THE STORY – US officials simulate a coup post a disputed election. Insurgents take capitals, questioning the President’s military control. Countering disinformation is vital, highlighting bipartisan defense of democracy.
THE CAST – Steve Bullock, Wesley Clark & Heidi Heitkamp
THE TEAM – Tony Gerber & Jesse Moss (Directors/Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 94 Minutes
“War Game,” the new documentary by directors Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber, chronicles a political experiment that asks one question: What if America faced a military-backed coup? This scenario would’ve felt much more difficult to imagine five years ago, but a violent coup seems dangerously plausible in the three years since January 6th, 2021. The nonpartisan organization Vet Voice, known for its work in promoting veterans’ voices in the political process, organized a war game to tackle this question. It’s a work of improvisational political theater, using a variety of former politicians and military leaders to role-play another January 6th event.
For Moss and Gerber, capturing a role-playing exercise of this nature isn’t entirely new territory. In 2008, the directors made “Full Battle Rattle” following the U.S. Army’s simulated attack on an Iraqi town built in the Mojave Desert. More recently, Moss, his wife, and co-director Amanda McBaine directed “Boys State” and “Girls State,” each focusing on teenagers running a fictional state government. These experiments may not carry the weight of America’s true political future, but they seek to reveal deeper truths about the state of politics in America, such as the influence of media and the power dynamics within political systems. As in those films, the questions explored in “War Game” are essential, even if the experiment is less compelling in practice than in theory.
The setup of Vet Voice’s war game is quite similar to the insurrection of January 6th, 2021, but with a few notable changes. An extremist candidate for President refuses to accept the election results and directly calls on the military to ignore orders from the current President, resulting in an attack on the U.S. Capitol Building. In the exercise, the President and his cabinet have six hours to combat the extremists to the best of their political abilities to see how this situation could unfold.
Former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock plays the role of the President tasked with subduing the coup. Former Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Doug Jones, General Wesley Clark, and other former government officials round out his cabinet, each playing their role with great intelligence, even if their acting in the roles can be hit or miss. The game is captured like a thriller, with brilliant cinematography that never seems to miss a moment. The stark lighting, subdued color scheme, and ever-roving cameras lend a layer of cinematic drama to the proceedings.
While the bulk of “War Game” charts the progress of the role-playing exercise, it also serves as a dissection of the real January 6th. Clips play alongside interviews from some of the game designers and participants, explaining their various motivations behind joining this war game. It’s an enlightening analysis, especially as it points to the deeper divides within the country. Janessa Goldbeck, founder of Vet Voice, describes the pain of watching her father slip down the slippery QAnon slope, something that so many young people can relate to, at least to some degree. In looking back on what happened in the 2021 insurrection, “War Game” reminds us why authoritarian leaders pose an existential threat to America. In looking forward to a potential future, the film reminds us why measured leadership can preserve our democratic ideals, even at a significant cost.
The war game itself at the heart of the film works in fits and starts. The unreality of the situation never really goes away. This is a pretend game with no true stakes other than the hope of learning something. There are occasional moments of intrigue, but the fiction is ever-present. Seeing these real politicians calculate the right next move is interesting. Still, without human lives or democracy actually on the line, it’s just a terrifying experiment that doesn’t add up to much. It’s a compelling argument to have competent grown-ups making these consequential decisions, something that’s not guaranteed depending on who wins presidential elections. For instance, a climactic build-up surrounding the President’s decision regarding the Insurrection Act is undoubtedly educational. Still, the tension can only grow so much without real stakes behind the decision.
“War Game” is full of potent observations about how and when a coup could be attempted in America, all poised against the backdrop of the very real insurrection. Seeing the possibilities of how an even worse situation could play out is thought-provoking, if a bit anticlimactic. For better or worse, the film stokes fear of what could be, especially in this of all election years. Those already convinced of the dangers of another January 6th could be moved by the scenario played out, but the film offers little to compel the other side to care. “War Game” is a mixed bag, pairing effective messaging and compelling future-casting with a fictional scenario that doesn’t quite get the viewer to the edge of their seat.
