Body of Lies

With the war on terror currently in full swing, a classic, fun spy movie seems a bit inappropriate today and a little out of step with the times.  Even the current slate of James Bond movies have taken on a serious and dramatic tone despite the fact they are escapism entertainment.  Director Ridley Scott seems all two aware of this and rather than making a traditional spy thriller under his stylized direction, his latest 'Body of Lies' is a straight forward tale of espionage that feels as if its been "ripped from the headlines".  Teaming again with frequent collaborator Russell Crowe, (who reported packed on fifty pounds for his role), Scott also brings Leonardo DiCaprio into the mix as two company men whose methods conflict, but share the same goal.

The film is based on the novel by former Wall Street Journal scribe David Ignatius with a screenplay by William Monaghan who also adapted the Chinese cop thriller 'Infernal Affairs' into Scorsese's 'The Departed'.  As Roger Ferris, DiCaprio is the man on the ground, a CIA agent tracking the movements of terrorists in Jordan and Iraq.  His arrogant superior is Ed Hoffman (Crowe), who makes use of Ferris' collected information and incorporates it into his reports from the comforts of his home.  While Hoffman gathers intel from airborne surveillance drones and NSA intercepted chatter on his laptop, Ferris puts himself in harm's way on a daily basis.  Following a devastating bombing in Manchester, Ferris is sent to Amman, Jordan to locate Al-Saleem (Alon Aboutboul), the mysterious leader of the terrorist organization behind the attack.  The m.o. of his organization is that they don't claim responsibility for their attacks and the frequency of their bombing campaign is increasing. The problem is that although Hoffman authorizes Ferris' operations, he is often secretly conducting a side operation that undermines the investigation.  Though the angry young man often clashes and disobeys the orders of his superior, Ferris knows that Hoffman is the experienced veteran whose secretive tactics often get the job done.  They are high tech pursuers seeking a low tech enemy in a game that has no rules and they are losing.

Ferris finds himself conducting his investigation with the aid of Hani Salaam (British actor Mark Strong) the head of Jordanian intelligence who conducts his own forms of ruthless justice.  Ferris' professional demeanor and command of the Arabic language not only gains Hani's respect but make him a powerful ally.  All Hani asks for is to never be lied to, a request that Ferris knows deep in his heart he can never fulfill.  The story begins to gain momentum when mis-communication between Ferris and his subordinates blows a planned takedown of a safehouse where their target may be hiding.  As the trail grows cold, Ferris and Hoffman devise an risky plan that may flush out Al-Saleem himself.  With their high-tech capabilities they do have an advantage when it comes to controlling the flow of information and by employing smoke and mirror techniques they just might be able to bring their target to them.

Ingnatius' story does have a "ripped from the headlines" feel to it, but this is not only an action thriller, but a Ridley Scott vehicle after all.  Yet surprisingly Scott plays it straight with his direction.  There are a number of chase sequences and shoot-outs (including an explosive sequence than ends with a wounded DiCaprio getting a victim's bone fragments removed from his arm), but none of Scott's trademark camera style or editing can be found.  Instead he chooses to focus on the story and the characters.  DiCaprio can't help but look boyish even when he grows lengthy chin hair to blend into his environment.  Yet its easy to believe that he is a dedicated operative who is more comfortable in a hostile environment than working in the States and dealing with a hostile soon-to-be ex-wife.  He not only manages to command just about every scene he's in, but convey his inner emotions which involve guilt and doubt.  The same can be said for Crowe, who adds a touch of a Southern accent to a character that could have looked cartoonish in the hand's of another actor.  Crowe, could have played Hoffman as a bully or a mean s.o.b. who only cares for results and although his decisions can often appear heartless, the character is quite likable.  It's also pretty funny seeing Crowe wear a cell phone earpiece for the entire film.

Perhaps the standout performance belongs to Strong, who as an actor is a bit of a chameleon and is almost unrecognizable every time I see him.  Hani Salaam runs Jordanian intelligence with an iron fist, but his methods gain results.  He seems to be aware of the game Hoffman and Ferris play before he's even met them and although he can be quite intimidating he's also a self described "exceedingly polite gentleman and a wonderful conversationalist."

There's a side story involving a prospective romance between Ferris and a local nurse played by Iranian actress Goldshifteh Farahni, that doesn't get the main story off track, but feels like an unnecessary addition.  DiCaprio and Farahni play off each other well, but their developing friendship pales in comparison to the double-crosses, God's eye view surveillance footage and dramatic tension which are the film's chief drawing power despite the fact that it tells a good story.