Body of Lies

Starring

Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong

Directed by Ridley Scott

Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe star in Ridley Scott’s political thriller "Body of Lies," based on the novel by Washington Post writer David Ignatius. When I say political thriller, I can already hear audiences fleeing in terror – can’t Hollywood just leave the Iraq War alone? The answer is no – whether in black comedy ("Burn After Reading"), documentary ("Religulous"), or biopic-of-sorts (Oliver Stone’s "W."), the political affairs of our country are being addressed in the film medium – and many of the most anticipated films of the season aren’t shying away from political material, either ("Milk," "Frost/Nixon").

 Many people claim that they do not feel comfortable watching political films or films that deal with today’s headlines. I don’t buy that. If people can subject themselves to cinematic torture-fests like "Quarantine" and "Saw XXV" and call it delightful, then they can also sit down for two hours and watch intellectually challenging films that offer unique perspectives on the political landscape. To quote Richard Nixon (Anthony Hopkins) from Oliver Stone’s "Nixon," “Everything is political.” Look at the five Best Picture nominees from 2005 – "Brokeback Mountain," "Capote," "Crash," "Good Night and Good Luck," and "Munich" – and tell me that each picture didn’t offer some sort of political statement or morality tale. 

Despite "Body of Lies" being set primarily in the Middle East, audiences may be friendlier to this Iraq film than they have been to others, considering the draw of DiCaprio and Crowe. Scott is a brilliant director, having crafted some of the most entertaining ‘serious’ films of the past decade ("Black Hawk Down," "American Gangster," "Gladiator," "Matchstick Men"), and he continues his streak here, following CIA foot soldier Roger Ferris (DiCaprio) as he chases terrorists through Iraq, Jordan, and Syria. Bleak landscapes? Yes, but Scott uses them brilliantly – think the scenic backdrops of "Syriana" and "Casino Royale," but put to better use.

 Meanwhile, CIA boss Ed Hoffman (Crowe) is watching Ferris’ every move via satellite in Langley, Virginia, usually stuffing down a bag of chips and mumbling something incomprehensible. In his fourth collaboration with director Scott, Crowe gives a hilarious performance, portraying Hoffman as an overweight redneck with a beguiling code of morals.

 Although engaging subplots emerge involving the creation of a fictional terrorist organization and the employment of Jordanian Intelligence Chief Hani Salaam (Mark Strong), Body of Lies is first and foremost a story about a ground soldier who sees the destruction of war firsthand, and the lazy CIA superior who sits back and gives orders from his living room. DiCaprio and Crowe are both terrific; although they spend most of the movie apart, they have a chemistry that is both entertaining and frightening (not unlike that between Crowe and Denzel Washington in Scott’s "American Gangster").

 Above all, "Body of Lies" is massively entertaining, even when taking place in torture clinics and overcrowded hospitals. Scott has made both a successful action movie and a serious political drama – whichever you prefer, "Body of Lies" doesn’t disappoint. And believe me, it’s better than shelling out eight dollars for "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

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