CIA fails to impress
By: John McMillan
Issue date: 3/3/09 Section: Entertainment
Bullets, deceit, trickery, explosions and high-tech imaging equipment combine to create a movie that is a semi-decent cross between Hollywood action and honest documentary.
"Body of Lies" is the story of Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio), a CIA "ground man" stationed in Iraq and Jordan to gain Intel on the whereabouts of the latest bomb-happy terrorist leader.
The story drags Ferris through the morally grey world of intelligence gathering and espionage while his handler, Ed Hoffman, played by an aged and out-of-shape Russell Crowe, at CIA headquarters watches his every move through the use of an "eye in the sky" satellite.
Farris spends most of the time trying to do his job while Hoffman attempts to do things his own way. This usually leads to operational instability, many angry words, and the death of whatever Middle Eastern puppet that Hoffman tried to use.
"Body of Lies" is very much a spy/espionage movie with plenty of intrigue and technology - real technology, not James Bond technology.
No where in the movie did Ferris pull out a combination cell phone/deathray/oxygen mask. He was pretty much armed with a cell phone and a Glock, which seemed to only run out of bullets when the threat was neutralized.
There is, however, plenty of computer hacking and looking down on people with UAV predators and real-time satellite feeds.
The plot itself is rather loose. Most action/dramas have a definite sequence of events and a very "a" to "b" to "c" plot, but this movie doesn't start following a definite progression until the last fifteen to twenty minutes of the movie.
It also portrays the CIA as a bunch of heartless, agenda-driven, blithering idiots. Parts will leave viewers thinking, "Really? Who would be that stupid?!"
And what kind of action movie would this be if the main character did not fall in love, putting the object of his affections in danger because of a stupid move that blew his cover? I guess it's wrong to mess with a winning formula, but it wouldn't have hurt them to try. I personally think the story could have done without it.
Still, I liked the movie and it is definitely worth the watch. This aptly named spy drama will leave the viewer wondering "what the heck is going on?" until the end without completely overwhelming them.
I give this movie a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars.
"Body of Lies" is the story of Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio), a CIA "ground man" stationed in Iraq and Jordan to gain Intel on the whereabouts of the latest bomb-happy terrorist leader.
The story drags Ferris through the morally grey world of intelligence gathering and espionage while his handler, Ed Hoffman, played by an aged and out-of-shape Russell Crowe, at CIA headquarters watches his every move through the use of an "eye in the sky" satellite.
Farris spends most of the time trying to do his job while Hoffman attempts to do things his own way. This usually leads to operational instability, many angry words, and the death of whatever Middle Eastern puppet that Hoffman tried to use.
"Body of Lies" is very much a spy/espionage movie with plenty of intrigue and technology - real technology, not James Bond technology.
No where in the movie did Ferris pull out a combination cell phone/deathray/oxygen mask. He was pretty much armed with a cell phone and a Glock, which seemed to only run out of bullets when the threat was neutralized.
There is, however, plenty of computer hacking and looking down on people with UAV predators and real-time satellite feeds.
The plot itself is rather loose. Most action/dramas have a definite sequence of events and a very "a" to "b" to "c" plot, but this movie doesn't start following a definite progression until the last fifteen to twenty minutes of the movie.
It also portrays the CIA as a bunch of heartless, agenda-driven, blithering idiots. Parts will leave viewers thinking, "Really? Who would be that stupid?!"
And what kind of action movie would this be if the main character did not fall in love, putting the object of his affections in danger because of a stupid move that blew his cover? I guess it's wrong to mess with a winning formula, but it wouldn't have hurt them to try. I personally think the story could have done without it.
Still, I liked the movie and it is definitely worth the watch. This aptly named spy drama will leave the viewer wondering "what the heck is going on?" until the end without completely overwhelming them.
I give this movie a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars.