Body of Lies
By Marshall Fine
Rating:
Who's in it: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe
What's it about: A CIA agent (DiCaprio) in the Middle East finds himself at odds with his boss (Crowe), even as he gets personally involved in the search for a terrorist leader.
Bad guys: Who are the villains here? The jihadists, sure – but also the headstrong CIA chief played by Crowe, who keeps second-guessing and interfering with DiCaprio's efforts on the ground in Jordan and elsewhere. Or is it that DiCaprio is getting too involved in his work? Really, who cares? This movie has its moments of excitement but not enough of them. Instead, it goes way out of its way to make things complicated, as if we didn't already know that the war on terror was a moral swamp. We've seen this plot – the American who thinks he understands the Middle Eastern mind and gets proven wrong – too many times for this version to pack a wallop. Both DiCaprio and Crowe bring their A games, but the script seems to go nowhere – or maybe it's just that it goes exactly where you expect.
Long story short: This spy tale is muddled and dark.
More Reviews
Bride Wars
Lifelong best friends assume battle stations when both want to have their wedding the same day.
Lifelong best friends assume battle stations when both want to have their wedding the same day.
Wendy and Lucy
A young woman on her way to Alaska loses her dog in a small Oregon town.
A young woman on her way to Alaska loses her dog in a small Oregon town.
Just Another Love Story
After a car accident he caused, a police photographer becomes involved with the injured woman, who mistakenly believes that he is her fiance.
After a car accident he caused, a police photographer becomes involved with the injured woman, who mistakenly believes that he is her fiance.
Yonkers Joe
A crooked gambler needs a big score to pay for an expensive facility for his retarded adult son.
A crooked gambler needs a big score to pay for an expensive facility for his retarded adult son.
Waltz with Bashir
This animated documentary follows filmmaker Folman as he interviews fellow Israeli army veterans about their memories of the 1982 Lebanon war.
This animated documentary follows filmmaker Folman as he interviews fellow Israeli army veterans about their memories of the 1982 Lebanon war.
The Reader
A middle-aged lawyer in Germany looks back on his teen years, when an older woman took him as a lover.
A middle-aged lawyer in Germany looks back on his teen years, when an older woman took him as a lover.
Good
A literature professor in Nazi Germany finds himself recruited to help justify the Final Solution.
A literature professor in Nazi Germany finds himself recruited to help justify the Final Solution.
Defiance
This violent action film chronicles the true story of a group of Eastern European Jews who hid in forests and fought in the resistance against the Nazis.
This violent action film chronicles the true story of a group of Eastern European Jews who hid in forests and fought in the resistance against the Nazis.
What Doesn't Kill You
A pair of low-level Boston gangsters try to break free of their boss and get their own scams going.
A pair of low-level Boston gangsters try to break free of their boss and get their own scams going.
Marley and Me
A newly married couple get a puppy — and wind up with the worst dog in the world.
A newly married couple get a puppy — and wind up with the worst dog in the world.
Valkyrie
Near the end of World War II, a group of German officers plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler in order to save Germany.
Near the end of World War II, a group of German officers plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler in order to save Germany.
The Spirit
The Spirit, a masked crime fighter, battles a villain called the Octopus in this fantasy adapted from a famous cartoon series.
The Spirit, a masked crime fighter, battles a villain called the Octopus in this fantasy adapted from a famous cartoon series.
Bedtime Stories
A hotel handyman babysits his sister's kids and discovers that the bedtime stories hes telling them come true in real life.
A hotel handyman babysits his sister's kids and discovers that the bedtime stories hes telling them come true in real life.
Last Chance Harvey
A commercial jingle writer in danger of losing his job flies to London for his daughter's wedding - and strikes surprising romantic sparks with a lonely British woman.
A commercial jingle writer in danger of losing his job flies to London for his daughter's wedding - and strikes surprising romantic sparks with a lonely British woman.
Revolutionary Road
Feeling trapped in the suburbs in the 1950s, a couple (DiCaprio, Winslet) tries to plot their escape to Paris.
Feeling trapped in the suburbs in the 1950s, a couple (DiCaprio, Winslet) tries to plot their escape to Paris.
Yes Man
An unhappy guy (Jim Carrey)changes his life by saying yes to everything that comes his way.
An unhappy guy (Jim Carrey)changes his life by saying yes to everything that comes his way.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
In this sweeping romance, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) is born as an old man and grows younger as his life goes on.
In this sweeping romance, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) is born as an old man and grows younger as his life goes on.
Seven Pounds
In the wake of a massive personal tragedy, Ben Thomas (Will Smith) looks for a way to make amends to the world.
In the wake of a massive personal tragedy, Ben Thomas (Will Smith) looks for a way to make amends to the world.
Nothing But the Truth
A reporter (Kate Beckinsale) outs a covert CIA agent for a story, then goes to jail to protect her source.
A reporter (Kate Beckinsale) outs a covert CIA agent for a story, then goes to jail to protect her source.
The Tale of Despereaux
In this animated adventure, a mouse tries to rescue a princess and save the kingdom.
In this animated adventure, a mouse tries to rescue a princess and save the kingdom.
