Body of Lies is a 2008 thriller about a CIA agent on the ground in Jordan who hunts down a powerful terrorist leader while being caught between the unclear intentions of his American supervisors and Jordan Intelligence.
Tense and very well-acted, the story might feel a little dated but is nonetheless a terrific thriller.
Despite is great production value, it has lots of the classic spy thriller standards and can get bogged down in the formula.
Ridley Scott‘s Body of Lies is one of those movies that really divide audiences. As an action thriller it might feel a little off but as a political potboiler, is right on the money. In Iraq, Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a CIA case officer on the hunt for a terrorist named Al-Saleem (Alon Abutbul), getting intel from back in Washington by his handler Ed Hoffman’s (Russell Crowe). However, when Ferris disregards Hoffman’s objections to an operation, he’s put at extreme risk, barely escaping with his life when he becomes exposed. This all leads to further conflict when it becomes clear things are obviously not on the up and up in getting direction from Hoffman. It’s a twisty ride with some clever bends that make paying attention important, but it’s DiCaprio’s energetic performance and Crowe’s shadowy deception that make this the most fun to watch.