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Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
American Manhunt – Osama bin Laden review: Netflix series could lowkey be a CIA-funded propaganda piece, but it's undeniably thrilling
Every single high-ranking official who appears in American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden — and there certainly is a murderer's row of them — knows that they are in a Netflix documentary. They're prone to speaking in blurbs; in declarations and pronouncements, almost as if they want to make sure that they make the cut. The sprawling three-episode series, which was suspiciously released two months after it was supposed to, traces the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden, the notorious Al Qaeda leader who remained, for a long period of time, the most wanted man in the world. At the peak of America's war on terror, there was a $25 million price on his head. Bin Laden kept taunting the Americans for years, somehow evading capture despite having being driven out of his stronghold in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks. The documentary series begins on the fateful day when two passenger airliners crashed into the World Trade Centre, while another hit the Pentagon. A fourth plane, United 93, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers overpowered the hijackers and took control of the cockpit. It was the worst terrorist attack in modern history, resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. President George W. Bush vowed to bring those responsible to justice, and essentially gave the Central Intelligence Agency carte blanche to capture or kill bin Laden. Also read – The Greatest Rivalry – India vs Pakistan review: Boys played well, but Netflix's cricket documentary is run out by randomness The series is told almost entirely from the perspective of CIA officials who were closely involved in the operation to hunt bin Laden down. Jessica Chastain played a composite of these women in Zero Dark Thirty, director Kathryn Bigelow's brawny epic about the manhunt. Also featured are the operatives who found themselves on-ground in Afghanistan mere weeks after the attacks. Admiral William McRaven, who oversaw the raid on bin Laden's compound, makes an appearance as well. But, perhaps most impressively, so does Robert O'Neill, the Navy SEAL who has controversially claimed that he was the man who — spoiler alert — shot and killed bin Laden. This is when the leadership of the CIA was handed over to Leon Panetta, who served under President Barack Obama as the director of the CIA when bin Laden was located in Pakistan. He appears quite prominently in the third episode. The access that directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan is stunning, quite frankly. And even though the talking heads don't really reveal any new information — they're obviously beholden to details that have been declassified — there is an undeniable thrill to hearing the oft-told tale straight from the horse's mouth. At the same time, however, you can't help but come up with conspiracy theories of your own. How was Netflix able to get this sort of access in the first place? This isn't Formula 1 we're talking about; the CIA is perhaps one of the most secretive organisations in the world. It took them nearly 20 years, for instance, to declassify documents related to the operation that inspired the film Argo. But while you might be familiar with the broad strokes of the bin Laden manhunt, the devil's in the details. Take, for instance, counterterrorism specialist Cofer Black's recollection of how he was appointed the head of the task force. During a meeting with Bush and his cabinet mere days after 9/11, Black wiggled his way towards the table — he was originally made to sit by the wall — and told Bush something to the effect of, 'Give me six weeks and I'll have insects crawling out of his eyes.' Bush had found his man. But Black admitted that the president's decision didn't go down too well with Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld. According to Black, this resentment was perhaps the reason why Rumsfeld refused to send military support to the CIA when they'd cornered bin Laden in the Tora Bora mountains. The operatives featured in the show don't hesitate to express their anger at being left hanging by Rumsfeld. They had bin Laden in their sights. Internal politics allowed him to slip away. The CIA lost his scent after the Battle of Tora Bora, but when Obama was elected into office, he made tracking bin Laden down a priority once again. Read more – The Octopus Murders review: Complex and compelling, Netflix's true crime docu-series uncovers the 'biggest conspiracy in history' The series switches gears in the feature-length final episode, which is dedicated entirely to the final stage of the manhunt, during which the Agency discovered that bin Laden was likely hiding out in Abbottabad. They accessed this intel by utilising 'enhanced interrogation techniques', which is the more polite word for 'torture'. Much has been said about this topic over the years, but the Netflix series marks perhaps the first time that multiple CIA officials go on the record to express their regret for what happened. One analyst even claims to have voiced her dissent when bin Laden's trusted crony, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, was being tortured at Guantanamo Bay. Lowkey a glossy propaganda piece designed to whitewash the CIA's image and absolve it of dropping the ball — 9/11 wasn't an intelligence failure, the folks in the show definitively declare — American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden is undeniably thrilling. The Agency has a history of using films, literature, and music to shape and control narratives; it only makes sense for them to go where the audience is. American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden Directors – Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan Rating – 3.5/5 Rohan Naahar is an assistant editor at Indian Express online. He covers pop-culture across formats and mediums. He is a 'Rotten Tomatoes-approved' critic and a member of the Film Critics Guild of India. He previously worked with the Hindustan Times, where he wrote hundreds of film and television reviews, produced videos, and interviewed the biggest names in Indian and international cinema. At the Express, he writes a column titled Post Credits Scene, and has hosted a podcast called Movie Police. You can find him on X at @RohanNaahar, and write to him at He is also on LinkedIn and Instagram. ... Read More
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Police to question 'The Crown' actor over pro-Palestinian rally
LONDON — The British actor who played Princess Diana's love interest in the Netflix series 'The Crown' said he had been summoned for questioning by police after he attended a pro-Palestinian rally in central London. Khalid Abdalla, who played Dodi Fayed in the popular show, said in a statement posted to his social media channels that London's Metropolitan Police Service had sent him a letter requesting he attend 'a formal interview,' in relation to 'the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign protest' Jan. 18. 'It remains to be seen if this will result in charges,' added Abdalla, who also starred in 'United 93' and 'The Day of the Jackal.' He added that the right to protest was 'under attack' in the the United Kingdom. Abdalla was among tens of thousands of people who attended the demonstration, which was held the day after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the war in the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of more than 48,000 people, according to health officials in the Palestinian enclave. Israel launched its military campaign after the Hamas terrorist attacks Oct. 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and saw around 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials. The Metropolitan Police confirmed to NBC News via email that it had arrested 77 people on suspicion of breaching protest conditions after some of them broke through a police line that day. It added that 21 people had been charged so far. As part of the 'ongoing investigation,' the force said it had 'invited a further eight people to be interviewed under caution at a police station.' British police typically do not confirm the identity of anyone under investigation. Abdalla, 44, has attended several pro-Palestinian rallies in the past and has publicly called for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Addressing the crowds at the Jan. 18 rally, Abdalla said, 'Tomorrow phase one of this ceasefire begins. It remains to be seen if the ceasefire will hold, or if the blood shed since it was announced augurs what it will become.' In February, he was one of the signatories to an open letter written to the BBC by the advocacy group, Artists for Palestine UK, which criticized the broadcaster for pulling a documentary on Gaza's children. The Palestine Coalition, the activist group that organized the rally, condemned the letter sent to Abdalla in a statement issued Monday, accusing police of carrying out an 'apparently coordinated attack against the Palestine solidarity movement.' The force, it said, was 'endeavoring to halt public protest on the issue through harassment of those involved in the movement, and through increasingly draconian restrictions on demonstrations.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Police to question 'The Crown' actor over pro-Palestinian rally
LONDON — The British actor who played Princess Diana's love interest in the Netflix series 'The Crown' said he had been summoned for questioning by police after he attended a pro-Palestinian rally in central London. Khalid Abdalla, who played Dodi Fayed in the popular show, said in a statement posted to his social media channels that London's Metropolitan Police Service had sent him a letter requesting he attend 'a formal interview,' in relation to 'the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign protest' Jan. 18. 'It remains to be seen if this will result in charges,' added Abdalla, who also starred in 'United 93' and 'The Day of the Jackal.' He added that the right to protest was 'under attack' in the the United Kingdom. Abdalla was among tens of thousands of people who attended the demonstration, which was held the day after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the war in the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of more than 48,000 people, according to health officials in the Palestinian enclave. Israel launched its military campaign after the Hamas terror ist attacks Oct. 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and saw around 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials. The Metropolitan Police confirmed to NBC News via email that it had arrested 77 people on suspicion of breaching protest conditions after some of them broke through a police line that day. It added that 21 people had been charged so far. As part of the 'ongoing investigation,' the force said it had 'invited a further eight people to be interviewed under caution at a police station.' British police typically do not confirm the identity of anyone under investigation. Abdalla, 44, has attended several pro-Palestinian rallies in the past and has publicly called for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Addressing the crowds at the Jan. 18 rally, Abdalla said, 'Tomorrow phase one of this ceasefire begins. It remains to be seen if the ceasefire will hold, or if the blood shed since it was announced augurs what it will become.' In February, he was one of the signatories to an open letter written to the BBC by the advocacy group, Artists for Palestine UK, which criticized the broadcaster for pulling a documentary on Gaza's children. The Palestine Coalition, the activist group that organized the rally, condemned the letter sent to Abdalla in a statement issued Monday, accusing police of carrying out an 'apparently coordinated attack against the Palestine solidarity movement.' The force, it said, was 'endeavoring to halt public protest on the issue through harassment of those involved in the movement, and through increasingly draconian restrictions on demonstrations.'
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Crown' Actor Khalid Abdalla Says He's Been Called for U.K. Police Interview Over Pro-Palestine Protest
Khalid Abdalla, the British actor best known recently for playing Dodi Fayed in 'The Crown,' has said he's been summoned by London's Metropolitan police to a 'formal interview' over his participation in a pro-Palestine march that took place in the U.K. capital earlier this year. In a post on social media, Abdalla — who also starred in 'The Day of the Jackal,' 'United 93' and 'The Kite Runner,' and was a key part of Netflix's Oscar-winning documentary 'The Square' about the Arab Spring — said that he received a letter 'relating to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest of Jan 18th,' adding that it 'remains to be seen if this will result in charges.' More from Variety 'The Crown' Exec Producer Andy Harries to Step Down as Left Bank Pictures CEO, Move to Chairman Role 'The Crown' Casting Director Robert Sterne on the Requests He Still Gets: 'Please, Can I Be Meghan Markle?' 'The Crown' Creator Peter Morgan On Ending His Netflix Series, Which Just Landed 18 More Emmy Nominations Abdalla addressed the rally in London, which was held the day after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was signed and attracted several thousand protestors. Dozens of demonstrators were arrested on the day on suspicion of breaching protest conditions. In his social media post, Abdalla said that 'the right to protest is under attack in this country and it requires us all to defend it.' He added: 'While there is an alarming rise in attempts to censor voices that stand up for Palestine, even as it faces open calls for ethnic cleansing, it will not work. The days of silencing after intimidation are gone. The stake are too high, and as we can see today with 'No Other Land' winning at the Oscars, momentum is on the side of justice, and shared humanity.' In a statement to The Guardian, a Metropolitan police spokesperson said: 'As part of our ongoing investigation into alleged breaches of Public Order Act conditions on Saturday, January 18, we have invited a further eight people to be interviewed under caution at a police station.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in March 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
The Guardian
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Police to interview The Crown actor Khalid Abdalla over Gaza protest
The Crown actor Khalid Abdalla has said he has been summoned to attend a 'formal interview' by the Metropolitan police in connection with a pro-Palestine protest. Abdalla, who played Dodi Fayed in the Netflix series based on the royal family, said on social media he had received the letter in relation to a Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest on 18 January. 'It remains to be seen if this will result in charges,' he wrote on Instagram. Abdalla, who has also starred in films including United 93, The Kite Runner and The Day of the Jackal, said: 'The right to protest is under attack in this country and it requires us all to defend it. 'While there is an alarming rise in attempts to censor voices that stand up for Palestine, even as it faces open calls for ethnic cleansing, it will not work.' This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. The Palestine Coalition said it 'condemns' the Met's decision to issue letters to a range of activists. The group claimed the police alleged in the letters that the recipients had 'breached conditions imposed by the police to limit the right to protest' against the conflict in Gaza. The protest's chief steward, Chris Nineham, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign director, Ben Jamal, have already been charged with offences arising from the same protest, along with others. The MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell had also been interviewed under caution by the police, the group said. Dozens of pro-Palestine demonstrators were arrested in central London on 18 January on suspicion of breaching protest conditions. One of the conditions prevented those participating from entering a specific area around Portland Place. Thousands of people had gathered to protest against Israel's actions in the 15-month conflict in Gaza, a day after a ceasefire deal was agreed with Hamas. The Guardian previously reported that Abdalla had addressed the rally. He told the crowd: 'Tomorrow phase one of the ceasefire begins. It remains to be seen if the ceasefire will hold or if the blood shed since it was announced augurs what it will become. 'But still we will have cause to celebrate whatever its shape for the respite in this genocide, for the return of the hostages, for the release of prisoners.' A Metropolitan police spokesperson said: 'As part of our ongoing investigation into alleged breaches of Public Order Act conditions on Saturday, January 18, we have invited a further eight people to be interviewed under caution at a police station. 'While we are aware of names being attributed to those who have been invited for interview, we do not confirm the identity of anyone under investigation.'
