Rating: R | Runtime: 128 minutes
Release Date: October 10th, 2008 (USA)
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director(s): Ridley Scott
Writer(s): William Monahan / David Ignatius (novel)

And that means you work for us.

Ridley Scott is back with drama/thriller Body of Lies. I remember a time when Scott’s movies were must-sees. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been the same of late with my inability to drum up interest in Hannibal after finding Gladiator and Black Hawk Down to be overrated while his latest American Gangster just dragged. Besides Kingdom of Heaven (which is fantastic piece if you give it a chance), nothing has really hit me. And while it proves better than expected, I can’t say this one does much to change that perception.

You’ve got your CIA agents on the lookout for an Arab terrorist. One is on the ground who experiences the war everyday and the other is back in the States delegating and making decisions for the global sphere without worrying about collateral damage. Then you also get a secondary story with the lead putting himself on the line without knowing if he’ll be extracted or left to die. If that sounds familiar, you might be thinking about Spy Game … where Ridley’s brother Tony Scott brings that exact story line to fruition. Now there’s a Scott whose films I still highly anticipate each year.

Trust plays a major role in the proceedings on whether we as Americans can rely on a nation like Jordan to help our cause. The young upstart on the ground (Leonardo DiCaprio’s Roger Ferris) believes he can and tries to keep an open relationship with the head of the secret service there (Mark Strong’s Hani in a role that allows him to be more human than usual, albeit still intimidating). No matter how much these two like each other, though, their relationship is meaningless as long as Ferris’ boss pulls the strings.

Russell Crowe’s Ed Hoffman is the eye in the sky watching everything to do with the world involving CIA operatives. He makes life and death decisions without emotion while putting his children in the car and dropping them off at school. He has the cold-hearted detachment necessary to make the tough call and still sleep at night. War is no longer led by men in the trenches who watch the opposition die at their hands. No, it’s now the overweight, politically intelligent men moving pawns into the correct position on a game board. If one soldier dies, you replace him with another. Emotions are nonexistent.

Everyone plays their role effectively to help drive towards the conclusion. The film spans multiple locales at a breakneck speed that can disorient at times but still runs smoothly for the most part. DiCaprio builds on his already extensive filmography of exotic venues and war zone subject matter by traveling between Middle Eastern nations and the US while mistakes are made and new missions conceived. The dynamic between him and Crowe is electric as they play off each other with mutual respect despite knowing of how different their roles are.

Crowe is methodical and ruthless while DiCaprio makes connections and relationships to hopefully lead to reliable intel and successful results. However, while the two give each other ideas and smart maneuvers, Crowe will not back down from his assertive stance. He will continue on while leaving his man in the dark regardless of what that means for his best agent’s fate.

The trailer really misleads us into thinking that these two will stand on opposite ends of the spectrum to work against each other. That never happens. Crowe’s Hoffman really only comes and goes as a Big Brother type who doesn’t really play a massive role in the plot. The main source of intrigue comes from DiCaprio’s Ferris as he develops roots and friendships in Jordan while attempting to earn Hani’s trust so they can create a strong intellectual bond that helps disrupt terrorists in the area.

Ferris and Hani’s comings and goings are what matter and the lies they keep are the reason for the title. The one thing Hani asks is that he not be lied to—that’s the sole condition upon which his helps hinges. Hoffman’s manipulations lead Ferris into heading an operation outside of Jordan connections. Once his short exile from the country ends and Hani invites him back, Ferris must decide whether to disclose what’s going on or not. This is the main decision that leads into the film’s third act and what makes it interesting by building on the exposition of characters developed in the first two-thirds.

It all entertains and enthralls, but, besides the acting, there’s not much to talk about. Whether the novel it’s based on is better or worse, this adaptation proves a tale of espionage and disparate attitudes on the ongoing topic of how information should be delegated to friendly Arab nations. It can be seen as a comment on the war like many movies made today, but is ultimately just a piece of entertainment hoping to expose the underbelly of deceit and backdoor deals going on in the US government. It’s effective yet familair. So, I’ll await Tony’s The Taking of Pelham 123 instead since, despite being a remake, his penchant for style and flair excites me more.

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RUSSELL CROWE as Ed Hoffman and LEONARDO DICAPRIO as Roger Ferris in Warner Bros. Pictures’ suspense thriller BODY OF LIES. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.