No End In Sight is a deeply-serious documentary about the currently-unfolding Iraq War. It takes an incisive look at many of the ways the United States dropped the ball where it came to the invasion. Though the result is wrenching, it should also be mandatory viewing, the film an eye-opening look at how poor decision making led to the deadly, unfortunate and ultimately tragic situation the war has now become.

Ambassador Paul Bremer and General Jay Garner in Magnolia Pictures' No End in Sight

Writer/director/producer Charles Ferguson eschews the histrionics of filmmakers like Michael Moore in favor of a simple presenting of footage of things as they have happened and a compelling assortment of interview subjects, most of whom who were directly involved with the occupation as it went wrong. It reflects on the why, relying upon authors like Nir Rosen, James Fallows and George Packer who have written some of the best books on the war and thus bring a knowledgeable viewpoint toward what has occurred, Campbell Scott's solid narration helping to tie things together and keep the documentary from ever getting dry.

The story unfolds to a large extent in the order of how they actually happened; the decision to invade Iraq despite no demonstrable link to al-Qaeda, the early mistakes due to lack of planning for the invasion itself and in preparation in terms of how to handle the subsequent occupation, the decision not to prevent important government buildings (and museums) from not being looted and stripped to the point of essential uselessness. This not only hurt the ability to get the country up and running, it also helped start the process of turning many of those in Iraq who had originally supported the invasion now against the United States and their military forces.

[Former] Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in Magnolia Pictures' No End in Sight

Ferguson puts a lot of the blame on L. Paul Bremer, the man who took over for General Jay Garner as the head of the Organization of Recovery and Humanitarian Assistance in Iraq and made some crucially important poor decisions. The most devastating of these was to dissolve the Iraqi army, putting hundreds of thousands of unhappy citizens out of work and who also knew where weapons caches were, their subsequent anger feeding the insurgency tearing the country apart today. Ferguson incisively dissects this decision, making it clear it was a choice made by a few men who hadn’t consulted anyone (including Garner, who is a memorable presence throughout) who might have told them what a bad idea it ultimately proved to be.

If the film seems slanted, it is because there are scant few people interviewed who try to justify what happened or attempt to spin things in a positive directions. Key players like George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleeza Rice et al wouldn’t let themselves be interviewed for the film.

Still, there is little doubt today the invasion of Iraq was seriously mishandled, and the people we do meet here bring a knowing firsthand view of the mistakes made and the subsequent frustrations at missing a golden opportunity to help plant the country on a stable footing after Saddam Hussein was removed from power. No End in Sight is a wrenching, downbeat film, but it is also an important one which will ultimately cut across partisan lines and provoke much-needed discussion.

Film Rating:  êêêê  (out of 4)