Body Of Lies: Great Visuals, Lacks Emotion

By Connect2Mason Reporter Emily Cully

Roger Ferris (Leonardo Di Caprio) is Ed Hoffman’s (Russell Crowe) right hand man on the ground in the Middle East in the new action packed explosive Body of Lies. Hoffman controls his constantly evolving Middle East motives and plans from his luxurious suburban home just outside Washington D.C. There is barely a shot in the movie where Hoffman is not wearing his cell phone’s ear bud.

In the midst of caring for his children, cleaning the house, and eating dinner, Hoffman is giving orders to Ferris. Hoffman has plans of his own for the Middle East and he has no problem putting Ferris into dangerous situations to carry out those orders.

Ferris, on the other hand, has developed a love for the Middle East. He is fluent in Arabic, knows and respects the cultural standards and understands the strict rules pertaining to men and unmarried women. Most importantly, Ferris has a love and respect for the informants that Hoffman uses at his disposal.

Ferris and Hoffman have two very different points of view when it comes to interrogating suspected terrorists. Ferris believes in saving people who want to become “good Muslims” in the movie, while Hoffman has no problem cold-heartedly ordering their deaths.

The tension between Ferris and Hoffman pans out in a plausible manner, however all the subplots within the movie fail to liquidize into something tangible. While the characters are running around, telling lies, creating a deeper inner working of the espionage circle, and betraying everyone on screen, the plot fails to give the audience a pay off for the explosions and lies.

Even with the major plot line, it failed to capture and engage. The explosions are loud, fast, and huge and the technology is up to date, yet, there is no emotion. There is nothing within the plot the forces a feeling out, it’s dull and underwhelming.

Grade: C-