Ridley Scott's latest venture, Body of Lies is a thrill packed, although not entirely believable look at a covert CIA agent, Roger Ferris (Leo Di Caprio) and his adventures through three middle eastern countries, single-handedly taking out terrorist operations, dodging bullets and romancing locals simultaneously.
Ferris is dispatched to various missions by ruthless puppet-master Ed Hoffman, a tubby, uncompromising Russell Crowe, who spoon-feeds Ferris highly classified information via headset while dropping the kids at school or eating cereal in his backyard, an all too convenient way of polarising the two situations of these agents, and the worlds they inhabit.
After sending a bunch of terrorists off to their 71 virgins at the start of the film, Ferris is sent to Jordan to liaise with Hani Salaam (a suave and impressive Mark Strong), the Jordanian head of intelligence, in an attempt to get help luring the head of an un-named terrorist group (although I'd punt it could be based on Al-Qaeda) out of hiding.
The action set-pieces are impressive, Ridley Scott has a distinctive style for his desert action scenes; sharp camera, shaky hand held, and bleached vision (think Black Hawk Down style) and I love it. Leo is excellent in the lead role, he sheds the pretty leading man image for a tough, committed a dirty turn as a man not totally convinced by system for which he is working, although determined to make a difference.
Crowe embodies the character of Hoffman well enough, and looks like he enjoyed the 500 donuts it would have taken to "shape-up" for the film, as he manipulates pretty much everyone to achieve his goal (although we're never sure what that is exactly). We watch Ferris from CIA headquarters with Hoffman, via super hi-tech gadgetry as he decides where next to dispatch his puppet with licence to kill, and while Hoffman remains thoroughly unlikeable throughout, it is Ferriss' willingness to commit body and soul to the cause that keeps us gripped.
Suspension of cynicism will help you to enjoy this film, especially in regard to the somewhat convenient attempt at romance, but this is the news we never hear from the Middle East, and while you're in the moment, it seems very real.
Definitely worth a look.
