A near-total embarrassment for producer-director-costar Robert Redford, this polemical anti-war opus managed to alienate critics and moviegoers alike, earning back just a fraction of its estimated $35 million cost during a brief theatrical run. Of course, that's small wonder, given that instead of delivering a thoughtful drama about the pros and cons of fighting in Iraq, Redford and screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan reduce both sides of the debate to talking points mouthed by an impressive cast. Using the now-clichéd tripartite story structure, the film cuts back and forth between Redford's liberal college professor and Andrew Garfield's intelligent but cynical student, Tom Cruise's hawkish Republican senator and Meryl Streep's dubious TV reporter, and two former Redford students (Michael Pena and Derek Luke) who join the military despite their professor's objections and become caught up in a hellish battle with Islamic insurgents. At no time do Redford and Carnahan play fair: Cruise's character is a cocky, opportunistic ideologue who—its strongly hinted—hopes his new strategy for the war will achieve success and thus facilitate his run for the White House, while Redford's prof articulates the anti-war position without any real challenge from apathetic student Garfield. Worst of all, however, Lions for Lambs simply lacks drama (except for the battle scenes), playing more like a star-studded episode of Hardball. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director-star Robert Redford, a 21-minute “making-of” featurette, a “Script to Screen” featurette (9 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a pedantic talkfest.] (E. Hulse)
Lions for Lambs
MGM, 88 min., R, DVD: $29.99, Apr. 8 Volume 23, Issue 2
Lions for Lambs
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