|
 Rated: R
Starring: Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Michael Pena, Derek Luke
Directed by: Robert Redford
An all-star cast, led by Robert Redford, who works on both sides of the camera and does a worthy job of bringing Lions For Lambs to life. But, I found the script by writer Mathew Michael Carnahan a treat with a trick. I was completely taken in by what I thought was a non-political movie only to be tricked into a ‘soap box" derby. The treat comes with the outstanding acting by Cruise, Streep, Pena and Luke.
Lions For Lambs centers on idealistic professor
Malley (Redford) who tries to come to grips with a class challenge that went
bad while attempting to use it as an example for Todd Hayes (Garfield), a
student who lacks vision. In the student-teacher conference with Hayes, Malley
tells the story of two pupils who made ill advised, but valiant choices.
The audience gets a flash back to Malley’s
dilemma involving students Earnest Rodriguez (Pena) and Arian Finch (Luke), who
come forth during an loyalty debate with surprising decisions. Part of the film involves Senator Jasper
Irving (Cruise) who calls a special meeting with Washington top reporter Janine
Roth (Streep) that affects Rodriguez and Finch’s ill-fated decision. Hayes leaves Malley’s office challenged by
his professor’s arguments, and left with a heavy decision.
Redford
could not have chosen a better cast.
Both Pena and Luke give outstanding performances as the two beleaguered
young men caught up in a desire to prove their devotion to their country. They each get into their characters well and
give great acting lessons playing off each other during their class debate with
a believability that makes their final argument a stunner.
Cruise dominates the screen as
Irving, the governmental huckster with a silver tongue and a charismatic
delivery. But, there in lies the
political rub. He’s too good, a visionary
to whom I totally succumbed only to be hoodwinked by a left-wing ad critical of
a right-wing government. I do not take
either side here, but I find movies no place to get up on a soap box.
Redford’s
directing continues to be strong, controlling the action in the film’s college
classroom, behind closed doors in the Senator’s office and on the
battlefield. Redford does a great job of
bringing the message by writer Carnahan to the screen, which rings clear.
Carnahan’s Professor Malley says to Hayes,
“Rome is burning son. The problem is not with the people who started this, the
problem is with us, all of us, who do nothing.”
FINAL
ANALYSIS: If you do not mind political essays in your
entertainment, and can look at Lions For Lambs as a lesson in loyalty,
then this film will meet with your expectations.
|
