Song of the day: “I thought that (Boris Dlugosch Remix)” – The Migrants

Body of Lies

Director: Ridley Scott
Genre: Action/Drama/Thriller
Year: 2008

On the one hand I love films along this vein, action thrillers, with just enough mystique and shady dealings to keep you on your seat. It seems the genre du jour, which is fine with me, as long as they are done well and with Ridley Scott that has never really been an issue. True, he has not always been consistent and he has had his misses, but with works American Gangster, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down and Blade Runner, I tend to give the man the benefit of the doubt. On the other hand, there have been a number of political drama/globalization films that have been done so well, it is becoming increasingly difficult to wedge one’s self into this tightening niche.

Movies like Syriana, The Constant Gardner, Munich and Michael Clayton have done a fabulous job at bringing the political issues to the silver screen. But the argument I have heard over time is that the average viewer feels it lacks enough action, enough excitement. Too much intellect, too little shooting.

Enter: Body of Lies.

It would be a disservice to the formerly mentioned movies to wrap this one in with the bunch, this is without question a step down from those in intellect, but a step up in action and in a sense you are sacrificing one to get to more of the other. Not that both of them could have maintained and for the I think Ridley Scott is responsible, but the movie is still a very enjoyable watch.

Keeping in line with a number of post-9/11 films, this one examines the role of the Americans in the international stage, concerning globalization. Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio; Revolutionary Road, Blood Diamond) is a CIA operative looking into capturing the head of a terrorist cell which has become too good at carrying out their attacks all over the Western world. When normal methods working with the Jordanians prove to be insufficient (or self-sabotaged by the Americans), questionable methods are thought up by Ferris and his morally-questionable supervisor Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe; Gladiator, American Gangster); a solution which involves the creation of a ghost terrorist cell. Not surprisingly, things go too far and when it comes time for taking responsibility nobody wants to step up, creating a big international mess for everybody involved.

While the plot of the story is largely streamlined and kept at points almost predictable and having read books like ‘See No Evil’ and ‘The Looming Tower’ it is most definitely oversimplified, this film is banking less on the intellectual puzzle and more in its action packed unfolding to keep the audience’s attention. As such, I think this is a rather accessible and rewarding film for the majority of viewers, who want an smart thriller without having to put on their actual thinking caps in order to grasp all the details. It must be stated, however, that there are certain character inconsistencies that draw a bit of attention to themselves, particularly in the relationship between Ferris and Hoffman, which seems to be more mercurial than one would expect from men in those positions.

If I were to compare it to a movie, I would put this right up there with The Kingdom; interesting, thought provoking, contemporary in thought and theory, but with more of an action edge. Actually, this film actually has more action than The Kingdom did and more evenly balanced throughout the duration.

All being said, while it may not be a brain tickler, this film is most definitely a fun action ride to take and it does have something to say, even if it does spend more bullets than words in saying it.

Rating:
Comments: Violence and language. No nudity that I recall. Mostly in English, but there are a number of small, subtitled parts.
Quote: Roger Ferris: I can’t do this anymore.
Ed Hoffman: Yes you can. Now you go home, get a few hours sleep and you call me when you’re thinking straight.
Roger Ferris: Your know what, I AM thinking straight, alright, you’re not, you can’t ’cause you’re a million f*ckin’ miles away.