|
MOVIE
REVIEW: LIONS FOR LAMBS
11/08/07
As if we are not already bombarded with this
subject, here is this movie that tackles it head on. The
cast is beefed up and the acting, therefore, is commendable.
The story is nearly non-existent but the script is as
sharply intelligent and in-your-face as you can get. What
entertains in this movie is not the story but the dialogue
and its delivery. This film is highly political and yet not
very controversial because it provides a spectrum of
opinions regarding this war that the U.S. is in. Practically
every general position on the war is represented and
respected so everyone should be able to side with someone in
the movie. Some of the positions shown are pro, con,
political, the media, educator, student, minority, military,
defensive, offensive, neutral, and indifferent. The
broadness of opinions will help please a majority of the
moviegoers but it also leaves an aftertaste of uncertainty
in regards to the goal of this project.
Director Robert Redford also takes the role of Stephen
Malley, a college professor and a war veteran as well. One
of his goals is to motivate his students to really do
something with their lives and not just settle into the rat
race. He is holding a conference with one of his students
who is very bright and very apathetic. Todd Hayes (Andrew
Garfield) is the disgruntled student who Malley is trying to
reinvigorate. Malley gives the example of two of his former
students, Arian Finch (Derek Luke) and Ernest Rodriguez
(Michael Pena), who as looked-down-upon minorities take on
Malley’s challenge and join the military in order to get
involved with the war. This is not exactly what Malley had
in mind for his students but he fully supported their
decision regardless. Malley doesn’t want Todd to join the
Army now, he just wants Todd to live up to his potential and
not become complacent. Across the way, Senator Jasper Irving
(Tom Cruise) has headed a new military plan to help win the
war. He invites TV Journalist Janine Roth (Meryl Streep) to
an exclusive interview to discuss this new plan as it is
actually put in motion. He picked her because she seemed to
be a true supporter. The Senator claims that there is a new
axis of evil: Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He also states
that we have to do "whatever it takes" to win this war.
Janine is extremely skeptical of the whole situation. Fellow
moviegoer Luis had this to say: “Media has turned into a
money hungry advertisement corporation drastically taking
support away from the troops and giving false opinionated
information as long as it produces high ratings.” The
tension between Janine and the Senator can be cut with a
knife. This interview ties in with the rest of the movie
through Arian and Ernest. They are part of a team that is
initiating this new plan.
This film shows how people fighting in the war are
manipulated like puppets by government "playing" war far
away from the action. Even those with good intentions such
as Arian and Ernest are at the whim of government. Can they
be trusted? Are communications from our government accurate
and true or are there a lot of cover ups and ulterior
motives? This film is definitely thought-provoking, but it
lacks in storyline and entertainment value. Luckily, the
characters are as varied as the opinions regarding this war.
All the performers did their role justice. The interaction
between Tom and Meryl was electric. Andrew’s convincing
performance is also noteworthy. Luis gave me this comment on
Todd and Professor Malley: “The student represents the stoic
America of today, caring only about themselves and their
American dream. The professor is a voice of reason, an
unbiased political point of view that is very refreshing.”
Props to Robert Redford for delivering what could have
easily been a very biased film and instead blended together
so many different takes on this very controversial war. I’ll
close with two thoughts from the movie: after 9/11 the
hardest question to answer was “what do we do now?” Rome is
burning. Are you going to fight the fire or run away?
Review By Cine Marcos
cinemarcos@smartcine.com
MORE MOVIE REVIEWS
>>>
People Movie Review
Lions For Lambs
|
ljb |
90 |
|
While short of a call to action, this
film nudges all of us, whether 20 or 60
to DO SOMETHING about the war, Congress,
and our country.. as the reviewer said,
"Rome is burning" and most of us are
still fiddling. |
|
Glenda Sharpe |
10 |
|
Not very entertaining. Mostly a
political statement from three main
stars. Can see all this on CNN. |
|
Bastet |
100 |
|
Great movie, makes u thing about what do
u stand for and what do you want to
leave to the next generations....
everything we DO and we DON´T DO is
writing the future.... our call. Go
deeper... |
|
P. Reilly |
90 |
|
"It is better to try and fail, than to
fail to try". Regardles of your view or
that of others, don't sit back and do
nothing. Step forward and make change
happen .When those charged with speaking
for us fail, we must then speak for
ourselves.! |
 Submit Your Movie Review
|
Director: Robert Redford
Writer: Matthew Michael Carnahan
Genre: Drama
Duration: 1hr 32mins
Staring:
Tom Cruise
Meryl Streep
Robert Redford
Michael Pena
Derek Luke
Andrew Garfield
Producer: Matthew
Michael Carnahan
Tracy Falco
Andrew Hauptman
Robert Redford
Distributor: MGM
Rating:
R for some war violence and
language
Release Date: November 9, 2007
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
| |
Home |
DVD |
Advertising
|
Press Kits
submissions |
Publishing
All movie titles, pictures, etc... are
registered trademarks and/or copyrights of their respective
holders
Copyright ©2007
The Entertainment Report Group
|