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Body of Lies

Body of Lies (2008)

October. 10,2008
|
7
|
R
| Drama Action Thriller

The CIA’s hunt is on for the mastermind of a wave of terrorist attacks. Roger Ferris is the agency’s man on the ground, moving from place to place, scrambling to stay ahead of ever-shifting events. An eye in the sky – a satellite link – watches Ferris. At the other end of that real-time link is the CIA’s Ed Hoffman, strategizing events from thousands of miles away. And as Ferris nears the target, he discovers trust can be just as dangerous as it is necessary for survival.

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Reviews

Mjeteconer
2008/10/10

Just perfect...

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Marketic
2008/10/11

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

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Zlatica
2008/10/12

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

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Billy Ollie
2008/10/13

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

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Thury-Goodwe
2008/10/14

LEONARDO DICAPRIO was brilliant in this movie and he was ably supported by Russell Crowe.Mark Strong was strong(no pun intended) in the few scenes he was featured.The Thing that I like most about this film is its realism.The story was something i felt i have already seen before but quite interesting to follow. CIA tries to take down a terrorist leader.. action / drama and thriller moments mixed to a enjoyable movie. There are quite many things to keep track so pay extra attention to the story. Overall a well done movie.With fantastic editing and a well-structured story, Body of Lies is a dark, gritty, and complex spy thriller.Leonardo DiCaprio plays a CIA agent undercover in the Middle East, gathering intelligence on an Al-Qaida terrorist network, negotiating and double crossing with both the Jordanian security service and his CIA superior (a very snaky Russell Crowe). There's quite a lot to take in during the early stages of this movie and there's some well staged action scenes.

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Jawbox5
2008/10/15

What is most interesting about Body of Lies is that it manages to rise above the predictability and formula that plagues the vast majority of espionage films. It is post-Bourne wrapped up in a more mature Bond plot with a politically conscious edge. Yet it never feels like it is stealing elements of those, more using them as a launch-pad for its own ideas. Though the film itself is sometimes guilty of falling back into safety, it remains consistently exciting and intently engaging even when those moments occur because of how keenly detailed and acted it is. It makes it standout as a cut above many of its contemporaries.We follow Roger Ferris, a ground CIA operative who moves throughout the Middle East in an attempt to lure out and capture terrorist Al- Saleem. Of course his practices involve plenty of lies and deceit as he tries to retain the support of the head of the Jordanian Intelligence. Ferris is played by Leonardo DiCaprio who makes an excellent centrepiece for the film. DiCaprio is a great choice for the role, given his superb ability to convey emotion and his delivery making even mundane dialogue seem important. I'm not sure many could have been as appealing as he is here. Ferris grows into a more interesting character as the film progresses. His disillusion with the lies he has to sow and backstabbing from his superiors make for some of the most intriguing moments, whilst providing some welcomed morality that never feels forced.His superior Hoffman is played terrifically by Russell Crowe, whose weight gain and distinct accent allow him to become the character. Crowe is at his best playing characters like this. Confident, forcefully honest, almost egotistical, yet understanding the importance of the situation. They're traits he always nails. Hoffman appears all-knowing, frequently surveying from the air, keeping constant contact with Ferris as he aids him in setting up a fictional terrorist group to smoke out Al-Saleem. He also clashes with the Jordanian head Hani Salaam, who is convincingly played by Mark Strong, a man who only asks that the CIA don't lie to him, which is something that Ferris finds increasingly difficult to avoid. The interactions and differences between these three main characters is definitely the film's most interesting aspect. All three have distinct personalities that are well developed, conduct their jobs in very different ways and are portrayed by actors who always convince. The scenes that bring them together are always gripping, Ferris meeting Hoffman in Washington to devise a new plan, Hani questioning how Ferris could lie to him, the three of them discussing their mission. They all share a suspicion of one another that is fascinating to see play out.There is a romance between Ferris and an Iranian doctor that is nicely played out and expands the characters. It also offers us an interesting look at the perception of a relationship with someone from the West in the Middle East. However, the issue is that it doesn't really fit in with the tone of the film and ends up becoming a plot device later on in the film which makes it feel rather forced. The action scenes and shootouts are always very fluid and exciting to watch. Notably, there is a weight to them that makes the injuries feel painful, these operatives don't just bounce back up like in so many spy flicks. There's a torture scene near the end that is brilliantly intense and really keeps you guessing as to its outcome.With Ridley Scott at the helm the film is fantastic to look at and his direction is as smooth as it's ever been. In fact I don't think the Middle East has ever looked this vibrant and authentic on screen before. Scott directs the film masterfully. He manages to make the dialogue driven scenes feel just as tense as the action ones. I especially like the use of aerial surveillance, as it gave the film a much wider scope and added to the feeling of always being watched. Scott is saddled with a script that can be jargon heavy, but he's able to make it understandable and technical without dumbing it down or filling it with dialogue that nobody would comprehend. The funny thing is that this is type of film Scott's Brother Tony would usually at home doing, so it's nice to see him try his hand at it and go for a more subtle approach.Despite its amalgamation of various espionage tropes and some misplaced plot points, Body of Lies is an exceptional genre film. It manages to work as both an exciting action thriller and as a more controlled politically-charged piece. The story is packed with deception and intrigue, just right for this type of film. The main characters are well-rounded and captivating to watch, they guide us through the film and I always wanted to see what their next move was going to be. It is a layered story and it's impressive just how well it is conveyed. Plenty of praise should go to Scott, his three leading men and script writer William Monahan. They have crafted a film that is well- balanced, a vivid portrait of the CIA in the Middle East and makes a number of potentially clichéd aspects feel fresh again.

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jb_campo
2008/10/16

Body of Lies is a scary film because you are never certain what is going to happen next. Dicaprio excels as Ferris, middle-east-based CIA agent who actually likes being in the middle east. He and his counterpart, Crowe (as Hoffman), who is based stateside, are both seasoned espionage agents tracking a middle eastern bomber blowing up places in Europe. Deals and side deals, observers in crowds, cars following you, people talking quietly in groups. All this ratchets up the drama about who knows what, and who is being grabbed next. When you throw in a potential love interest for Dicaprio, that raises the tension and mystery yet more.By far the surprise star is Mark Strong as Hani, the suave, debonair head of Jordanian security who has a symbiotic relationship with the CIA. They need each other, but who is using whom? Ferris tries to play both sides of the street by not lying to Hani, while working with Hoffman who would lie to anyone to get what he wants. Hani is terrific. When he steps in a room you don't know if he's going to sweet talk you, or rip your fingernails out.Body of Lies has terrific acting throughout by the entire cast. The story is quite realistic. The cinematography is realistic, and the editing and directing keeps this espionage action drama moving along.There are several violent scenes that might not be for the squeamish, so be warned. Otherwise, this film was terrific. Reminded me a lot of the Redford/Pitt film Spy Game. You will enjoy Body of Lies.

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Brigid O Sullivan (wisewebwoman)
2008/10/17

Let me count the ways I hated it.Racist. USA the good guys catching the bad guys forever and ever amen.Leonard Di Caprio playing Ferris throws the credibility metre on high alert. Why on earth would he think his Iranian gf would not be a target for whatever enemy.Hard to track all those enemies wearing "towels" as per the CIA running all these operations from a bunker somewhere USA, it must look like a video game.I skipped a lot of scenes.The racism was rampant all through it. Crude, rude and hateful.Russell Crowe as the big cheese mouthed his hate and disconnect while dealing with his small children, kinda priceless watching that.All in all a waste of time, all the scenes looked like a movie set in the back of beyond, falling down in pieces with poverty everywhere. Except for Dubai.And script? Was done better in many other movies before it. They're all the same, it depends on the writers. And these failed.2 out of 10

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