Tom Cruise stars in one of three separate but intersecting stories, as a true believing Senator who wants the war to succeed at all costs. His sparring partner is Meryl Streep as a veteran reporter, who in the process of getting an exclusive story, acts as devil’s advocate to Cruise’s propaganda mill. Meanwhile, Robert Redford is a weary professor at a university telling the back story of former students that decided to enlist in the military to fight for what they believe in. Those students are on the cusp of a new military strategy in Afghanistan, that puts them directly in harm’s way.
The film doesn’t grab your attention at the beginning, as the three stories feel too disjointed to work together. It isn’t until most of the way into the film, that you actually learn about the soldiers and their experiences in the professor‘s class. If this had been shown earlier on in the movie, it would have humanized them and their struggles to a greater degree. Cruise took advantage of his bad press from last year and accepted this role as the easily dislikeable Senator, who blindly believes the agenda he’s pushing. Cruise’s portrayal of the savvy politician is as inspired as it can be grating. The arguments between Streep and him are all the same the public has heard before on the 24 hour news channels, as both sides talk past each other.
Overall, there is an unshakeable feeling of bitterness rather than hope that pervades “Lions for Lambs”. Redford’s attempt to enlighten and discuss some of the most trying political issues of our time, comes off much too heavy-handed to digest - let alone enjoy.
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and a brief sexual situation.
