
87 minutes
1/29/2003
A feature-length pilot film for a proposed NBC series, War Stories is set in a battle-torn Middle Eastern country that is obviously Uzbekistan (but not identified as such). Cynical, hard-as-nails American war correspondent Ben Dansmore (Jeff Goldblum) balks at being assigned a new photographer/partner so soon after the newcomer's predecessor (who happened to be Ben's best friend) was literally blown to bits while covering a hot story. "There's no such thing as truth; that's why they call them stories." That is Ben's philosophy, one that he hopes to impart to idealistic young Nora Stone (Lake Bell). But Nora, whose sister died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, refuses to be as cold and dispassionate as Ben. It takes a series of near-death experiences dodging bullets and fanatical rebels for Ben and Nora to find the common ground so necessary to their future teamwork.

Jeff Goldblum
as Ben Dansmore

Lake Bell
as Nora Stone

Louise Lombard
as Gayle Phelan

Jeffrey Nordling
as Ian Rhys

Noam Jenkins
as Rainy Tamarov

Jack Dimich
as Uzbeky Commander

Yousuf Azami
as Guard

Ed Begley Jr.
as Ed O'Brian
Keith Birkfeld
as Taliban Recruit

Jason Brooks
as Mike Skrumbis

Michael Reilly Burke
as Coulter

Christina Chang
as Camera Woman
Anand Chulani
as IMU rapper
Alanna Dergan
as Young girl

Homie Doroodian
as Guerilla fighter
Ron Griffith
as Taliban Guard

Nicholas Guilak
as IMU Soldier

Mark Harelik
Marty Hrejsa
as Uzbek Clerk

Ramsey Malouky
as Uzbek Official
Patrick Roman Miller
as Al Haddad
Herion Mustafaraj
as Kakia

Navid Negahban
as Al Qaeda Rebel at Bridge

Tony Sears
as French Traveler
Eric St. John

Richard Steinmetz
as Andrew Thorne
Antonina Thompson
as Uzbek young mother
Ines Wurth
as Burka Woman