Although Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense under presidents Johnson and Kennedy, died in 2009, his fascinating "11 lessons" learned in his life are fortunately accessible in this. Director Errol Morris' Oscar-nominated film is insightful, revelatory, brooding and even a bit humanitarian. The documentary explores McNamara's ties, from his perspective, to American policy from WW II through to the Vietnam War - utilizing news broadcasts, archival footage, and interview segments taken from 20 hours of tape. McNamara's lessons are eye-opening ones, delivered by him with an almost haunted gravitas at times, including "Never say never" and "Rationality will not save us."

I also like the film's title.