Body of Lies
Grade: C+
I can appreciate that “Body of Lies” is an expensive, well-made, well-produced movie with two high-wattage stars in Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio. But mainly my problem with the movie is that it’s too much. Too much violence, too much confusion, too much cell phone usage, too much flying around all over the place. This is a movie about deception, and terrorists. There’s not much more to it than that. The good guys, Russell and Leo, are with the CIA, and Leo is undercover trying to find the leader of a terrorist cell. Russell is in the USA giving him orders. Leo is in danger all the time – people shooting at him, bombs going off, but he’s out there doing his stuff like some kid with ADD who can’t let it go. He’s momentarily distracted by a beautiful nurse, but otherwise he’s killing people and saving the day all over the place. Russell is a little more slick and slimey, but they try to show him as an everyman as he carpools his kids while strategizing on his bluetooth. I think a little more simple, a little more meat to the story, and a little less time invested and I would have liked it more. |