A Review By C.J. Henderson
If Warner Brothers newest release, “Body of Lies,” is any indication, this could be the best fall in years.
The story: Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) is one of the best men the CIA has, especially when they need someone to hit the streets in places where you can trust no one. Working with his superior, Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), who keeps tabs on his best man through cell phones and spy satellites, the two manage to keep the lid on things in some of the worst hot spots in the Middle East.
But, they now have a target no one seems to be able to find. A new terrorist leader has emerged, one who moves invisibly, who takes no credit on the world stage for his massive terror attacks. While Hoffman begins his most aggressive campaign ever, using his own people and even innocent bystanders as cannon fodder, Ferris begins to find himself trapped in a nightmare world from which he desperately wants to be released. The blood, the murder, and the lies are all becoming too much for him to bear. But, before he can get out, he has to figure out who he can trust, if any one at all.
“Body of Lies” is based on the novel by author David Ignatius, a veteran journalist who covered the CIA and Middle Eastern affairs for ten years for The Wall Street Journal. One of the film’s producers, Donald De Line told us: “David’s book is such a smart, well-crafted spy thriller about the kinds of people and levels of deception it takes to penetrate a country, a culture, and ultimately, the enemy. We really felt it had everything going for it in terms of a great movie plot.”
They were right. The two-hour plus film goes by as if it were an hour television drama. It is remarkably tense, especially considering the fact that there is not packed with endless action sequences. But, what is there is harsh, dirty and real. Of course, who should receive more of the credit for this intensity is hard to say.
First off, the adaptation of Ignatius’s book to a screenplay was handled by William Monahan. He not only wrote the script for the historical adventure, “Kingdom of Heaven,” but also for the picture that netted him his Oscar, “The Departed.” He is one of the best, and his work here just helps prove it.
However, as he did with “Kingdom,” Monahan was working here with director Ridley Scott, and as he proved with everything from “Alien” and “Thelma & Louise” to “Blade Runner” and “Gladiator,” this is a man who knows a little bit about directing.
If that was not enough for you, DiCaprio and Crowe are both at the top of their game. Fans of either performer will not be disappointed. There are plenty of great supporting people in the cast as well, but with space running out, I find myself forced to move on.
For one thing, mention has to be made of Alexander Witt’s breathtaking cinematography. Director of photography on such films as “Black Hawk Down,” “Gladiator,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” and a lot more, he has an unerring sense of camera placement, lighting and elevation which allow him to open up a scene, or render it overwhelmingly claustrophobic at will.
Also, if we are talking about this film’s driving intensity, then Marc Streitenfeld’s soundtrack has to be noted as well. If not for the customary idiot song to play over the end credits, it would be almost a shoe-in for an Oscar next year.
A lot could be said about the costumes, set designs, the locations, et cetera, but hopefully you get the idea. This is one powerful, intelligent, relentless film. It tells the truth about both sides and allows the audience to make their own judgments. I know the economy sucks, but if you have the time and the money, this one deserves to be seen on the big screen.
