The Men Who Stare at Goats (Official Thread)

[Ccharisma1]

The Men Who Stare At Goats is an odd but witty film with great performances by George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, and Ewan McGregor. This film reminds me of Burn After Reading a little bit because of the humor, and the way the characters are running around everywhere and you are not quite sure what they are doing or how the story is going to end. But one thing I do know is I enjoyed every minute of it.

“More of this is true than you would believe” is the first thing you see when the film begins. It is a very interesting and relevant line to use for this film. Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is a reporter who is practically down and out in his life so he goes to Kuwait hoping to get in to Iraq and cover the war. He wants a scoop that will change his life. He gets just that but in a way he never saw coming.

Bob meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), who claims to be a part of a secret unit made of psychic soldiers (aka Jedi Warriors). This unit was ran by Bill Django (Jeff Bridges) and his character seems a lot like the famous Labowski that he will forever be known as. Bill is a hippie who learned from Vietnam that you cannot win with violence, but fight your enemies with peace and love.

These men fight with their minds. Lyn and men alike can make clouds burst and make animals’ hearts stop. The question is if it is all real? Are these soldiers capable of doing such things or is it just all in their heads? Well you will have to see this film for yourself. But I can tell you these “Jedi Warriors” believe whole-heartedly that they are the real deal.

Lyn is the best of the best. He is in the history books for making a goat’s heart stop just by looking at it. So Lyn is going on a secret mission in to Iraq and this is Bob’s chance to get in as well. So, Lyn and Bob go on this adventure and the film becomes a road trip of sorts. As the journey goes along, we learn more about Lyn and the secret unit, and how it was built up and then torn down.

Clooney is fantastic as Lyn. He is brilliant at being goofy. We have seen it before in O Brother Where Art Thou and Burn After Reading, and it is some of his best work when he takes on roles like these. His character is funny, but the entire film leans toward being witty than laugh-out-loud. And McGregor is good as Bob. Unfortunately, his character is not as intriguing as Lyn or Bill.

I cannot forget about Kevin Spacey who plays the villain in the film. He becomes jealous of Lyn and he thinks he is the best of them all. He is manipulative and has more power than the other soldiers ever knew. Spacey does not have a huge part, but he shines in every scene he is in. This role lets him be a little more free. We get to see Spacey be funny for once and not so serious as his roles usually are.

The Men Who Stare At Goats is relevant with the times of being in war and dealing with secrets that we may never find out about. But the film is light-hearted and takes a serious issue, such as war, and makes it a part of a story that is wild and funny. Now it does a take a turn on the path of being serious towards the end, but the mixture works well. The film has wit and the actors simply seem to be having a good time, and so will you.

[daytona]

This is a very funny and well acted movie. When McGregor's character's wife leaves him he sets out to win her back by going to Iraq to get a story and Clooney helps him get in the country. McGregor is the straight man as the two set out in desert. The group led by Jeff Bridges call themselves Jedi's and you find out why the military keeps the goats.

[nsheppa]

Very funny movie. Great plot, it was actually better than i anticipated it to be.

[futuro]

I expected a lo more from this movie; I walked away a little disappointed.

[Tomcat]

It was not haha funny, but some scenes were fun (like the New Earth Army training), amusing and even thought provoking. All the cast was likable. But the ending was pretty weak.

[moviegatorgal]

This movie was a real disappointment.