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Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, Oscar Isaac ... see more see more... , Ali Suliman , Alon Aboutboul , Vince Colosimo , Simon McBurney , Mehdi Nebbou , Michael Gaston , Kais Nashef , Jameel Khoury , Lubna Azabal , Ghali Benlafkih , Youssef Srondy , Ali El Khalil , Giannina Facio , Chase Edmunds , Morgan A. Vick , Michael Stuhlbarg , Sherif Eltayeb , David Ganly , Bijan Daneshmand , Houda Zbit , Omar Berdouni , Richard DeMayo , Clara Khoury , Abdu Rahim Kashmir , Sami Samir , Xanthe Elbrick , Ali Alvi , Zef Balbona , Vedant Gokhale , Ran Nikfam , Albert Twanmo , Ellie Wang , Allen Lidkey , Drif Said , Zakaria Atifi , William Meredith , Howard W. Overshown , Kathy Brady , Quentin Mare , Matt Gulbranson , Jill Wolsey , Annabelle Wallis , Ben Youcef , Oscar Issac , Carice van Houten

Fresh off of their success with director Martin Scorsese's The Departed, star Leonardo DiCaprio and screenwriter William Monahan team with director Ridley Scott for this screen adaptation of David Ign... read more read more...atius' novel Body of Lies. When CIA operative Roger Ferris (DiCaprio) uncovers evidence indicating that a major terrorist leader may be operating out of Jordan, he enlists the aid of CIA veteran Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe) in infiltrating the elusive saboteur's vast underground network. During the course of his dangerous mission, Ferris gradually comes to question how much he can trust his presumed allies -- who include not just Hoffman, but the outwardly helpful head of Jordanian intelligence as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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64% liked it

126,917 ratings

Critics

54% liked it

203 critics

R, 2 hr. 8 min.

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Release Date: October 8, 2008

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DVD Release Date: February 17, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (7,842)

  • garyX
    May 31, 2013
    garyX
    C.I.A. operative Leonardo DiCaprio enlists the help of the Jordanian secret service to locate the leader of a terrorist cell responsible for bombings in Europe. Being a massive fan of Ridley Scott, I always have very high expectations for his films and this was no different. Unfo... read morertunately what you get is more James Bond than Syriana, the depth and insight into the political situation in the Middle East sorely lacking, the film underneath being more a straight cold war style espionage thriller. I did like the way it showed the parallel between DiCaprio's handler and the terrorist leader as two sides of the same coin; each arrogant egoists with no understanding of or respect for their adversary or their culture, using their "followers" as disposable pawns in their own little power games. It's certainly very solidly made, with decent performances, quality visuals and an intelligent plot, but as with Vietnam, I think we will have to wait til the conflict has ended before we see any truly worthwhile cinema about the subject, at least from Hollywood.
  • thmtsang
    April 28, 2013
    thmtsang
    Leo is a CIA agent with a conscience, on the ground hunting for terrorists in the Middle East. Russell is his boss who works from Washington DC and monitors the situation by remote satellite. Good intense action thriller. Lots of bombs, gunfire and torture. Not for the faint hear... read moreted. Great performances by Leo and Russell. Movie similar to 'Spy Game' in terms of working relationships and terrorist themes.
  • UniversalDreamer
    January 19, 2013
    UniversalDreamer
    There's nothing wrong with this standard thriller about a CIA operative in the Middle East going after secret terrorist leaders, it just doesn't stand out is all. There's a standard romance, standard machinations, standard twist at the end. Eh.
  • emilkakko
    March 4, 2012
    emilkakko
    There are so many elements here which give this film a place as one of the most complex and interesting in Ridley Scott's filmography. Every element is put together with great authenticity and detail. He is again working from a poignant and tight screenplay by William Monahan, ju... read morest like in Kingdom of Heaven, and these both films do have their similarities.
    Where Kingdom of Heaven was a story about crusaders and the clash between muslim and christian-culture, Body of Lies has also this same theme of cultural and religious clash underneath it's surface. This is certainly not only a film about world of espionage.
    While some will approach this film as a pure entertainment, they should still know that Ridley Scott is a director who is not only interested in entertainment aspect in his films, even if he is a director who is working with big studios, and even if he does make films that do entertain audiences.
    Body of Lies is a film with many storylines. Main protagonist of the film is Roger Ferris, Leonardo Di Caprio in a captivating mode, a CIA operations officer who is tracking down a terrorist called Al-Saleem in Iraq. His hunt seems to be the main storyline at the first sight, but Scott and Monahan reach for something much more complex and deeper than just a straightforward storyline.
    Monahan's taut script is such an multilayered insight into world of espionage and the cultural differences between humans. One of the most interesting sub-plots involves a young local nurse named Aisha, who later in the film becomes a major character in the main storyline. Through her character we get an interesting look into a another culture and their manners. It is also good thing to see that Scott and Monahan are not trying to preach or take sides here. Sure, the film does clearly make a clear point in it's final minutes about what does it think about the American gung ho - policy, but it does it with elegance and without anykind of underlining.
    It would be crime from me not mention anything about the technical values of Body of Lies which are outstanding. Once again Ridley Scott has teamed up with his regulars editor Pietro Scalia, production designer Arthur Max, costume designer Janty Yeates and his new wonderful composer Marc Streitenfeld who has done very good job now in two of Scott's films.
    This is an intelligent film and efficient antithesis against the typical Hollywood slam-bang action-film, which are all too often all about explosions, effects and no content of anykind. Body of Lies is no classic or high-art, but it is solid enough. It's biggest flaw is it's overtly familiar material that make it unoriginal and a bit too cliched stuff.
  • fb100001050230219
    February 12, 2012
    fb100001050230219
    One of Ridley Scott's most underrated movies.
  • TheGame90
    January 24, 2012
    TheGame90
    I don't know what to say. It's a good movie. But I just feel I have no personal interest in the story. It's well done and all...so...good for them. And let's remember everybody...This is Lenny D's big 10-0
  • cosmo313
    December 27, 2011
    cosmo313
    Based on a novel, this is a spy thriller about the hunt for a fictional "jihadist" terrorist conducted by the combined efforts of the CIA and Jordanian Intelligence. Roger Ferris is the CIA's main man in the field. Along with his efforts to capture the elusive terrorist mastermin... read mored he begins a tentative romantic relationship with a local nurse named Aisha. No matter what he is doing though, he is almost always being observed by a surveillance camera from high above. On the other end of that camera is his superior Ed Hoffman, who, despite his years of experience and guidance, might not be as on the level as he should. Their (mostly Roger's) main contact on the Jordanian side is Hani, the head of Jordanin Intelligence. To make matters interesting (besides the romantic subplot), the various tactics and methods of the three men don't always align, and everyone begins to learn that trust can be just as dangerous as it is important.

    Adapted by Oscar winning screenwriter William Monaghan and helmed by Oscar nominated film legend Ridley Scott, this is an old fashioned spy thriller (in plot basics and formula) with a contemporary update and execution (with style, plot specifics, and context). It's engaging, thought provoking, and a fairly solid thriller. That it looks great, has a lot of talent involved, and tries to insert contemporary (and relevant) issues and events into a standard sort of yarn gives it a lot of weight as well.

    It's mostly works, but it's not without its issues, mainly being perhaps a tad too contrived and convoluted (mostly with its use of typical genre plot machinations), and not having a good finish to what could have been a potent subplot (the romance). About the first problem: this isn't the most dense or intricately layered film, but still, it seems a bit murky. About the romance: I was worried at first that the thing between Roger and Aisha would just be something shoehorned in there just for the sake of contrast to the rest of the film, and I started to be right, but then the film started to show some growth and development, especially with a scene where Roger vistis Aisha and her sister and gets into a cultural debate. After that though, the film does as I originally expected, and turns the romance into a typical plot device and ceases doing anymore with it, which is a shame because it started off with a nicely established cultural context and buildup.

    I did enjoy the cinematography, complete with context specific lighting, gorgeous landscape shots, and in general camera placement, and the film's themes and discussions of various issues, mostly the socio-political-cultural stuff. It's a decent enough yarn, and the performances are pretty decent, especially the three main players (Leonardo DiCaprio as Roger, Russell Crowe as Ed, and Mark Strong (the real scene stealer) as Hani). Despite all that's good though, I think the film could have been better had it been more balanced, a little more straightforward, and perhaps just reworked all over. Had that been done, the film could have had a more satisfying finish (though it's not a complete letdown or failure, just a tad underwhelming). Also, I know there have been great advances in technology, but I find it hard to believe that everyone in this film has excellent cell phone reception at all times.

    This is not one of Scott's masterworks, but despite it's flaws, it's not scarred enough to rank as one of his lowest efforts. I'd call it somewhere on the low end of the high side. You should give it a watch though, because it's got a lot to offer, does a lot of stuff fairly well, and provides a decent amount of entertainment.
  • SirPant
    September 28, 2011
    SirPant
    I wouldn't say Body of Lies is a return to form for Ridley Scott but along with American Gangster, it's certainly making up for a spell of bad films. It's the best I've seen Leonardo DiCaprio I have to say, I'm not usually a fan but I thought he did a great job here. I also liked... read more Russell Crowe, although I still haven't quite forgiven either he or Ridley Scott for Another Year just yet. The contrast and ongoing relationship between the man in the field and the man making the decisions at home is what gives this film the edge. The acting is good, the action thrilling but tasteful and the story is pretty good too. I didn't care much for the love interest story line, it didn't seem in keeping with character but it was a good film overall.
  • Julie
    September 11, 2011
    Julie
    There are some big holes in this plot, big enough that not even Leo and Russell can manage to plug them up. But not a horrible way to spend a few hours.
  • danperry17
    July 3, 2011
    danperry17
    Maybe it's because the many bad reviews lowered my expectations, but I found this movie entertaining enough. The love story was shoehorned in and unnecessary - does every movie HAVE to have a love story, now? - but otherwise, the plot was solid, and the suspense kept ratcheting u... read morep as the film moved along. The conclusion was a little implausible, and the roles didn't demand a lot from these talented actors (though they acquitted themselves well), but a ho-hum outing from Ridley Scott still ranks above some of the crappy imitations out there. Fun, disposable intrigue.

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Critic Reviews

Trevor Johnston
November 21, 2008
Trevor Johnston, Time Out

Perhaps Scott's ever-restless shooting style doesn't quite differentiate between the peaks and troughs of the narrative, yet it's still an engrossing account of the intersection between process and et... Full Review

Jonathan F. Richards
November 10, 2008
Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com

Good solid far-fetched multiplex action-adventure fare in the Bondian mode, with awe-inspiring technology and just enough moral philosophizing laced through it to give the mind a little something to c... Full Review

Ben Lyons
November 10, 2008
Ben Lyons, At the Movies

Just because it's really dense and layered doesn't mean it's good. Full Review

Ben Mankiewicz
November 10, 2008
Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies

A complicated movie about the war on terror with two terrific performances and a terrific director. Full Review

Michael Phillips
October 18, 2008
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

DiCaprio's solid, though I wonder if a real CIA agent could get away with looking so earnest every second. Crowe has the right idea, in addition to all the fun: Just throw it away, throw it away and p... Full Review

Joe Williams
October 18, 2008
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Body of Lies has nothing to say about geopolitics, the action scenes are formulaic, and DiCaprio is rarely on the screen with Crowe, who coasts through the most puzzling performance of his career. Full Review

Tom Charity
October 18, 2008
Tom Charity, CNN.com

Yes, there are a couple of chase scenes, but Scott rarely shifts into high gear. Full Review

Peter Rainer
October 13, 2008
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

A high-priced potboiler that never comes to a boil. Full Review

Christopher Orr
October 10, 2008
Christopher Orr, The New Republic

Its chief bid at seriousness, a confrontational colloquy with the top terrorist near the end of the film, comes across as the awkward regurgitation of a hastily swallowed subscription to The Economist. Full Review

Joe Morgenstern
October 10, 2008
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

It's a study in semisimilitude, more Google-Earthly than grounded in feelings. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Hani: Insa.
    • Ed Hoffman: So he wants to come to America in one piece instead of going to paraidse in a thousand... he should've thought of that before.
    • Hoffman's Wife: Ed, it's 6:00 in the morning.
    • Ed Hoffman: Saving civilization, honey.
    • Roger Ferris: If something happens you'll shoot me, right?
    • Bassam: Yep.
    • Roger Ferris: Good.
    • Bassam: Big boss, man, what's happening?
    • Roger Ferris: Rules of the day: If the car gets immobolized, start shooting; nobody gets traded, everybody dies.
    • Bassam: So, same as everyday?
    • Roger Ferris: You got it.
    • Roger Ferris: You are a rare and delicate flower.
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Body of Lies Trivia

  • "Here lies the body of Mary Lee; died at the age of a hundred and three. For fifteen years she kept her virginity; not a bad record for this vicinity." A rhyme which can be heard in which Steven Spielberg movie?  Answer »
  • Ridley Scott(as director) and Russell Crowe(as an actor) have collaborated on 3 movies before the upcoming "Body Of Lies" and "Sheriff Of Nothingham". 2 of them are "American Gangster" and "Gladiator". Name the 3rd movie.  Answer »
  • who stars in body of lies   Answer »
  • who starred in body of lies  Answer »
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