Naturally there’s been an influx of films lately that address the United States and our war on terrorism. “Body of Lies” isn’t unlike those films that we’ve already seen that criticize the strategies of the U.S. in the Middle East. It is a look into the complex world of intelligence where the truth can mean life or death.
The story is of CIA operative Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio). Ferris works undercover trying to discover the location of the leader of a terrorist cell that is responsible for multiple bombings around the world. Ferris must deal with his boss Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), who gives orders from the safety of the U.S. while driving his children to school and using aerial cameras to watch what is going on.
Hoffman often makes judgment calls that put Ferris in awkward positions despite the fact that he’s the one actually in the middle of it all. Ferris must play intermediary between the Jordanian General Intelligence Department and the impatient and compromising actions taken by the U.S. through the orders of Hoffman.
It is obvious that Ridley Scott and his fellow filmmakers have an axe to grind with those who have run United States’ military actions in the Middle East. The essential message is that basically we had no idea what we were doing, and not because of an absence of knowledge about the situation, but because of an unwillingness to see what is directly in front of our faces. It is this blatant egotistical stubbornness that the film is really about.
DiCaprio and Crowe are excellent as usual. It’s a testament to their acting abilities that even though they are so well known and recognized, they completely transform in the eyes of their audience.
DiCaprio does play a character reminiscent of some of his former roles. Ferris is a sympathetic do-gooder who believes what he is doing is right, but struggles with some of the day-to-day choices he must make in order for his mission to succeed.
Actor Mark Strong is one of many great supporting actors in the film. He plays the sleek and mysterious Hani Salaam, head of the Jordanian General Intelligence Department. His character seems to be the only truly honorable person in the film as he gets more and more frustrated by the interference of the U.S. into his affairs.
“Body of Lies” is based on a novel of the same title by David Ignatius. Based on his career as a journalist covering the Justice Department and the CIA for the Wall Street Journal, and then later as a columnist for the Washington Post, Ignatius can be said to be a credible resource.
Though the characters in the book and film are fictional, they come from the mind of a man who has monitored Middle Eastern events for years.
Add some big budget effects and some big name actors and you have a film with a lot of potential in the box office, but more importantly you have a film that may have something more to say.
Yet, there is still an inherent flaw to films like these. No matter how accurate or inaccurate the filmmakers endeavor to make the film, it is fiction. Very few individuals on the planet can say just how accurate or ridiculous these plotlines really are.
In any case it is for the audience to decide whether they buy that heartless and impatient men such as Crowe’s character really pull the strings in Washington.
Anyone who is a fan of Ridley Scott’s work won’t be disappointed, however.
As usual this film looks great and the production value is excellent. There are some really amazing scenes involving a car chase-gunfight with rocket launchers and two helicopters, and while I have never been in a gun fight, car chase or helicopter, it feels very realistic.
There are also some graphic scenes that do make you wince involving torture and fingers.
Overall it is an excellent film and worth thinking about beyond pure entertainment value.
