Reporter Jeremy Scahill’s investigation into the United States’ covert military operations forms the guts of Dirty Wars, a journalistic thriller that feels right at home as a documentary. Providing an engaging blend of personal and professional aspects, Rick Rowley’s film ably juggles the usual non-fiction tenets with a spy movie immediacy that gives the work the edginess it demands. As Scahill hops between his Brooklyn apartment and the Middle East, piecing together the roles of the shadowy Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), the quest grows with excitement as his digging coincides with global stories involving people in his sights, including Seal Team Six. While these findings make for an impressive exposé, they wouldn’t be nearly as meaningful without a clear presence at its center, a job for which Scahill’s seasoned ways are a near ideal fit.
Grade: B+
Not rated.
Dirty Wars is currently playing at the Carolina Cinemas on Hendersonville Rd.