Body of Lies
Director: Ridley Scott
Writer: William Monahan (screenplay); David Ignatius (novel)
2008
Other reviews for this film say the plot is jumbled, hard to follow and Ridley Scott is losing his touch. I for one, completely disagree. Body of Lies had the easiest plot to follow, and I really can’t see how you would be confused. Even if you fell asleep and woke up half way through the film you would still catch on. Body of Lies has a straightforward story about a CIA operative Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is a field agent in the mid-east, tracking down terrorists. Ferris constantly clashes with his boss Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe) because Hoffman is on the outside looking in, and Ferris thinks that he cannot possibly understand what’s really going on down on the ground. Overall, it’s a pretty good film. It is less “rah rah America” and doesn’t try to show American ideals post 9/11 so overtly as Syriana for example. The film is more subtle than that, allowing the viewer to formulate their own opinions rather than being told what to think as if it were a piece of propaganda. Though not the best from the caliber of Ridley Scott, DiCaprio or Crowe, however it is still watchable. If you liked Spy Game, you’ll like this one. If you haven’t seen Spy Game, you should.
