This is a dramatization of the real life events of what happened to Valerie Plame (played by Naomi Watts) and her husband Joseph Wilson (played by Sean Penn) when she was identified in the press as a CIA agent to prevent her husband from pushing forward the truth that the US went to war with Iraq on false pretenses especially the story about the centrifuges and the yellow cake uranium from Niger.
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Joe Wilson, an expert about Niger, was sent to Niger by the office of the Vice President of the United States by Scooter Libby to find out if Saddam Hussein's regime had gotten 500 tons of yellow cake for his supposed nuclear weapons program. Valerie Plame who works for the CIA at that time, is asked whether her husband is expert in the area of Niger. She confirms that he is, so they send him. He finds absolutely no evidence of any such yellow cake being sold from Niger to Iraq. In fact, he finds it impossible for such a shipment to have been made. He reports his findings accurately.
To his surprise, the President uses the story about the yellow cake uranium from Niger in a speech, saying the British government reported this as true. Joe brings out the truth, that there was never any such yellow cake uranium sent from Niger to Iraq. This causes the U.S. government to attack him. The story is leaked to the press by the Whitehouse staff that Joe's wife, Valerie Plame, is a CIA agent. This causes all of the operatives that work with her in Iraq and their families to be killed. Valerie is immediately terminated by the CIA and cast out. Valerie disagrees with her husband and does not want publicity, but Joe believes they must fight back and publicity is the only weapon they can use.
Joe gets the press attention strong enough in the story to get a congressional investigation about the events. Scooter Libby is found guilty of breaking the law. The real truth finally comes out. The Unites States went to war with Iraq on completely false pretenses. There were no centrifuges, no yellow cake uranium, and no Weapons of Mass Destruction. Valerie and Joe stay together as married, through all the stress, even in the end when Scooter Libby is pardoned by President Bush, because they both believe it is important the American public knows the truth.
Best part of story, including ending:
It is magnificent that some people have the courage to stand up for truth, no matter what the consequences.
Best scene in story:
When Joe and Valerie re-dedicate themselves to each other, to their marriage, and agree to fight back together it is a powerful scene.
Opinion about the main character:
That Valerie remains steadfast and strong. That she appreciates the efforts of her husband in the end. She is really a great example of what it means to stand for truth.
