Lions for Lambs

Not as informative as the Daily Show.

The dialogue writing and acting is top notch, but the film as a whole really stumbles under the unsupported weight of its message. The various stories, while connected thematically, don't really mesh together well and ultimately the only thing to get out of the film is "you should think critically about politics and life." It's a good message but one that anyone watching this already knows and the film brings little insight or inspiration to the subject.

Redford has been around long enough, worked with enough fine directors, made enough exemplary films of his own, that you'd think he'd be more adept at disguising his op-ed pieces as drama. Instead, he expresses some clear anger at the state of the nation with a three-tiered exercise in leaden didacticism. In particular, the storyline with Streep and Cruise is such a cascade of implausibilities that it borders on farce.

Lions for Lambs is essentially three plots interwoven into one story designed to teach the viewer about personal responsibility, consequences for their actions as well as concern to not believe everything at face value but instead to question and hold it up to scrutiny. However these three separate plots are so drastically different that it's rare that you find someone that enjoys them all. That's the film's flaw and it will never be thought of as above average because of it.

Three debates on the role and responsibilities of the press, government and people in the direction of the United States. The idea is good to bring the matter to Discussion, but nothing special.

Dismissed by many critics as just another left-wing rant against the Republicans, but they could not be more wrong. Strip away the politics and it's a film about decisions and personal responsibilities.

Yo this is way cringe like way beyond cringe. There’s this specific subgenre of earnestly antiwar mid to late 00s films that have unilaterally aged like milk ‘neath the Baghdad sun - not because I don’t hate neocons like infected anal fissures, but because neocons outflanked, co-opted and bought out their opponents to the degree that even Dick fucking Cheney is now treated as some rehabilitated figure, so what’s the point of movies like this today? Chuck ‘em all in the dustbin of history.

"Lions for Lambs" use of nonlinear storytelling makes the movie unenjoyable.

I saw this at the cinema, but don't recall much about it. Just another war thriller film in the years following 9/11, but the the three leads (Streep, Redford, Cruise) at least assert a powerful presence.

Not exactly awful, but the three related-yet-disparate do not mesh to make one cohesive movie. I like the extended dialogues, but they're not to everyone's taste. Cruise is amazingly convincing as the hypocritical, double-talking senator... it's like he has had comprehensive life-experience in that area or something. Streep is great, Redford engaging as always, and the kids are excellent. And it's fun to see Kevin Dunn be serious about politics after loving him for all these years on Veep.

54.500

Ought to have been called "Slugs for Snails," so leisurely does it creep toward its predictably bombastic conclusion.

Great writing, great performances all the way (obviously, I mean, it's a Redford movie...), great direction, great Streep.

Despite of the three main characters decent performance, the movie seems to fail with the message its trying to send.

Far more engaging than I had expected. Especially Redford's own scenes are very thought provoking.

Not nearly as smart as it thinks it is. "Here we are having a high minded debate ... " Riiight. For a movie that is apparently advocating critical thinking and serious discussion, its 'best and brightest' characters sure spout a lot of logical fallacies. L4L Drinking Game: take a drink every time someone uses a tu quoque argument. Please instead watch that other political Tom Cruise war film, Born on the Fourth of July.

In the best directing of his auteur career, Redford turns Carnahan's original script into a modern-day version of what Sergei Eisenstein called 'Intellectual Montage.'

Message-movie in the vein of Traffic and Syriana. But where they had a certain visual flair that made me disregard the two dimensional shittyness of poorly written characters only conceived to fill in blanks in the preachy narrative, this is simply too bland and conservatively filmed to be anything other than a reminder that a solid director, fine actors and the heart in the right place alone can still mound up to nothing.

"Lions for Lambs is, to put it mildly, beyond stagey." - Nick Schager

The long dialogues are not the issue here. First of all this is an American movie only for Americans, especially young ones. That college boy was annoying and used as "message carrier" doll. I don't know if the movie is one-sided but all the sides it takes are patriotic anyways. And the same, lame and hypocrite message as other Hollywood films: American soldiers are good but Afghan or Iraqi are bad because we were just trying to give their country freedom and democracy. Hell yeah!

One of the most interesting war/political films I have seen, at least in its first hour. Although it has stories in it, the film is less a storytelling and more a debate of various ideas. The ending is rather weak, but I guess the point of the film is that after seeing it, like the character of Todd, you are now consciously thinking about the situation and what your next move might be. Could have scored higher if the consequences of the characters' actions had been explored in a bit more depth.

Redford strives to be so profound he never gets to the point. In the end it's a hollow liberal argument vaguely about disengagement with the political process, I think? Imagine The West Wing attempting cynicism.

Best of Robert Redford-definitely, but that's not hard. It wasn't satisfying or inspirational in the end. It had a great set up and a realistic approach.

Perhaps a bit to "talky", for some. But if you're interested in the subject you're never bored.

This is unhumanly dumb movie! It's a one of a kind junk. I'm really sad they drew so good of actors in it. It's a shame.

worth a watch

This movie bored the hell out of me. If I wanted a long ass lecture about war, I'll go back to university. Good lead actors doesn't always mean a good time at the cinema, I'm sure glad I didn't shell my hard earned money to see this. This movie bored the hell out of me. If I wanted a long ass lecture about war, I'll go back to university. Good lead actors doesn't always mean a good time at the cinema, I'm sure glad I didn't shell my hard earned money to see this.

Preachy, biased, not incredibly well written but, well directed with some solid performances from veteran actors Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, Peter Berg, Michael Peña, and Derek Luke.

Passes the time.

Has there ever been a Republican-friendly Hollywood movie?

This film gave me a realization that I have men and women my age defending our country and I sit here not appreciating what they are doing. A real eye opener of how politics work.

Too much Hollywood. Tom Cruise sucked like all the latest movies he appeared.

This is a play, not a movie. But I think every high schooler should see it immediately...

Introduction to politics for dummies.

Not horrible, not great. Little too preachy for my taste, very talkative. The two soldiers were great, wish they had more time on screen. Tom Cruise was perfect as a Republican senator, and I'm not entirely sure what I was supposed to think of Meryl Streep's journalist, and what the point of Redford's scenes with the student were, but alas, such is life.

Three stories about war, however without rhythm and closing.

This movie is full of great, and important, themes and ideas. The problem is that it is so inartistic that it takes away from the potential impact it could have had.

Having raved about Lions for Lambs for so long it was finally time to take a well positioned set in the auditorium to enjoy a highly acclaimed contribution to cinema by two of my esteemed colleagues. However at a mere 90 minute running time this is a sanctimonious, over blown film that loves the sound of it's own voice & that was designed with only one objective, Oscar night. A lot of hot air & not much else.

The Candidate for a scarier decade, thoughtful and made with a whole stack of class.

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