DVD Review: Body Of Lies

This exciting spy thriller from acclaimed director Ridley Scott follows CIA operatives in their mission to combat terrorism in the volatile Middle East.

When CIA operative Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) uncovers the presence of a potential terrorist leader operating out of Jordan, he enlists the aid of CIA veteran Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe). However Ferris soon learns of a web of deceit that reaches far and wide, forcing him to question everything and everyone with whom he had placed his trust.

AVAILABLE ON DVD AND ON DEMAND FEBRUARY 17.

Review:
There are jobs in the United States government that no one wants to take. There are jobs that are so secret most of us will never even know they exist. Then again, some are born with that special talent to blend in. These covert CIA operatives are willing to go deep behind enemy lines and do the few jobs no one else will.

Roger Ferris (DiCaprio) is one of the most intelligent yet brass-balled field agents of the CIA. Unfortunately for him, his main connection back home is a fat-cat senior CIA operative Hoffman (Crowe), who has never seen the outside of Langley. Hoffman makes it hard for Ferris to accomplish much while the bullets are flying, since he has his own side mission going for himself. On a mission where no one knows what the truth is, everyone is at odds, and no one trusts each other.

I am a newcomer to liking both Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. After seeing The Departed and Blood Diamond, I was a fan of DiCaprio for sure. Then after loving American Gangster and 3:10 to Yuma, I was an Aussie Crowe fan, no doubt. Seeing these two guys on the same side yet as rivals was one for the books. DiCaprio was on the ground, neck deep in all the chaos. All the while, Crowe, sipping his mocha lattes, barked the orders safely behind a desk. The characters’ battle of wits over the telephone is something to be seen. The politics aren’t so deep that you lose yourself in the middle, and the end has a good resolution for a film of this nature. I am a believer that when Ridley Scott touches something, it becomes gold almost immediately.

The Blu-ray version of the film offers a nice set of special features including additional scenes, interviews, various featurettes, and commentary by director Ridley Scott, screenwriter William Monahan, and original novel author David Ignatius.

Review by Charlie Giltenboth

Grade: A-
Official site: http://www.bodyofliesmovie.com/
Buy on Amazon: Body Of Lies

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