User reviews

Everybody knew this was a corrupt operation - I was in Baghdad in 97 and met some UN observers one told me when she went to the warehouses to check and they were empty, her bosses said to her "shut up and take your money"....there were some highly moral people hi up in the UN though like Dennis Halliday, Hans von Sponeck and Jutta Burghardt, of WFP who like the other two resigned. A very shameful time for the UN and of course the people of Iraq who still suffer to this day. This story needs to be told and the film should be pushed but it wont be...........

As a movie the piece is nothing spectacular and as such might not capture the average movie fan but for us who like a movie based on real events this is pretty good, to me a true story based movie is almost always better than the fictional one. Before you go saying "you really believe there are 100% true movies" ill stop you right there, no, i do not, but you dont have to take the movie at face value it can inspire you to do your own research about the matter if you are interested. To be frank i dont think i (or you) ever actually heard a 100% true story, human memory is not 100%, rarely anything is, this was close enough to get the point across.

This was a very big scandal, there is a reviewer here on IMDB who stated it is a fictional movie and that he/she was actually involved in Food-for-Oil which was nothing but sunshine and rainbows. I have a hard time believing that. Why did the people involved fled, why did all those companies settled and paid enormous fines, just not to go thru a hassle of proving oneself innocent? I am sure there are very fine men and women in the UN who really try to help but any and every organization is susceptible to corruption and UN is no different, where there is power there is abuse of power.

I wish there were more movies that are doing scandals of the time past so we dont forget and dont let them repeat.

The movie backstabbing for beginners is not half as bad as some reviews have it. sure it does not invent the diplomacy thriller anew, but its solid handwork, a good production and the sets were good too. i was a bit irritated by ben kingsleys constant swearing, it would not befit a real high diplomat to use such foul language in public all the time. overall is a watchable film about a young idealistic guy getting assigned to a supposed dream job. but sooner than he imagined, he is caught up in the confusion that any multi billion dollar program and high politics bring along. whom can he believe? is it possible for one man to make a difference in a fight against corruption and greed? see for yourself

The film gets a seven rating because Ben Kingsley's acting is first rate and never less than 1st rate and over all the story will hold your interest and has some twists to it, it will keep you guessing. The romantic parts of the movie feel like they were thrown in, like a focus group or a committee made the movie and the drama is suspended for those scenes. The dialogue and character development between Ben Kingsley and Theo James make the film worth watching. Pity that the entire script did not hold up as well as the better scenes. When you see of some of the uninspired fare that the streaming giants throw money at I say this is a worthy effort.

Apparently a fictionalized account of Michael Soussan's 2008 memoir of the same name. Theo James stars as Michael Sulliivan, a 24-year-old hired for a high position at the United Nations to help administer the Oil-for-Food program in Iraq after the First Gulf War. He'll be a Special Assistant to the Under-Secretary-General (Ben Kingsley).

The seemingly naive Michael will soon find himself in the midst of massive corruption, kickbacks, yes-backstabbing, and even murder, with so many billions of dollars at stake. Some of the decision making by him and others had me often shaking my head in disbelief. Moving into the ridiculous, why did Kingsley's character "Pasha" find it necessary to use the "f" word in just about every sentence?

Overall, just not enough dramatic tension here to make this a really engrossing movie. It did have its moments but I can't rate it higher than fair.

It's predictable but interesting enough to see it through. Fails to name names other than the usual sacrificial scapegoat major organisations toss out to the wolves - I.E. press and public. The U.N. is generally considered a useless talking shop, but there's literally billions of pounds sloshing around it's various departments. This film retells what is the tip of the iceberg, add in national foreign aid programmes you understand why certain leaders of poor countries end up with more income than the nations GDP. To paraphrase Churchill, capitalism is awful but it's the best we've got. I do agree with others who mentioned the pointless even annoying expletives used by the Kingsley character. Some points yes it would have been effective, but you end up thinking is he some old school mafia boss or a U.N. under secretary.

Michael Soussan's memoir of his experiences working for the UN during the Iraqi crisis has been transformed into a tightly woven screenplay by Daniel Pine and director Per Fly. The true story is at once enlightening, horrifying, and maddening - some truth about the degree of corruption on al levels of government not only in this country but also around the world.

Theo James takes on the role of Michal Soussan as he unravels the tale of the misappropriation of United Nations money in the Oil for Food program that was intended to supply food and medicine to the victims of Saddam Hussein's brutal madness in Iraq 2002 - 2003. The cast is uniformly excellent with the superb Ben Kingsley as the UN undersecretary Pasha in charge of the Oil for Food humanitarian effort to aid the desperate Iraqi citizens. He hires the somewhat naïve Michael Soussan to go to Baghdad to oversee the supposed infiltration of evil in the humanitarian program. Michael's naïveté fails to face the complex dealings of Christine Dupre (Jacqueline Bisset), the Kurdish Nashim (Belçim Bilgin), the evil Rasnetsov (Brian Markinson), and other characters portrayed by Rossif Sutherland, Rachel Wilson, Peshang Rad, among others.

The depth and extent of corruption in the manipulation of the billions of dollars sent for humanitarian aid but foiled by Hussein and the governments and big businesses of the world leading up to the attack on Iraq by President George Bush's included photomontage speech is horrifying. Yes, we all have heard and read about the extent of global corruption, but to watch it occur along with mass killings and degrading behaviors is staggeringly real and disgusting. Did the film need to be made? Yes, if we all care about somehow finding a means to end the greed and hypocrisy that still remains a global plague. Not an inspiring film, but a necessary one. And well done.

The story is based on true events that happened in 2004, and is based on the book by the same name.

The movie was tagged as a political drama/thriller. It's neither. The story doesn't meander, it stays on track. However, the track is very linear.

The movie wanders the thin line between black and white. And the colouring reflects this monochromatic sense and is one of the key beauties of this movie.

Ben Kingsley carries the movie even though Theo James is ostensibly telling the story. Pasha's character gets a huge boost from Bens crazy as "Fak" portrayal of Pasha.his chemistry with Theo is extremely good!

Theo James' voice over - Theo has a voice and delivery that makes for a soothing backdrop. However as versatile an actor as he is, he gets little opportunity to flex his acting muscles. It's a straight up character with barely any nuances or growth Jaqueline Bissett is completely wasted in her role.

The script and editing lack any tightness or tension. I really couldn't understand the unnecessary introduction of the romance subplot, especially as there's no chemistry between the two. And Theo can deliver chemistry in spades!

All in all, it's a pretty mediocre movie that had a lot of promise but doesn't deliver as much as one would want.

It may be inevitable that a true story involving serious issues will be hard pressed to be as good a "yarn" as one made just for the action and excitement. This highly worthwhile and fully attention-holding film has suffered from unfair comparison with pure entertainment films. It is well for us to be reminded from time to time, what misery and devastation venal US foreign policy has wreaked in various regions. The present asymmetrical cyber-warfare on our political institutions is largely blow-back. I hate to think that the Trump presidency may at least have prevented a repeat of this film's appalling scenario perpetrated upon Iran. By the way, be sure to notice Belçim Bilgin as the femme fatale--a Turkish actress paradoxically cast as a Kurd. Oh well.

Movie started strong with a decent narrative but as movie unfold the leading actor was hard to believe, only decent actor was Ben Kingsley but unfortunately washed down by mediocre director and amateur leading acting that wasn't believable.

This film tells the story of a young diplomat who navigates an impossible maze of lies, deceit and death threats.

The diplomat is in a huge dilemma, but he navigates the situation well and ends up way more fortunate than many others in the film. The film is a little slow, and can use tighter editing. Still, it is an interesting film to watch.

It's 2002. Michael Sullivan (Theo James) is hired for a job in the UN's Food for Oil program working under Pasha Pasaris (Ben Kingsley). There are obvious kickbacks, corruption, and deliberate diversion of aid for the Kurds. Michael points it out but Pasha tells him to spin everything for the sake of the people. Pasha's boss Christina Dupre (Jacqueline Bisset) is writing a report to the UN and distrusts him intensely. The CIA wants to recruit Michael. He comes from a family of diplomats and his father died in the Beirut bombing. In Iraq, he falls for translator Nashim Hussani.

This is trying to be Jack Ryan with a real world scandal. While I like the attempt, I would like Michael to be presented as smarter than this. He lacks enough cynical street smarts and sincere boy scout smarts. Sure, he's a reality person making reality mistakes. He needs to speak the truth inside his head even if he does make mistakes. It's fine for him to give in to the nihilism if he tells us with his inner voice. This does not have the tension to be a good fictional thriller. It does not have enough of the truth to be a historical drama. It does have just enough of both to be passable.

I am not bowled over by the movie generally; but I beg to differ with other reviewers that had a problem with Kingsley's character Pasha dropping F-bombs. This brought out something about Pasha, since he could turn on the charm to anyone he wanted to schmooze on a dime, yet out of earshot show his vindictive f-bomb dropping side. That Kingsley made that work is a credit to Kingsley's acting skills. Generally, the movie is a garden-variety diplomat/espionage flick buoyed up by the fact that it is based on a true story, and much was done to give realism to the political events it is based on.

Excellent movie, based on a true story. It's really quite an eye opener. It's right up there in the top of the must be seen movies.

Complicated but we'll directed and portrayed story about corruption in the UN. Good acting by Theo James and Ben Kingsley.

Hubby and I really enjoyed this film. Better than expected. Well worth a watch !

The problem with this movie is that it's been done countless times before and follows the same format. It's also very slow which sets boredom in very quickly

To the right people? Have you ever wondered where the money you gave to a charity actually goes? Obviously officially it always will be said that it goes to the cause one gave the money for ... but not just something like the Trump Foundation (though they've been quite blatantly) probably has done other things with the money.

In this case it is about the goverments money or program. Now of course, if you are a tax payer, it sort of is your money too. Just not in a direct way. In this case we get to see what happens behind the scenes, how political theatre has to be played, so people in need get at least some help. Enticing concept and Theo James does a decent job. Though he is outshined by the always present Sir Ben Kingsley ... well I wouldn't blame him for that.

Whatever the case, this is a decent thriller, based on actual facts (that I have not read up on) ... tension is there from beginning to end

Maybe I'm a dick but as the movie progressed Mr. Sully became obnoxious with his self-righteous attitude to the point I was hoping he would fail and all the crooks would continue to receive their kickbacks! I wanted him knocked down a peg or 2 (or 3) or at least his vehicle to hit an IED... too much to ask?! Not to mention he looks 35 and was supposed to be 24!?

The fast fact at the end of the movie tells me all I need to know... "his exposure of the scandal led to some of the most significant reforms in the history of the United Nations." Soooo... he didn't change a f'n thing! They try to make him out to be some hero and that's all they can say? Okay, cool! Way to go Mikey!

Decent movie that's worth the watch mostly because of the performance by the ever smooth, Ben Kingsley! He's excellent as usual. It's just the story, plot and other characters that are a little boring and slow. Oh well, there's my useless .02 cent review!