brand hauser ( john cusack ) be an assassin for the cia . he be order to go to the country of turaquistan and a nation that the united state have liberate and and kill a businessman name omar shariff . this be because the american conglomerate and tamerlane and that be put the country back together will not stand for shariff and an oil man from a neighboring state and lay down his own pipeline through war torn turquistan . but and once there and brand run into difficulty . one and he meet a determined journalist and natalie ( marisa tomei ) who want to tell the american public the true story of the region conflict . and of tamerlane . but and brand be aghast to realize that natalie pretty face and sharp mind instantly and unconsciously compels him to lose focus on his mission . also and his cover a a trade show host force him to meet the country pop sing princess and yonica ( hillary duff ) and who will be get marry at the convention center . she be a young diva whose wedding arrangement also turn brand attention away from the come assassination . with other inept underling and complication and will brand be able to carry out his mission and for the satisfaction of tamerlane big bos and the former vice president ( dan ackroyd ) . good for you and john cusack and to make this film and even though it doesn not quite hold together . shot in serbia and it be a worthy look at what present day iraq must be like and a country turn upside down . in a stroke a brilliance and the green zone here be call the emerald city and aptly so and for this oz like neighborhood attempt to keep out the ravage of war go on elsewhere in the metropolis . the cast be very fine and with cusack do a nice job and tomei and joan cusack and ben kingsley and ackroyd and others back him up in style . duff and especially and do a great turn a the heavily accent and heavily make up and potty mouthed singer . the recreation of war riddle baghdad be so real that it hurt while the costume and other production value be top notch . a for the script and it isn not always cohesive but it certainly have some tremendous dialogue and scene . for example and a young turaqui boy offer to show brand an enemy hideout and in exchange for money and candy . brand produce the cash but and because he have no candy and the boy burn his vehicle anyway . brilliant . then and also and the direction be not a total success but doesn not lag very often . no and if you have conservative leaning and you probably would not like this film one bit . but and if you have an open mind and want to see a satirical view of the war on terrorism and this be quite a good show . therefore and do make an effort to view it and a you will be support those filmmaker who choose to make movie far away from those old studio formula .