Rent Body of Lies (2008)

If Leonardo DiCaprio speaks fluent Arabic then I'm a banana - Body of Lies review by RP

If Leonardo DiCaprio speaks fluent Arabic and can mingle unobserved in crowded Jordanian / Syrian towns then I'm a banana. And that's only part of the problem here: not only is DiCaprio's role unbelievable, but so is the whole film. Yes, it has its tense moments and it's a reasonable political thriller set in a post-9/11 world – but it's unbelievable. An overweight Russell Crowe plays an overweight Russell Crowe. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a CIA operative saving the world from Muslim extremists. Mark Strong plays the best role as the head of the Jordanian security services. And if that opening scene with the exploding bomb factory was shot in Manchester then I'll eat the aforementioned banana.

The film was directed by Ridley Scott ('Alien', 'Blade Runner', 'Black Rain', Thelma and Louise', 'Black Hawk Down' and a host of others) who does his usual thing with densely realised backgrounds and foreground action and I wish that I liked the film more. But I don't – the plot is over complex and silly: DiCaprio sets up an innocent architect to draw out the leader of an Al Qaeda lookalike organisation, but in fact it's DiCaprio who's being set up by the Jordanians. Satellite / unmanned drone camera shots are added for techno effect, but only add to the lack of realism.

As such thrillers go it's not bad and I wish I could overcome my sense of disbelief to give it a higher score. But I can't, so it gets 3/5 from me.

Body of lies - Body of Lies review by CP Customer

Hi everyone

This is an amazing film - probably one of the best ever on this subject.

It is a real thriller, full of twists and turns, amazing realistic action, great photography and acting. How any one could think this plot up and put it to screen in such a clever way, takes some doing )Mr Ridley Scott). Very, very enjoyable. DONT MISS IT! sayonara adam

Underrated But Brilliant Espionage Thriller - Body of Lies review by GI

Ridley Scott's gripping espionage thriller set in the Middle-East is a first class film, grittily realistic and one of the action films covering the American War On Terror. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Ferris, a CIA field agent, who is sent to head up operations in Jordan after one in Iraq goes awry. Ferris' controller is Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe) in Langley, a cynical and self serving boss. Ferris goes against Hoffman's orders and liaises with the head of Jordanian intelligence, Hani (Mark Strong in a topnotch performance). The focus of their joint operation is a Muslim cleric who has orchestrated a series of terrorist atrocities across Europe. But a lack of trust and conflicting political agendas leads to problems.....big problems. This has a well written, very involved plot and the action set pieces are realistic, bold and very well executed. The detail in every scene is impeccable as you'd expect with a Ridley Scott film. This is an action thriller told on an epic scale, it's underrated movie and well worth your time. Highly entertaining and it cleverly masquerades as a serious political drama but it's actually a great action film with a solid cast. This is cinematic storytelling at its best.

An excellent & riveting thriller with great performances from Crowe & DiCaprio - Body of Lies review by TB

Based on the novel by David Ignatius, this film follows DiCaprio’s Roger Ferris, a burnt-out but still highly motivated CIA officer who is based on the ground in various parts of the Middle East, trying to keep the situation on the ground from boiling over. Ferris is a deeply moral man, but also knows that he has become someone who has to sometimes do highly questionable things in order to achieve his goals. But he is also highly ambitious, which has served his career well. However, the biggest thorn in his side is his boss Ed Hoffman, played by Crowe. 

Crowe seems to have gone back to the mould of his previous highly successful performance as Jeffrey Wingard in The Insider, in that he has piled on the pounds in order to pull off the look of the office-bound spy who spends his days either at his desk or eating massive meals in restaurants whilst controlling the various schemes he is in charge of. Hoffman is someone who appreciates the talent and ability of Ferris, but also is perfectly happy to completely undermine his agent & do what he wants to do, at the expense of everyone around him. Part of Crowe’s skill in this role is that as much as Hoffman is an absolute detestable character, Crowe does imbue a certain sense of inevitability within him: when you get into the world of espionage, there are no good guys and anyone who tries to make you believe that there are is lying to you. Both Ferris & Hoffman know that things could turn against them on a dime, the only difference being that for Ferris, it could quite easily result in him being killed/sacrificed. 

But it is not only the 2 headliners who are great. Mark Strong is also excellent and in many ways steals the film as Hani, the director of Jordanian intelligence. From their opening scenes together, he and Ferris see a kindred spirit within each other and form an at first unease partnership. This then becomes a really gripping part of the story, especially as events around them seek to undermine them. Golshifteh Farahani is also great and does wonders with the role of Aisha, the nurse who looks after Ferris and then starts to become closer to him. Finally, even though at that time he was not well-known, Oscar Issac has a memorable if short role as Bassam, Ferris’s right hand man. 

Ridley Scott brilliantly directs this film and especially the chase sequences with the helicopters are spectacular. The look of the film, as well as the sound and script, are also perfect. The only thing that stops this getting 5 stars is that it does go on a bit too long, plus the ending leaves something to be desired as well. But still an amazing and worthwhile watch, with some good humour as well.