SummaryDuring the Vietnam War, an unassuming man named Daniel Ellsberg made a judgment call that would ignite a political controversy. He leaked top secret documents known as "The Pentagon Papers" in hopes of exposing the American public to the truth about the war.
Directed By:Judith Ehrlich, Rick Goldsmith
Written By:Lawrence Lerew, Rick Goldsmith, Judith Ehrlich, Michael Chandler
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Metascore
Generally Favorable
75
User score
Generally Favorable
7.6
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
75
94% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
6% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
An exciting cloak-and-dagger thriller.
88
Manages to be both engrossing history and astonishingly germane to present-day political debates.
80
The gripping story of how hawk-turned-dove Ellsberg's explosive actions circuitously led to the impeachment of Richard Nixon and, in turn, an end to the Vietnam War is comprehensively detailed in Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith's evocative documentary.
75
Those who lived through the Vietnam War era, and paid attention, will find this documentary short on revelation but long on poignant reminders.
70
On the spectrum from heroic patriot to craven traitor, this detailed, clearly told and persuasive film, directed by Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, is firmly on the side of heroic.
70
Crams a wealth of material into 90 minutes without losing clarity or momentum.
60
His “treason” gave credence to ending the war, helped push a corrupt administration toward its ruin and underlined the importance of the First Amendment. Rickety doc or not, Ellsberg deserves every ounce of hero worship he gets here.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.6
89% Positive
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
11% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Dec 4, 2010
8
The title is not as clear as it may sound. The Most Dangerous Man In America... is about the war of Vietnam and how Daniel Ellsberg gave the public a whole new view of the war. The documentary gathered lots of facts that had been buried for years and delivered the facts quite elegantly. Daniel Ellsberg appeared in the film telling his own story. From when he leaked the top secret documents to the time when he made President Nixon resigned. The Most Dangerous Man In America: Daniel Ellsberg and The Pentagon Papers is an elegant documentary with a great storytelling of what exactly happened during the Vietnam War.
Production Company:
- Kovno Communications
- Never Tire Productions
Release Date:Sep 16, 2009
Duration:1 h 32 m
Website:
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
National Board of Review, USA
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
