveals in that airport departure area, a microcosm of people's indifference toward all things political, as the true patriot finds himself surrounded by sleepers while our former president delivers "the sixteen words that led us to war" during his State of the Union address. Joe alone, seemingly, knew about the abuses of power carried out by the Bush administration, and granted, it took courage to write that piece on his visit to Niger(which contradicted Bush on the subject of those aluminum tubes which were purported to hold Sadaam's uranium), but he's no ordinary Joe, an arch-liberal who knew that Sadaam Hussein posed no imminent threat to the United States(another gathering, another wife's friend's husband gets blasted for being an ignoramus), so to some extent, Valerie Plame's husband must have known about the media firestorm he was concocting by defying the leader of the free world. Writing the letter to the New York Times was his opportunity to step out from under his wife's considerable shadow. "Fair Game" isn't afraid to show the real Joe Wilson, warts and all. Before Wilson becomes an envoy to Niger, he goes through an interview process conducted by some Pentagon higher-ups, and before they're seated, the somewhat emasculated man, perhaps feeling like a subordinate of his wildly intimidating wife, introduces himself as "Joe Wilson" with a slight manic edge to his voice and over-vigorous handshaking style that denotes an insecurity about being Valerie Plame's husband. Maybe, perhaps, a little hostility too, as evidenced by his use of the word "p*ssy", a derogatory term that implies the fairer gender as being the weaker sex, which certainly is not the case with this particular couple. When Valerie loses her job at the CIA, and becomes a target for spinning right-wing pundits on a daily basis, Joe finally gets to be her protector, the proverbial man of the house, as his one-man crusade against the political machinations of Scooter Libby and the other White House gorillas could be interpreted as an ego trip, albeit one SUffused with genuine love for his wife. But it counterbalances the scene where Joe is the chick, the woman who gets left behind, when he complains about Valerie's frequent disappearing acts, just before this real life Salt leaves home in the wee morning hours. "I never know where you are," says Joe. That's a chick's line.… Expand
  8. JamesL
    Nov 6, 2010
    7
    After watching the country vote back in the same bastards who sold us the Iraq war, I was enraged during the first three quarters of the film. However, it seems the movie really did not want to expose the real story in more gory detail. The film pulled its punches during that last part which left me disappointed. I also thought the ending tried to copy "All The President's Men"which was a mistake. Still, I thought Penn and Watts were convincing.… Expand
  9. CitizenCharlie
    May 5, 2011
    7
    Fair Game reminds me in 2011 that I am still upset about the events of 2003. A covert CIA operativeâ
  10. Rosco
    Sep 2, 2011
    7
    Most know the story but for those who didn't (somehow?) they are in for a very rude awakening. Focusing on the events and lies that led to the war on Iraq. CIA Operative Valerie Plame's (Naomi Watts) identity is revealed after her husband Jo Wilson (Sean Penn) reveals the truth about the "source" of supposed evidence indicating Iraq was building a WMD programme that ultimately led to the war in Iraq. Its a stunning politcal thriller. The way the film is set up in ingtriguing and keeps you full of suspense and the depiction of Plume's life before and after the scandal is portrayed remarkably well. Its a fascinating watch and a real eye-opener to the true events that actually occurred and the cover-up/conspiracy that the Government fed us. Doug Liman is great in the directing chair and once again delivers another fantastic film but the performances od Watts and Penn, who in particular was outstanding, were superb. All in all a terrific politcal thriller that will have you angered, engaged and fascinated all the while.… Expand
  11. nutterjr
    Aug 25, 2011
    6
    Two of the finest actors alive, a true story with a real political subplot would make a great film under the hands of Clooney (or others with strong political sensitivities). However Liman who mostly deals with Hollywood entertainment, misses the spot and brings a film without nerve.
  12. TVJerry
    Nov 24, 2010
    6
    You probably remember the story of exposed CIA agent Valerie Flame, but if you're like most of us, don't really know the details. This film sets up her career before the scandal, dissects how it happened and shows how it affected her marriage. This is a straightforward political drama that unfolds with lots of dialogue, strong performances (Naomi Watts, Sean Penn) and mild outrage at the political machinations. Director Doug Liman keeps the camera moving and the pace taut, but it's not really suspenseful or grippingâ… Expand
  13. Tony
    Dec 14, 2010
    6
    Fair Game tells a fascinating story and features a pair of stellar performances from Watts and Penn, but ultimately is not as successful as it could have been because of some horribly anticlimactic storytelling.
  14. jessof89
    Apr 7, 2011
    6
    I felt that the film had a lot to explain in a very little time scale, i would of felt more involved in the story if there would of been a proper explanation of what the purpose was in each of the countries instead of trying to guess what they were there for.
    I did however like that they kept to the true story of what happened to Valerie which i felt was completely apauling on the governme    nts behalf, it also showed me that the government only look out for themselves and not there people.
    I did like it i just felt the story could of been explained better to get the audience more involved.    … Expand
  15. BamaFalstaff
    May 28, 2011
    6
    Going in the film knowing that the greatness of the movie begins after the lead character, Valerie Plame, is outed as a CIA agent, one feels an excited anticipation because the movie begins with great action sequences followed by great dramatic scenes. The setup is wonderfully executed, and shows promise of a fantastic picture. However, once the movie gets to the turning point of Plame's dealing with the leak, it greatly loses its steam and momentum. By the end of the picture, the batteries are completely dead save some great moments by Sean Penn.… Expand
  16. Ricardowtt
    Dec 9, 2010
    3
    Reposting, without the score of "10".

    Potential viewers might be interested in Judith Miller's review "The Plame Affair, Hollywood Style" in the Wall Street Journal. (Don't diss it before you read it..) She is a journalist who was close to the subject, so close that she was "...the only person to have gone to jail in what became known as Plamegate." She cites multiple inaccuracies and unt    ruths. Way to go Sean Penn. Her closing line is worth noting: "Asked about the film's accuracy by the Washington Post, Mr. Wilson gave this review: 'For people who have short memories or don't read, this is the only way they will remember the period.'" To which she says "Precisely." In other words, this is fiction, not factual.… Expand
  17. noach
    Dec 6, 2010
    1
    Says more about Sean Penn and his "political commitments" than about either the original characters or Washington. Mostly filled with untruths, it's guilty of the same crime(s) it unjustly accuses others of.
  18. elandfill1
    Dec 9, 2010
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When the liberal Washington post says the film is inaccurate, that must count for something: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/03/AR2010120306298.html
    Remember this if nothing else, Richard Armitage at the State Department is the one that revealed Valerie Plame, not anyone from the white house.    … Expand
  19. no1dude
    Nov 21, 2010
    0
    I am saddened by what passes for movies these days. Completely unengaging in all aspects. Nothing but a cluster of "scenes" that are thrown together with hand held, close-up camera work, which is used by directors that don't know how to make movies. Utilizes the dreaded TV Drama "formula" most of the time. If I see one more scene that has three people walking down a hallway like they are "on a mission", spewing all important information one after the other, in place of actually developing a story and characters............... I will puke.
    This movie, like most of the crap coming out these days, is an utter mess.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Empire
    Reviewed by: Kim Newman
    Mar 5, 2011
    60
    In the filmography of liberal-skewing, Bush-era true stories, this is a measured, persuasive item.
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  2. New Orleans Times-Picayune
    Reviewed by: Mike Scott
    Nov 24, 2010
    75
    The result is a movie that is about as riveting as -- well, as your average Robert Novak column.
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  3. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Joe Williams
    Nov 19, 2010
    88
    For a nation at war with its own values, Fair Game is a compelling, pertinent and scrupulously true political thriller in the honorable tradition of "All the President's Men."
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