Body of Lies

Based on the novel by David Ignatius, Body of Lies follows CIA operative Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he attempts to track down a notorious terrorist based out of Jordan – with his ongoing efforts both assisted and hindered by his pencil-pushing handler (Russell Crowe’s Ed Hoffman). There’s little doubt that the film, directed by Ridley Scott and scripted by William Monahan, gets off to a relatively underwhelming start, as the complex storyline ensures that only viewers with an inherent interest in the subject matter will be able to comfortably embrace the narrative in its early stages – with the less-than-engrossing vibe compounded by an almost excessively deliberate pace (although, to be fair, the inclusion of a few well-placed and thoroughly enthralling action sequences ensures that one’s interest never entirely flags). It’s just as clear, however, that things pick up considerably once the focus shifts to the illicit (and decidedly outlandish) plot that Ferris sets into motion just past the one-hour mark, with the character’s progressively perilous endeavors infusing Body of Lies with a jolt of energy that carries the movie right through to its admittedly convenient finale (ie those soldiers just happened to burst into the room at that precise moment?) DiCaprio’s expectedly intense turn as the dogged protagonist is counterbalanced by Crowe’s unusually laid-back performance, and it does go without saying that the compellingly off-kilter nature of their characters’ love/hate relationship plays a significant role in the film’s mild success. And although the unevenness of Monahan’s screenplay plagues the proceedings on a lamentably consistent basis (ie what’s up with Ferris’ tentative romance of a local nurse?), Body of Lies ultimately establishes itself as Scott’s most entertaining and involving effort since 2001’s Black Hawk Down.

*** out of ****