Body of Lies

The Associated Press

October 09, 2008 by The Associated Press | Staff

0 votes

Soon you'll be able to add "Body of Lies" to that list of war-on-terror movies that almost nobody has wanted to see, even though it's probably the most worthwhile and least preachy of the bunch.

"Body of Lies" follows undercover CIA operative Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio), who's trying to ferret out the mastermind behind a series of anonymous bombings around the world. At the same time, Ferris' boss, Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), is running surveillance and plotting strategy from home back in the United States with the help of his ever-present cell-phone headset and laptop.

But despite their shared goals and mutual dependence, Ferris and Hoffman often end up miscommunicating and undermining each other. This becomes especially true when Ferris tries to chat up the smooth Jordanian intelligence chief (Mark Strong, who nearly steals the whole movie), a man who holds Hoffman in disdain and has been reluctant to aid in the CIA's efforts.

Somehow, with all his copious free time, Ferris manages to romance Aisha (Golshifteh Farahani), a pretty, soft-spoken nurse who treats his wounds when he gets particularly banged up during a chase in Amman. It's obvious that the relationship is a device meant to flesh out Ferris and reveal whatever glimmers of humanity he may have left in this deadly world -- but it feels distractingly wedged-in. Far more intriguing and believable is the relationship between Ferris and Hoffman. It's a joy to watch DiCaprio and Crowe verbally sparring, even though they share the same space infrequently: most of their characters' communication takes place over the phone. DiCaprio is high-strung and arrogant; Crowe is low-key and arrogant and, in typically Method fashion, he put on 50 pounds for the part, and added a Southern drawl.

- By Christy Lemire / Associated Press

Body of Lies

Rating: 2 and a half stars (out of four)

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Carice Van Houten, Vince Colosimo.

Running time: 128 minutes.

Rated: R; strong violence including some torture, and for language throughout.

Forum: Movies

Tags: 

drama, rated r, Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Carice Van Houten, Vince Colosimo

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