Co -directors and writers, Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber premiered their feature War Game at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in January. It began a limited release in theaters this month and now, it arrives in Austin at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. I highly recommend viewing the film that is a fictional scenario and yet, it appears to be very real. I do not remember feeling as if I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire runtime of the film. I also felt I had recurrent goosebumps from watching certain scenes that reminded me of the actual events of January 2021. This is unscripted but feels real.
Synopsis: War Game sweeps audiences into an elaborate future-set simulation that dramatically escalates the threat posed by the January 6, 2021, insurrection. The film follows a bipartisan group of US defense, intelligence, and elected policymakers spanning five presidential administrations as they participate in an unscripted role-play exercise. Portraying a fictional President of the United States and his advisors, they confront a political coup backed by rogue members of the US military in the wake of a contested 2024 presidential election. Like actors in a thriller, but with profound real-world stakes, the players have only six hours to save American democracy.
In the fictional War Game, former governor of Montana, Steve Bullock, portrays “President John Hotham” who was just reelected. Actor Chris Coffey portrays his opponent, “Gov. Robert Strickland,” who is contesting the results of the election. Among his followers who participate in an uprising are active-duty members of the U.S. military. President-elect John Hotham and his Cabinet members have six hours to go through the War Game exercise. Congress is to certify the results of the election.
Some of the role-players include former senator Heidi Heitkamp (Senior Advisor to the president), former Army secretary Louis Caldera (Secretary of Defense), retired Maj. Gen. Linda Singh (Chief of the National Guard Bureau), and many others in this bi-partisan group with many years of expertise. The role – players were serious in their interpretation of each character they played. No one is noted to have behaved as if it was only a game. This “game” was an exercise to look back at the 2021 actions, as well as how the elected officials and military can prepare to respond for any similar activities during the upcoming elections. Knowing how social media works and is used by some, this is also a very real topic that is shown and used in the fictitious scenario. I thought some of the role – players looked surprised.
The filmmakers excelled in how they captured the facial expressions, the tension, actions and so much more. It is hard not to say more about them all in the six-hour time. This exercise is by military veterans who have experienced things within the military they felt had to be shared. The concern of the Vet Voice Foundation is the threat from within.
Produced by Todd Lubin, Jesse Moss, Jack Turner, Mark DiCristofaro and Executive Produced by Warren Littlefield, Jonathan E. Steinberg, Dan Shotz
94 Minutes – Open on Friday, August 30 in Austin at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
Source: Sundance, Alamo Drafthouse, IMDb
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