Kathryn Bigelow's forthcoming film about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden was already controversial, but now it has become the subject of a Pentagon investigation. Republican representative Peter T King has accused Bigelow and her co-producer, Mark Boal, of receiving classified information while enquiries are still underway into the sensitive military operation.
King, who is best known on this side of the pond for his contributions to the Northern Irish peace process, says he is concerned that such a leak may damage US national security. He has noted that the Central Intelligence Agency is currently reviewing the way it handles enquiries from filmmakers and journalists. The White House has been dismissive of the allegations and Bigelow and Boal have thus far declined to comment.
King has been prominent among campaigners arguing that the film is biased towards the Democrats and could function as political propaganda. They won a victory when the release date was moved to next December, after the election, though pre-release publicity is still likely to raise the profile of the Bin Laden operation during the campaigning period.
The film recently received a boost when it was announced that Jessica Chastain, one of the big winners in the current awards season, will be joining the cast.
