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The Unknown Known

The Unknown Known

Documentary · History · 2013

Former United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, discusses his career in Washington D.C. from his days as a congressman in the early 1960s to planning the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Movie details

The Unknown Known

“Why is this man smiling?”

2013 Documentary · History 1h 42m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

Former United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, discusses his career in Washington D.C. from his days as a congressman in the early 1960s to planning the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Unknown Known?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Errol Morris

Written by

Errol Morris

Donald Rumsfeld

Donald Rumsfeld

Self

K

Kenn Medeiros

Younger Donald Rumsfeld / Secret Service

Errol Morris

Errol Morris

Self - Interviewer (voice)

Court is in session

Put The Unknown Known on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.