Ordinarily I’m a fan of the “how I got that story” narrative. You know the premise: A journalist guns for a big story, usually in a war-torn setting. Truth, reputations, and lives are at stake, including that of the journalist who ends up poking around some shady business that a government (or corporation) doesn’t want the journalist poking around, or getting involved in a story the journalist wasn’t looking for. Feature films like Welcome to Sarajevo, The Year of Living Dangerously, The Killing Fields, The China Syndrome, and All the President’s Men are hallmarks of this narrative. If there has been a TV movie of similar depth and quality, I don’t recall it. However, HBO comes close to providing television with its version of the “how I got that story” narrative with Live From Baghdad.
Based on the memoir by former CNN Senior Executive Producer Robert Wiener, the new HBO film tells the story of how Wiener and his crew made journalistic history by reporting live from behind enemy lines during the Gulf War in 1991. Then a fledgling news network with shallow respect from their colleagues (“From us they get the news. From you they get access” a network correspondent tells Wiener), CNN was out to make its mark. Wiener, along with friend and colleague Ingrid Formaneck, led their crew into the Iraqi capital of Baghdad just a few months prior to the U.N.-imposed deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait (which Iraq invaded in August of 1990).
The historical moment came when CNN reporters Bernard Shaw, Peter Arnett, and John Holliman reported live from a hotel room in the midst of the bombing of Baghdad. This was the first time in broadcast history that a war was shown live and unfiltered on American television. The event propelled CNN to the top of the broadcast journalism heap and forever changed the expectations of what a 24-hour news network could provide. It also set the stage for future, you-are-there events that include everything from the O.J. Simpson Bronco chase to the aftermath of the twin towers bombing.
Michael Keaton is suitably rumpled but sharp-witted as Wiener, and Helena Bonham Carter is cool and feisty as his colleague Formaneck. However, the most demanding performances come from supporting players. David Suchet is gracious but cunning as Naji Al-Hadithi, the Iraqi minister of information with whom Wiener develops a prickly yet gentlemanly working relationship. Bruce McGill (Path to War), sporting a horrendous comb-over, is smartly bombastic as CNN reporter Peter Arnett, the war-chasing correspondent whose quick thinking allows the crew to continue live coverage of the bombing when confronted by armed Iraqi soldiers. The marvelous (but little used) Lili Taylor (Six Feet Under), Joshua Leonard (The Blair Witch Project), Paul Guilfoyle (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), and Hamish Linklater (Gideon’s Crossing) round out the strong supporting cast.
The script, by Wiener, Richard Chapman, Oscar-winner John Patrick Shanley (Moonstruck), and Timothy J. Sexton (HBO’s Boycott), is well-crafted. However, there’s a nagging sense that the nut of the story is missing. Is Live From Baghdad really supposed to exclusively celebrate how a few crazy reporters got their story, shooting CNN to prominence in the process? If so, and in light of current world events, it seems that there was a missed — or ignored — opportunity to examine this event in a larger context. That Wiener and his crew risked their lives is clear — but for what? Was that the extent of their commitment — to go where no man has gone before? As it turns out, references to their work as the journalistic equivalent to man walking on the moon are clearly stated. Still, I can’t help but suspect that something is missing.
At the end of the film, Wiener and Naji walk among the ruins of Baghdad. Wiener thanks Naji for keeping his word during their negotiations, to which Naji responds, “And you got your story.”
Somehow, I think the real story lies beneath the ruins of Baghdad.
Live From Baghdad premieres on HBO 12/7, 7pm. Other airdates are 12/10, 12/12 (on HBO2), 12/15, 12/18, 12/23, 12/27, and 12/29 (HBO2). Check listings for airtimes.
Austin Speaks Out
An encore of the public affairs special Talkin ‘Bout My Generation — Austin Speaks Out, airs today (Dec. 6) at noon and 9pm on KLRU. Led by Austin at Issue host Tom Spencer and KEYE-TV news anchors Jim Bergamo and Teresa Rodriguez, the unique town hall meeting was originally simulcast live on KLRU and KEYE-TV on Dec. 4. The special is an intergenerational discussion of recent world events, their impact on future generations, and reflection from those who’ve lived in previously tumultuous times.This article appears in December 6 • 2002.