Good Movie

Perhaps it’s the soft glow of nostalgia but-in some ways-the early 80s seems like a more sane time. (But, then again, today’s bar is pretty low.) I saw the film The Brink of War this afternoon. It’s about the 1986 meeting in Rekjavik, Iceland. The movie depicts the —often tense—conversations between President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev of the then Soviet Union.

Most of the movie is of their negotiations in the relatively sparse Icelandic setting. The negotiations ultimately ended without an agreement over Gorbachev’s wanting a sharp curtailment of development of the strategic defense initiative (known back then as “Star Wars.”) Reagan even offered to give the technology to the Soviets but was rejected.

Jeff Daniels does a serviceable job as Ronald Reagan. Jarred Harris is an excellent Gorbachev. Looks very much like him. J.K. Simmons captures the earnestness of George (“Trust is the coin of the realm.”) Shultz. Branka Katic animates the role of Raiza Gorbachev.

The actor who played the NPR journalist (Aya Cash) made me chuckle because she sounded soooo NPR.

I mentioned to a friend that this kind of subject is crack for a news/history junkie like me. If it is for you, you’ll enjoy the film.