Hollywood on the Potomac: Wars and Hoaxes

Films on recent conflicts draw critical attention and two wily rogues hoodwink the media while tweaking Sarah Palin.

By Janet Donovan

Woody Harrelson and Jonathan Capehert. Photo by Tony Powell

DANGEROUS MAN VS THE MESSENGER

It was a Sophie’s Choice moment at the finale of the Impact Film Festival, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit event created as a platform for documentary and narrative filmmaking.

Having to choose between simultaneous screenings of The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers and The Messenger starring Woody Harrelson was a challenging call. The Messenger won.