Lions For Lambs - Streep Redford Cruise

Directed by Robert Redford
USA 2007

Robert Redford’s rep as a Hollywood liberal may sink this film, right out of the gate. Sight unseen, US pundits are accusing it of an anti-Bush bias, and with audiences avoiding Iraq and Afghanistan films in droves, a movie that not only discusses the War On Terror but does very little else is never going to beat Titanic at the box office. But this is more balanced than pre-reviews would have you believe, and more about asking questions than offering trite answers.

The three-stranded plot is simple. A senator (Tom Cruise) announces a new war strategy for Afghanistan to a veteran reporter (Meryl Streep). Two soldiers (Michael Peña and Derek Luke) implement those new orders and land in serious peril. And a professor of political science (Robert Redford) tries to motivate a young student (Andrew Garfield) to engage in classes. Two thirds of the film, therefore, is pure talk - Redford’s professor barely stirs from his chair; Streep’s reporter and Cruise’s Senator Jasper Irving have a sit-down interview. Even the soldiers are pinned in one spot. It could almost be a stage play.

But Michael Matthew Carnahan’s script and Redford’s assured direction have the smarts to make the static seem kinetic. The back-and-forth between Cruise and Streep, in particular, is electric; this will, if there’s any justice, see Cruise finally win an Oscar. Perhaps spurred on by working opposite the screen’s most accomplished actress, the world’s biggest star is on Magnolia form, bringing that almost creepy charisma to bear as a highly influential senator.

Excerpt from Empire Magazine located HERE

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Theatrical Release: October 22nd, 2007

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DVD Review: United Artists - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	United Artists - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:31:27
Video	2.4:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.17 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	English (DTS) , English (Dolby Digital 5.1), DUBs: Spanish and French 2.0
Subtitles	English, Spanish, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: United Artists Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 2.4:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by Redford • Featurette: "The Making of Lions for Lambs" (20:50) • Featurette: "From Script to Screen" (8:25) • United Artists compilation sequence (6:56) • Trailers (teaser and theatrical) DVD Release Date: April 8th, 2008 Keep Case Chapters: 28

Comments:

Really a Fox production, but labeled as 'United Artists' perhaps celebrating its legacy (or anniversary?). Anyway the dual-layered, progressive and anamorphic DVD image is excellent - good colors, detail and skin tones. No undue noise or artifacts. It is coded for region 1 in the NTSC standard. The captures below would give you an idea of the quality. There is an underused DTS track with an option for 5.1 (and two foreign DUBs). It had a couple of moments 'in the field' but the film is mostly a dialogue driven 'chamber piece' and that is clear and consistent supported by English, French or Spanish subtitles.

My DVD (a floater) would not allow me access to the two featurettes (20 minutes long "The Making of Lions for Lambs" and "From Script to Screen" - 8 minutes). I see there are other reviews describing them so I'll assume my DVD has an error. I was able to partake in Redford commentary which I enjoyed. He covers the production details and some of the symbols but narrates a bit and doesn't delve too deeply into the perceptions of the context - allowing the film to speak for itself. There are some healthy gaps where he lets the narrative run on.

The film? - as critics seem to unanimously appear indifferent or negative towards this film - I, of course, enjoyed it very much. Is it politically slanted? - yes. What I enjoyed was the excellent and provocative dialogue. This is a thinking person's film and if you watch with friends it might elicit some fruitful discussions afterward. You certainly don't have to believe in the one-sided storyline to enjoy the performances delivering adroit characterizations. I, personally, think this is well worth seeing if only for Cruise and Streep. But that's me.

Gary W. Tooze

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