Watch Command and Control

Command and Control is a gripping and intense documentary film released in 2016, which was directed by Robert Kenner. The film is based on the book of the same name by Eric Schlosser and it details the events leading up to a nuclear disaster that occurred in Damascus, Arkansas in 1980. The movie is an exploration of the US military's nuclear weapons program and its potential for disaster, highlighting the dangerous flaws and oversights in the system that put human lives at risk.

The film is set in the context of the Cold War era, when the United States and the Soviet Union were heavily reliant on nuclear technology for their military power. The focus of the movie centers on the Titan II missile that was deployed throughout the US from the 1960s to the 1980s. The Titan II was the largest and most powerful missile that America had ever developed, capable of carrying a nine-megaton nuclear warhead. The film takes viewers on an unsettling journey through the history and mishaps of the US nuclear weapons program.

Command and Control begins with a recreation of a near-catastrophic incident that occurred in September of 1980, at the Titan II missile site in Damascus, Arkansas. During a routine maintenance check, a technician dropped a socket wrench which fell onto the missile, puncturing the fuel tank and setting off a dramatic chain of events that could have resulted in the missile exploding with a yield of nine megatons. The film details the panicked efforts of the Air Force personnel stationed at the site to prevent a disaster as they desperately worked to repair the leak and disarm the missile.

The movie then goes back in time to explore the history of the Titan II missile and the culture of the Air Force that was responsible for its care and maintenance. The film reveals that thousands of people were involved in the maintenance of the Titan II, but the process was often haphazard and dangerous. One Air Force veteran interviewed in the movie explains that the missile sites were like small towns, and the men and women who worked there were like family. However, this close-knit community was subject to incredible pressure from their superiors to maintain the utmost secrecy and be prepared for a nuclear attack at a moment's notice.

Command and Control constructs a vivid and terrifying picture of the risks of nuclear weapons that have the ability to destroy entire cities. The movie suggests that the US nuclear weapons program was rife with potential accidents and atrocities that were thankfully avoided due to sheer luck and the dedication of those working in the program. The film also highlights the fragility of the system, with so many various elements having to work smoothly together in order to prevent catastrophe. From the missile designers to the maintenance workers, the pilots who would carry out the orders, and the intelligence officers who would issue them, Command and Control shows how much trust and cooperation is needed between all these parties to keep the nuclear arsenal safe.

Though the film is a documentary, it uses the conventions of the thriller genre to heighten the tension and suspense of the story. The intense score, along with the rapid montage images of military equipment, manuals, and maps, creates an unnerving atmosphere and emphasizes the high stakes and real-life danger of nuclear Armageddon. The interviews with Air Force veterans who were involved in the Titan II program also provide an emotional dimension to the movie, with their personal anecdotes and recollections of the challenges and dangers they faced.

In conclusion, Command and Control is an insightful and harrowing exploration of the US's nuclear weapons program and its potential for disaster. The film is a serious meditation on the dangerous consequences of unchecked military power and a call for greater public awareness and political action on this crucial issue. With powerful cinematic storytelling and honest interviews with the people at the heart of the story, Command and Control is a must-see documentary for anyone interested in nuclear history and the continuing relevance of these weapons in our world today.

Command and Control is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 77.