By: debbie lynn elias
AFI Film Festival opened with a bang to rival that of the wars ravaging our world today with one of the most star-powered films to come our way in a long time.
With Robert Redford at the helm for the first time in seven years, together with Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep, they bring the hard hitting screenplay by Matthew Michael Carnahan to the big screen with LIONS FOR LAMBS.
Hard hitting television news reporter Janine Roth takes a no holds barred approach with her news stories and interview subjects, and never moreso than when going head-to-head with presidential hopeful Senator Jasper Irving. At age 57, she has been around the block and wants to deal more in cover-ups and past political and military mistakes than the ego of a young wannabe player. Espousing their respective views on everything from diplomacy, the military and foibles of Iraq to the Administration’s take on the spread of democracy, its morality and the moral and ethical responsibilities of the United States to promote same, no one is more shocked than Roth when Jasper drops a bombshell. The Administration has a new plan – conceived by him – which will be implemented as a means to resolve issues involving Afghanistan – sending in recon and highly trained specialists in small groups to secure strategic positions in battle zones prior to outbreak of battle. Asked when this new plan will be put into play, Irving responds, “Ten minutes ago.”
On the battlefield, we see Irving’s plan in action. It is flawed and ineffective at best. Flying into the Afghan war zone, Ernest Rodriguez and Arian Finch are shot down under enemy fire. Injured, stranded and alone they are behind enemy lines in the dead frozen Afghanistan winter. Former students of political science professor Stephen Malley, both were motivated by Malley to become involved and stay involved in this country’s domestic and foreign policies and problems and speak up, be a voice to be heard in way possible. For Rodriguez and Finch, their was to become involved was to join the military. Now stranded and alone in Afghanistan on a mission supposedly “unknown”, they wonder what fate has in store. Given the perceived “secrecy” of the mission, they are unaware that their commander is mounting a rescue operation. More chilling, however, is that the Taliban is closing in. Thanks to internet trafficking and the immediacy of news compliments of our media advancements, Senator Irving’s little announcement about the operation is no longer any kind of secret.
On the homefront, Professor Malley is actively engaged in trying to motivate the young Todd Hayes. Bright, articulate, but extremely cynical, Malley sees Hayes as a possible convert to not only his brand of political activism, but as to life in general. Using Rodriguez and Finch as the shining examples of what Hayes could become, Malley is unaware of the dangers his teachings have brought upon his two former prize students.
Robert Redford stars as Stephen Malley. With his usual affable command, he slips easily into the professorial role which affords him the opportunity to opine his personal views on activism in a kind, gentle manner that bodes well against the freneticism of Tom Cruise’s Jasper Irving. Cruise is impeccably cast as Irving and as much as I hate to admit, gives one of the most powerful performances of his career. Meticulous, articulate and passionate, Cruise brings Irving’s egomaniacal “do whatever it takes and who cares about the consequences” bravado to the boiling point and never moreso then when engaged in a one-on-one with Meryl Streep’s Janine Roth. As Roth, Streep is the conscience of this film. With a look, she speaks volumes, allowing us to see the wheels turning and her internal debate rising as she volleys with Irving.
Written by Matthew Michael Carnahan, there are three separate and distinct stories and mantras unfolding which all cumulatively intertwine after much consternation and verbosity. The most evocative scenario is that belonging to Roth and Irving. Politics has a tendency to rile and ruffle the senses and the sharpness of the dialogue between these two characters, thanks in large part to the performances of Streep and Cruise, is honed to perfection. Philosophy rears its often ugly head with Malley and not just Malley’s interaction with Todd Garfield, but with his prior philosophical debates with Rodriguez and Finch who now, must live with the practical reality of Malley’s philosophies. Although intriguing, the principles and ideals never really quite connect and all end at dichotomous cross-purposes giving us a sense of “check listing”, addressing as many heated issues as possible which ultimately come across more as an indecisive news loop that just plays over and over and over. I am most appreciative, however, for the highly intelligent level with which Carnahan writes rather than pandering down to the moviegoer and public at large.
As I said, Robert Redford steps behind the camera for the first time in seven years. He has not lost his touch. Mounting tension with every carefully crafted frame, Redford’s style is calculating and deliberate. With on screen text identifying each of the three principle settings of the story, he insures that the audience won’t get “lost” in the rhetoric. Particularly enjoyable is his direction of Streep and Cruise during their verbal volleys with camera angles matching the intensity of the dialogue. Overall high production values are due to the synergistic work of cinematographer Philippe Rousselot’s widescreen lensing and the production design of Jan Roelf.
Roelf’s work is particularly impressive given the diversity of the three principle locations.
“Lions for Lambs” comes from a comment made by a German officer and poet during WWI referring to the bravery of plain old ordinary British foot soldiers (the lions) who were slaughtered by the ineffectual tea-sipping, pinky raising officers (the lambs). Arguably using this same analogy for the United States today and its Middle eastern quagmire, assailing the political consciousness of even the most non-involved citizens of our country, LIONS FOR LAMBS, hits hard, hits home but doesn’t quite hit it out of the park.
Stephen Malley – Robert Redford
Irving Jasper – Tom Cruise
Janine Roth – Meryl Streep
Directed by Robert Redford. Written by Matthew Michael Carnahan. Rated R. (88 min)
