Live from Baghdad (TV 2002)

A group of CNN reporters wrestle with journalistic ethics and the life-and-death perils of reporting during the Gulf War.

Director:

Mick Jackson

Writers:

Robert Wiener (book), Robert Wiener (teleplay),

Stars:

Michael Keaton, Helena Bonham Carter, Joshua Leonard

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Keaton	...	Robert Wiener
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Ingrid Formanek
Joshua Leonard	...	Mark Biello
Lili Taylor	...	Judy Parker
David Suchet	...	Naji Al-Hadithi
Bruce McGill	...	Peter Arnett
Michael Murphy	...	Tom Johnson
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Ed Turner
Hamish Linklater	...	Richard Roth
Michael Cudlitz	...	Tom Murphy
Robert Wisdom	...	Bernard Shaw
Pamela Sinha	...	Fatima (as Pamela Sinna)
Clark Gregg	...	Eason Jordan
Matt Keeslar	...	Nic Robertson
Kurt Fuller	...	Inky

Storyline

Dramatized version of the story of CNN's Gulf War coverage featuring "The Boys from Baghdad": the battle over access, the fight to keep the technology up and running.. and the decision whether to risk their lives behind enemy lines once the bombing starts, in order to get the story of a lifetime.

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Plot Keywords:

cnn | gulf war | saddam hussein | iraq | reporter | 

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Taglines:

The Gulf War, 1991. No story is worth dying for - but this was the story of a lifetime.

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

HBO - link to trailer, chatroom, etc.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

En direct de Bagdad

Filming Locations:

USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films, Industry Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 104 min (DVD edition)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The reason CNN is approved to use the four-wire is said to be because the ministry believes them to be "fair and balanced". FOX News's motto is "fair and balanced".

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Goofs

When Robert is giving cash to the front desk clerk and the Egyptian translator in 1990, he is giving them the new U.S. notes which were not introduced until 1996.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[First lines spoken as characters in the film, preceded by title cards, archival movie dialog, and news announcements]
Robert Wiener: Baghdad is me.
Eason Jordan: You're supposed to be in Berlin.
Robert Wiener: Fuck Berlin. The wall's down. Baghdad is me, Eason.
Eason Jordan: You've never even been to Baghdad.
Robert Wiener: Close enough. Jerusalem.
Eason Jordan: I wouldn't bring up Jerusalem if I were you. It's not a point in your favor.

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Connections

Referenced in Tricks of the Trade: Making 'Matchstick Men' (2004)

User Reviews

Stunning reminder of the days when CNN was a news network

Outstanding HBO movie charting the coming of age of CNN during the opening days of the Gulf War, as producers Robert Wiener (Michael Keaton) and Ingrid Formaneck (Helena Bonham Carter) doggedly walk a tightrope between reporting the facts as they see them and keeping the Iraqi authorities from expelling them. Excellent supporting cast, in particular David Suchet as Naji Al-Hadithi, the Iraqi information minister and Bruce McGill (dodgy accent notwithstanding) as Peter Arnett. Mick Jackson's best work since A Very British Coup (1988) and hopefully the catalyst to re-energise Michael Keaton's career. In short, the finest film of it's kind since Under Fire (1983) and a wake-up call to CNN to get back to real reporting and cease its current pathetic spiral into celebrity-obsessed 24 hour chat-show oblivion.