The Unseen Movie Review: Body of Lies

By Robert Dixter Oct 17, 2008, 16:03 GMT

A former journalist who was injured in the Iraq war is subsequently hired by the CIA to track down an Al Qaeda leader in Jordan. The film is based on the novel "Body of Lies" by David Ignatius. ...more

There have been many great Actor/ Director teams in history – Deniro/ Scorsese, Murray/ Reitman and even Joe Camp/ Benji the dog. 

Now it seems a new duo can be added to that list, Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe have made four films together in a time where the highest paycheck dictates your next film so it is quite an accomplishment, almost as great as climbing Everest or being able to pick your nose with your tongue. 

Russ and Rids first film together was the incomparable Gladiator which is one of those films where I end up watching the whole thing when I’m flipping through channels.  The same happens with any movie starring Peter Billingsley or the mother from What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?  Russell owned Gladiator with such a strong performance and Ridley was robbed of a Best Director Oscar for his great work in it. 

The duo seems to work well together, and more importantly they make good films together (excluding the misstep known as A Good Year).  They remind me of peanut butter and jelly, if peanut butter and jelly could walk into a Hollywood studio and get a “go” picture on the basis of a ten minute pitch.

In their new film, Body of Lies, they have added Leo DiCaprio to the mix.  Now I think Leo is a fine actor, and it’s clear that Kirk Cameron taught him a lot on the set of Growing Pains, but I don’t think he’s a major $20 million celebrity.  He does fine work but then again so does Tom Sizemore and he tattooed Heidi Fleiss’ name just above his crotch. 

The one thing I like about Leo is that he always manages to pick interesting films to make.  He chooses great stories that he manages to get greenlit because his name is attached.  Would Blood Diamond ever have been made if Leo didn’t sign the contract?  Not at all, and if it was it would have been made as a bad made for TV movie that airs on Showtime or Spike.

Now usually I would head out to see any film by Ridley Scott starring Russell, especially when I see things blowing up in the trailer.  The main problem I have with the preview is that it looks like most of the movie is Russell and Leo talking on cell phones.  I already saw Elizabethtown and it was awful.  Film needs to show characters interacting, if I only wanted to see people talking on phones I would call my mother more often or I would download a podcast.

The subject matter is something I do find very interesting.  Any movie with the C.I.A. and their classified dealings is something I enjoy watching.  And if you’re going to produce an amped up testosterone fueled film, it’s best to have someone like Ridley Scott calling the shots while he’s chomping on his cigar.  So put me down for two tickets on Friday night and here’s praying the film is more Gladiator than A Good Year.