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Bin Laden film attacked for 'perpetuating torture myth' | Bin Laden film attacked for 'perpetuating torture myth' |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A new film about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden is "inaccurate" for suggesting torture helped lead to his discovery. | A new film about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden is "inaccurate" for suggesting torture helped lead to his discovery. |
That is according to three US senators who outlined their objections to Zero Dark Thirty in a letter to the head of Sony Pictures Entertainment. | That is according to three US senators who outlined their objections to Zero Dark Thirty in a letter to the head of Sony Pictures Entertainment. |
Kathryn Bigelow's Oscar-tipped drama, their letter claims, is "perpetuating the myth that torture is effective". | Kathryn Bigelow's Oscar-tipped drama, their letter claims, is "perpetuating the myth that torture is effective". |
In a statement, Bigelow said her film depicts "a variety of controversial practices and intelligence methods". | In a statement, Bigelow said her film depicts "a variety of controversial practices and intelligence methods". |
According to the director and Zero Dark Thirty screenwriter Mark Boal, no single method was responsible in the successful manhunt for the terrorist leader. | According to the director and Zero Dark Thirty screenwriter Mark Boal, no single method was responsible in the successful manhunt for the terrorist leader. |
The letter, made public on Wednesday, was co-signed by Dianne Feinstein, Carl Levin and former Presidential candidate John McCain. | The letter, made public on Wednesday, was co-signed by Dianne Feinstein, Carl Levin and former Presidential candidate John McCain. |
The trio, all of whom are members of the Senate Intelligence committee, said that Sony and its CEO, Michael Lynton, had an obligation to alter the movie. | The trio, all of whom are members of the Senate Intelligence committee, said that Sony and its CEO, Michael Lynton, had an obligation to alter the movie. |
"The fundamental problem is that people who see Zero Dark Thirty will believe that the events it portrays are facts," the three senators wrote. | "The fundamental problem is that people who see Zero Dark Thirty will believe that the events it portrays are facts," the three senators wrote. |
"The film therefore has the potential to shape American public opinion in a disturbing and misleading manner." | "The film therefore has the potential to shape American public opinion in a disturbing and misleading manner." |
The senators said the "use of torture in the fight against terrorism did severe damage to America's values and standing that cannot be justified or expunged". | The senators said the "use of torture in the fight against terrorism did severe damage to America's values and standing that cannot be justified or expunged". |
The makers of Zero Dark Thirty, they went on, had "a social and moral obligation to get the facts right". | The makers of Zero Dark Thirty, they went on, had "a social and moral obligation to get the facts right". |
"I've watched the film and I can tell you there's no doubt the impression that you get from the film is that waterboarding did elicit information... that was instrumental," Mr McCain told the BBC. | |
"It certainly conveys the impression that this treatment of detainees is somehow justified," | |
Mr McCain said he would "like to have them to make a statement that some of this depiction is not factual in a very important way... it's not just a side aspect of it". | |
Earlier this year Bigelow's film was accused of being a propaganda tool intended to assist President Obama's re-election campaign. | Earlier this year Bigelow's film was accused of being a propaganda tool intended to assist President Obama's re-election campaign. |
The release of the film was subsequently put back until after November's election. | The release of the film was subsequently put back until after November's election. |
It was also claimed Boal, who previously worked with Bigelow on Oscar-winning drama The Hurt Locker, had been granted access to classified information, an allegation he denied. | It was also claimed Boal, who previously worked with Bigelow on Oscar-winning drama The Hurt Locker, had been granted access to classified information, an allegation he denied. |
The film, which has been nominated for four Golden Globes, is released in the UK on 25 January. | The film, which has been nominated for four Golden Globes, is released in the UK on 25 January. |