Director: Grant Heslov
Novel: Jon Ronson
Screenplay: Peter Straughan
Producers: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Paul Lister
Starring: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, J.K. Simmons, Robert Patrick, Stephen Root, Stephen Lang
MPAA Rating: no info
Running time: 90 min.
With such an all-star cast as is on display in Men Who Stare at Goats, I had to admit a little trepidation here as this film came absolutely out of nowhere and the trailer wasn’t even released until about a week before Toronto Film Festival. “Where did this come from,” I thought. This just seems like the sort of project I should have heard about months ago. So I have to admit I wasn’t expecting much. Wow did we get just the opposite!
The basic story is that Ewan McGregor plays journalist, Bob Wilton. Bob has a heartbreak. To ease his pain he’s itching to dive right into the suck and cover the war in Iraq. But with little experience or chutzpah, just getting in country proves more difficult than he first imagined. But through a series of local interviews he learns of a secret sect of the military focusing on psychological warfare. Running with this story, he soon fortuitously joins up with Lyn Cassady (Clooney), an ex-army man that is part of this secret branch of the military. Cassady claims to have secret powers and that the military is training all manner of more super agents (with invisibility, telekinesis, levitation, etc.). With Cassady at his side, the two embark on a hilarious mission of ultra importance. Though neither we, nor Bob, ever really find out what that mission is.
I guess the movie is sort of an anti-war film that parodies some of the rumors of cold war efforts taken on by the Russians and The United States starting from the mid-1950′s and on, that suggest the use of preposterous paranormal and psychological warfare. In particular, that “peace and good will, wins wars.” But the film never takes itself anywhere near serious enough to be considered a message movie in the slightest. Instead, it’s simply a fun romp through a war torn country that takes an equal amount of shots at the hippie culture as it does spearheading the war movement.
Exiting the theater and walking down the street with a group of fellow movie patrons, the quotables from the film were already flying off the tongue at a rapid pace with fits of group laughter. Others within ear shot who had just seen the film turned and looked with a knowing smirk. It’s safe to say that if there is an award for best lines of dialogue of the year, Ewan McGregor is certainly the nominee for at least two of them… particularly if you’re a Star Wars fan (and who isn’t?).
The pace throughout never lets up and the laughs just keep on coming. Clooney takes command per usual and delivers another knock-out performance/role. This isn’t to say that everyone doesn’t have their fair share of screen time and punchy deliveries. Including a very “Dude-esque” Jeff Bridges and a sassy, mean spirited Kevin Spacey (as only he knows how). During the final thirty minutes or so there are moments of near sappiness, but just when we think things may be winding down, we get another gut busting line that gets the audience applauding again.
With a ridiculous and even juvenile script, the dialogue somehow manages to stay smart and sharp with recurring gags that work like gang busters each time and surprise, quick-witted one liners. Of course the exceptional cast keeps things more than on track and it’s clear that they not only respect the script, but they were having a great time putting it together and it never once feels like the performances are being phoned in. This is likely a rewatchable tale that has the potential of being a compulsively quotable film for the current zeitgeist. A worthy entry into this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Yeah, the opening title card of the film reads, “This story is more true than you would believe.” Which is funny, but also interesting. I’d like to know more I’m sure the truth behind all of this is not nearly as entertaining as watching Clooney attempting a Jedi mind trick on al qaeda operatives.
This and The Informant! making a weird ‘sort-of-true-story’ double bill?
This was great. That very last line is going to be coming off my lips quite a bit tonight at the bar, I bet.
This could possibly be the worst movie I ever saw. I maybe laughed three times. Other than that I find the movie to be a disgrace and I wish that I could get my money back. It’s a ridiculous movie that never really makes a point.
The liberal view becomes very apparent throughout the movie.
I don’t know, am I missing something? I consider myself a pretty smart person, but I just don’t get this movie. I also have a pretty good sense of humor.
Liberal viewpoint? Sure in the end it’s an anti-war film, but it takes just as many pot shots at the hippie culture. I don’t think it has any sort of agenda at all other than to be entertaining and fun. Having said that…
I haven’t yet talked to (or heard from) any girls who’ve seen the movie yet. I admit that this is clearly a movie designed for the guys. From Star Wars fans to Lebowski disciples – that is who this movie is clearly aimed at. So yeah. If you’re not a 28-40 year old, male movie geek, maybe this movie won’t speak to you quite as much.
And for those folks that like the quirkiness of Clooney’s character in “O Brother”, this is the film that likely comes as close to that role for him as anything else he’s done.
@ The liberal view becomes very apparent throughout the movie.
Ultimately there’s two kinds of film goers. Those who are interested in what a film has to say and how it says it.
And then the kind whose brain turns off the minute they hear something they don’t like.
Well put, Rusty.
What did you expect to get from this by the trailer, Rebecca? I feel that whoever put together the trailer did an excellent job of conveying the tone of the film. What is disgraceful about this movie? The movie itself or the so-called liberal views.
Is this anti-war? Sure. On the other hand, I would actually say the film also commends the American military for attempting, without shame, to find a way for a “peaceful war,” looking for alternatives to the usual violent methods in the form of these hippie Jedi warriors. Some people believe this is a “stab” at the American government spending money on such a program, but I feel it was not in the least. Even if the Jedi’s ideas in the movie were completely ridiculous, the idea was one the military felt was worth pursuing – although with the final moment of the film, I felt that it was a message of “No, this method of peace did not work, but it is still a goal that is possible to achieve.” I think that it was an ending that anyone, whether liberal or conservative or in between, can find solace in (along with the “liberation,” which you could interpret in a variety of ways).
The film is essentially a quotable, quirky comedy, but it also does a great job raising questions of war and the way it is waged in the modern world that aren’t a matter of partisanship, but conscience.
yeah I’m real good at puttin things.
“This could possibly be the worst movie I ever saw. I maybe laughed three times. ”
I would think the second sentence would cancel out the first. unless every other movie you’ve ever seen has made you laugh four times or more.
Please put my things Rusty!
I saw this tonight and really enjoyed it.
Yeah, I’m really surprised at the 50% on Rot Tom. Then again, like I said it is aimed at movie geeks and Star Wars fans.
And fans of paranormal inquiry; both skeptics and credulous alike.
I highly recommend this podcast, an interview with Jon Ronson writer of the book.
http://www.skeptiko.com/
The interviewer is a believer and Jon is a skeptic. It makes for a good interview. I recognized Jon’s voice as a This American Life contributer.
I thought it was just okay, and that the narration robbed it of much of its energy.
Also a lot of the best stuff is in the trailer.