Skip to main content

Deep Dive: War Made Easy (2007)

Play Trailer

Film Lens

War Made Easy
War Made Easy: How Presidents & Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death is a 2007 documentary directed by Loretta Alper and Jeremy Earp, based on Norman Solomon's book. The film critiques how the American government has utilized media over the past 50 years to promote war efforts, drawing parallels between the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. Narrated by Sean Penn, the film presents a straightforward narrative that emphasizes the manipulation of public perception by political leaders and media figures. The film premiered in New York City on May 14, 2007, and had a limited release on August 24, 2007. It received mixed reviews, with an 88% positive rating from 16 critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 57 out of 100 on Metacritic. Critics noted its drab aesthetic and straightforward approach, with some praising Solomon's analysis while others criticized it for being one-sided.

Why Watch

  • •See how media shapes war narratives over decades.
  • •Find out about parallels between Vietnam and Iraq wars.
  • •Meet critical voices like Sean Penn and Norman Solomon.

Did You Know

•The film premiered on May 14, 2007, in New York City.
•It received an 88% positive rating from 16 critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
•The film has a duration of 72 minutes.
•It is narrated by actor Sean Penn.

Perfect For

Anti-war activismMedia studiesPolitical analysis