Over the past couple of years the big screen has been assaulted by a number of films that use the situation in the Middle East as a backdrop. Many different angles have been applied, such as Hollywood thriller with The Kingdom, political lecture with Lions for Lambs, and personal drama such as In the Valley of Elah, among others. Not all of them were successful in their goal, and none were all that successful at the box office, with The Kingdom obtaining the highest gross.
In short, it seems that people do not want to see the current war being used as a backdrop for unreal situations. I do not disagree, although by the same token I am intrigued by the stories being presented. Body of Lies is the latest in the series of films that has much of its action take place in the Middle East (not to mention an entire host of other locations). The end result is a picture that brings together actual world events and a James Bond styled action/thriller while maintaining a deadly serious tone.
Body of Lies is densely plotted. Don't step out of the theater as you are bound to miss something important. Such as it is, I dare not even attempt to describe the plot, as I am sure I would end up doing one of two things: one, I would forget some important nugget that will make all that I wrote mean nothing, or two, I would rob you of the ability to discover the plot for yourself. Actually, I would probably wind up doing both, and nobody wants that. This film moves at a brisk pace and has a lot to offer while never looking down on the viewer. While the subject matter can be considered a little touchy, the film is firm in it what it wants to depict and seems earnest in attempting to be accurate in its portrayal.
So, let us set the stage. Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a CIA agent in the field, speaks fluent Arabic, and can move freely between the numerous hot zones in pursuit of terrorist agents. Back in the United States is Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), Roger's handler and a man with his own agenda, not afraid to go through other channels to ensure he gets what he wants. Their goal is to locate terrorist leader Al Saleem, a rarely seen man who is extremely dangerous (and taking the place of Osama Bin Laden). It is a difficult task, as the terrorist is constantly vigilant for anyone who may be getting too close.
In order to get closer to their objectives, they turn to Hani Salaam (Mark Strong), leader of Jordanian intelligence. This is where things get dicey, as Ferris finds himself caught between Hoffman, who likes to go through alternate channels to get his way, and Hani who has a single directive—he does not want to be lied to.
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