"Backstabbing for Beginners"

It's no secret that America's government is far from perfect. It seems not a day goes by where we don't hear about some dirty secrets or political corruptions of some kind that sends the country into a frenzy of protest and turmoil. Yet we somehow manage to overlook much of it. Mainly because we're not in a position to change it, until someone takes a stand and says "We can". 

Michael Soussan (Theo James) the son of a late diplomat has always wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. He believes by becoming a diplomat he can make a difference in the world. He is finally hired to run the Oil for Food Programme under the guidance of his boss Pasha (Ben Kingsley). Michael soon learns the job entails more than he thought when being sent overseas and finding flaws such as expired medication being given to the people and Northern Iraq's rations being less than that of other areas. With the assistance of Christina Dupre (Jacqueline Bisset) an interpreter and later love interest, Michael finds a huge corruption of the program's funds going to powerful leaders, including those closest to him and that many are willing to do the unthinkable to keep it from ever being known. 

This event in our history shows us that all secrets come to light if there is one person brave enough to find their way through the darkness. A powerful performance by James and Kingsley for taking on this real-life story. Though while it had its shocking moments, it had its points where it tended to drag the story on and on and the language by Kingsley character does not seem like that of someone holding a diplomatic position. Nevertheless, this was in no way an easy role for either and three G.M.Stars seems appropriate for film that tells us like it is even though the truth can be a hard thing to swallow.

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