Robert Redford directs and stars in this powerful and gripping story that digs behind the news, the politics and a nation divided to explore the human consequences of a complicated war.
Engaging, if watered down, political drama that's more a work of filmed theatre than an actual movie, directed by Hollywood legend / multi-Oscar winning screen icon Robert Redford (who also stars) and coming in at a lean 93 minutes, 'Lions For Lambs' is a film of three strands. The opening scene introduces ruthless Republican senator Jasper Irving (another show stopping, hence universally overlooked, performance by Tom Cruise) giving an exclusive interview to respected journo/one-time supporter Janine Roth (a typically good showing from Meryl Streep) in a bid to sell his dubious war plan for U.S. victory in Afghanistan. Another story sees kindly political science professor Dr. Stephen Malley (Redford in wise patriarch mode) eloquently advise three students on the importance of social awareness and individual responsibility, two of whom (Derek Luke and Michael Pena, last seen in 'Catch A Fire' and 'Shooter' respectively) misinterpret his lectures and sign up for the war, albeit as part of the economic draft which forces our most impoverished communities (i.e. in America's case; Black & Hispanic) into military service for basic benefits. Their consequent colonial misadventure in Afghanistan (executing Senator Irving's idea) would've been superfluous, had 'Lions For Lambs' made its case with conviction earlier on, though the students-turned-soldiers story accurately serves to depict the tragic, real world culmination of imperialism, public indifference and chicken hawk hubris. Matthew Michael Carnahan's script is reasonably well informed, but plays political dodge-ball on more than one occasion, and I'm not overly impressed by his work as a screenwriter (Carnahan having also penned risible Peter Berg thriller 'The Kingdom') I think he sets out with good intentions, but a lack of serious, non-partisan research stymies any valid points he may have to make (the same goes for an auteur like Ed Zwick). That said, this film, when it identifies apathy & indifference as our greatest enemies in the struggle for freedom, briefly escapes the confines of casual coffee house conversation and ascends to the heights of insightful commentary. Redford directs with a sure hand whilst Meryl Streep gives it her all in a well acted dénouement; one that betrays some level of guilt / responsibility by the forth estate in its dereliction of duty to bring the powers that be to account prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. A decent start for Cruise's newly acquired 'United Artists', with an excellent performance by the man himself; 'Lions For Lambs', despite its annoying softly, softly approach, just tilts the fence left in its criticism of those who led us to war. Robert Redford's character has a line where he says: "Nowhere else have I seen such lions led by such lambs", a sentiment shared by many four or five years ago, but today, such a statement is applicable only in the wider sense; as an indictment of U.S. imperialism itself: In like a lion, out like lamb.
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Political thriller looking at the effect the war on terror has on a disparate group of Americans. When West Coast University students Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Pena) make the bold decision to join the army in the war on terror, their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley (Robert Redford), is both moved and distraught. As Arian and Ernest fight for their lives on the killing fields of Afghanistan, they become the tie that binds together two stories on opposite sides of America. In California, an anguished Dr. Malley attempts to reach a privileged but disaffected student (Andrew Garfield), who is the very opposite of Arian and Ernest. Meanwhile, in Washington the charismatic Presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise), is about to unleash a shocking revelation to a probing TV journalist (Meryl Streep). As the complex, interweaving drama progresses, the characters' fates become inextricably linked.
Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. A rising Republican senator summons the head journalist at a large news corporation, to sell her on the government's new military strategy. Meanwhile, a history professor is trying to convince one of his more promising students to strive to make a difference in the world. At the same time, two of the professor's former students find that their mission in Iraq has just gone terribly awry, and the men have fallen into enemy territory.
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