★ 7 / 10
In an age where it seems that troubling
Brent Marchant
In an age where it seems that troubling developments are ubiquitously lurking beneath the surface of public awareness, the need for intrepid investigative…
In an age where it seems that troubling developments are ubiquitously lurking beneath the surface of public awareness, the need for intrepid investigative journalists to bring these stories to light is probably greater than ever. Unfortunately, such reporters have increasingly become a vanishing breed, especially in the mainstream media. Luckily, though, there are still some committed, courageous correspondents out there – mostly free-lancers – who are diligently working to bring these revelations to light. And one of the most prolific among them is veteran investigator Seymour “Sy” Hersh, who has made a career out of uncovering some of the biggest news stories for over 60 years. That prolific legacy is now the subject of a new documentary from directors Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, showcasing the 88-year-old’s many accomplishments, beginning with his exposé on the 1968 My Lai massacre (one of the Vietnam War’s watershed moments) and continuing up to his present-day reporting on incidents in global hot spots like Ukraine and Gaza. Viewers also learn of his diverse interim initiatives in covering the questionable practices of public figures like Henry Kissinger and clandestine organizations like the CIA, the atrocities of institutions like Iraq’s infamous Abu Ghraib prison, and the dubious ventures undertaken by major corporations, all through articles in various periodicals and an array of books. Over the years, Hersh has also bolstered the efforts of fellow journalists by helping to keep their stories alive when public interest in them was tepid, as evidenced, for example, by his supplemental coverage of the Watergate scandal, material that dovetailed the groundbreaking but underappreciated work of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein and helped to elevate awareness of that incident. In addition, the film profiles Hersh’s life outside the journalistic trenches, showing how his unplanned entry into the field was itself almost a sort of happy accident, one for which truth seekers and concerned citizens should be thankful. On balance, the filmmakers present an even-handed and comprehensive biography of their subject, driven by candid interviews with Hersh, accompanied by commentary from those who know and have worked with him, as well as a wealth of supporting archive footage. Admittedly, there are times when the narrative could benefit from some better organization of its content, given its tendency to occasionally skip around needlessly, an issue that has shown up in some of Poitras’s previous offerings. However, to its credit, this recipient of the National Board of Review’s award for best documentary of 2025 nevertheless provides audiences with an informative and enlightening look at a man who has made us aware of a good many things that we might not have otherwise heard of. Indeed, we’re collectively better off for having had Hersh’s presence in our lives. After all, just think about everything we might have missed out on if he hadn’t been there to write about it.
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★ 8 / 10
Fascinating documentary on Sy Hersh
paul-allaer
As "Cover-Up" (2025 release; 118 min.) opens, we are introduced to investigative reporter Seymour "Sy" Hersh. Turns out that Oscar-winning director Laura…
As "Cover-Up" (2025 release; 118 min.) opens, we are introduced to investigative reporter Seymour "Sy" Hersh. Turns out that Oscar-winning director Laura Poitras had asked Hersh about making a documentary of his work as an investigative journalist in 2004, but he had refused. Now 20 years later the agrees, and he has turned over all of his files to the film makers. First up is Hersh's work at exposing the 1968 My Lai massacre in Vietnam and the subsequent cover-up by the US government. At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary by Laura Poitras ("Citizenfour") and Mark Obenhaus. Here they get access to not just Sy Hersch the man but also all of his files including his notes. They let Hersh do the talking, and all we have to do is to sit back and watch, with mouth wide open. Hersh is at the same level as the Washington Post's Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward (the latter appears in the documentary). Hersh is now 88 years young, and he continues doing his work to this very day."Cover-Up" premiered at this year's Venice film festival, to immediate and widespread acclaim. The documentary started streaming on Netflix this weekend, and I couldn't wait to watch it. "Cover-Up" is currently rated 100% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and for good reason. If you are in the mood to find out more about Sy Hersh and what makes him tick, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
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★ 8 / 10
Protect guys like him at all costs
lilianaoana
Who will take over the fight from this man? He is almost 90. I really hope there are others like him digging for "state secrets".Anyway the revelations in this…
Who will take over the fight from this man? He is almost 90. I really hope there are others like him digging for "state secrets".Anyway the revelations in this documentary, although most already common knowledge, are enough to make your blood boil all over again.I had seen the Vietnam atrocities mostly in movies like Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, Full Metal Jacket, Platoon. And that's where I remember them most vividly. And I'd heard of American soldiers mindlessly torturing Muslim prisoners, abroad and domestically. It's been in global news. Shocking how it's all brushed over after a while and no culprits are identified. Even the sentences are revoked.Henry Kissinger's death made global news. Screw that guy. I also remember Rumsfeld's name from a few years back. The various American presidents, they don't give a crap about their citizens or human rights, they're all on a constant power trip or in a popularity contest.
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98%
TOMATOMETER
· 61 reviews
80%
AUDIENCE
· 100 ratings
7.4/10
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They covered up that this is not a Documentary but a Biography, and a bad one at that!