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Standard Operating Procedure Details

2008 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 653 members

"Standard Operating Procedure" provides an examination of the unintended consequences of the Iraqi war with a focus on events at Abu Ghraib prison which began to appear in global media in 2004. The prison quickly became notorious for the shocking photos of the abuse and torture of terror suspects by military men and women. .. Read more

Starring Joshua Feinman, Merry Grissom, Christopher Bradley, Combiz Shams
Director Errol Morris
Genres Documentary

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Standard Operating Procedure cover art

Standard Operating Procedure

"Standard Operating Procedure" provides an examination of the unintended consequences of the Iraqi war with a focus on events at Abu Ghraib prison which began to appear in global media in 2004. The prison quickly became notorious for the shocking photos of the abuse and torture of terror suspects by military men and women. Ultimately, it is the story of soldiers who believed they were defending democracy but found themselves plunged into an unimagined nightmare.

Starring Joshua Feinman, Merry Grissom, Christopher Bradley, Combiz Shams, Zhubin Rahbar, Sarah Denning, Cyrus King, Shaun Russell, Daniel Novy, Jeff L. Green
Director Errol Morris
Studio SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 58 mins
Blu-ray: 1 hr 57 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Documentary
Language Blu-ray: English
Subtitles Blu-ray: Croatian, Finnish, Danish, Slovene, Spanish, Hindi, Norwegian, French, Italian, Hungarian, Portuguese, English, Swedish, Arabic, Turkish
Released DVD: 12 Jan 2009
Blu-ray: 12 Jan 2009
Production year: 2008
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews of Standard Operating Procedure

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  • 5 stars out of

    After tackling Vietnam-era US defense secretary Robert S McNamara, Errol Morris investigates the shocking photos which... read more on Time Out

    • Trevor Johnston, 
    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of Standard Operating Procedure

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  • 10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    I have never felt compelled to review before

    I have never felt compelled to review before, often the times I think people come close is when they have negative feedback to give. I watched this at a cinema after going to see the Brighton Photo Biennial (2008) which had a war photography theme.

    This documentary kept me engaged throughout. Nothing felt forced. As a viewer watching people who have been convicted or accused of wrong-doing, you (at least I do) want to shake the tv or the interviewer and say 'Ask them this....ask them that...ask them how they could think of doing such a thing' but I think all the people who are interviewed answer your questions (perhaps you need to look/listen harder). You experience so many emotions with this film. A previous reviewer said that the director did not probe the interviewees enough, but I think that can sometimes be the sign of a bad documentary. You need to let people speak, its not always about putting across your own point of view but listening and creating an open-minded audience. If anything, I think it is harder for the director to remain silent! See this film. It is important viewing for the times we live in and a terrific yet shocking documentary.

      • A customer from London
      • Posted 25 Nov 2008 20:41

  • Most recent members' review of Standard Operating Procedure

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  • Rated - 3 stars

    A reminder

    This film is a timely reminder that torture,humiliiation and murder are not solely the province of the Nazis in the 30ties and 40ties. It is also a reminder that the brutalities shown and discussed ,were not state and officially sponsored,as was the case in Nazi Germany. However one of the most horrific aspects of the film was the seemingly lack of genuine remorse on the part of those involved. The usual excuses'I was only obeying orders..I took the photos as evidence of wrong doing..my friends were killed by those people so why should I.........etc' The most horrific fact was that in the Nuremberg trials, those in the highest offices of government were also prosecuted ,imprisoned and executed in the extreme cases,whereas here ,the superiors of those accused remained blameless und unaccountable for these appalling actions.A thought provoking film.

      • A customer from Beckenham
      • Posted 18 Mar 2009 12:20

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Rating breakdown

653 Member ratings
  • 100
31
  • 90
21
  • 80
130
  • 70
98
  • 60
170
  • 50
70
  • 40
63
  • 30
18
  • 20
36
  • 10
16

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      • Master filmmaker Errol Morris turns his keen eye to the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in this intense and provocative documentary. Using interviews with the soldiers that appeared in the now infamous ...
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      • "Standard Operating Procedure" provides an examination of the unintended consequences of the Iraqi war with a focus on events at Abu Ghraib prison which began to appear in global media in 2004. The ...