Rated: R
Starring: Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Michael Pena, Derek Luke
Directed by: Robert Redford

• Official Site

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.”

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."