Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Hey, who borrowed my name and occupation and moved me to France?

Apparently there is a new movie about me — see plot summary below. I wouldn’t mind except I didn’t even get to meet Kristin Scott Thomas. I thought she was terrific in The English Patient, which by the way I think is one of the best movies I’ve seen on the effects of combat on ...

Apparently there is a new movie about me -- see plot summary below. I wouldn't mind except I didn't even get to meet Kristin Scott Thomas. I thought she was terrific in The English Patient, which by the way I think is one of the best movies I've seen on the effects of combat on people. Also, I've never worked as a night guard. But I have had my life taken over by "an obscure power" -- that's one way of looking at the Iraq war.  

Apparently there is a new movie about me — see plot summary below. I wouldn’t mind except I didn’t even get to meet Kristin Scott Thomas. I thought she was terrific in The English Patient, which by the way I think is one of the best movies I’ve seen on the effects of combat on people. Also, I’ve never worked as a night guard. But I have had my life taken over by “an obscure power” — that’s one way of looking at the Iraq war.  

Also, as I’ve said, my self-image runs more to Homer Simpson than to Ethan Hawke. 

Woman in the Fifth (Pawel Pawlikowski)
American writer Tom Ricks comes to Paris desperate to put his life together again and win back the love of his estranged wife and daughter. When things don’t go according to plan, he ends up in a shady hotel in the suburbs, having to work as a night guard to make ends meet. Then Margit, a beautiful, mysterious stranger walks into his life and things start looking up. Their passionate and intense relationship triggers a string of inexplicable events … as if an obscure power is taking control of his life. Stars Ethan Hawke and Kristin Scott Thomas.

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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