With a Hollywood legend of a director, an Oscar acquainted cast, and a writer labeled by Variety as “One of the Top 10 Screenwriters to Watch”, Lions for Lambs has all of the ingredients for a great film….and it delivers.  Carnahan’s smart script interweaves three storylines which take place during the same hour across the globe.  The topic is the War in the Middle East and its emphasis questions how it began, how it should end, and what can be done in the meantime. 

Journalist Janine Roth (played by the eternally fabulous Meryl Streep) is thirsty for a juicy story while genuinely concerned about the frozen political power in this war.  She interviews Senator Jaspar Irving (Tom Cruise) who grants her an unexpected hour of his time and the two embark on a tactfully adverse debate.  While she attempts to pry a statement out of him, quoting facts and pushing personal buttons (as only a good journalist can), he turns the tables by becoming the character we rarely see:  the congressmen with a plan and an apparent desire to be honest with the public.  Their conversations expose the vulnerable yet dependent relationship existing between the media and politics in times of crisis.

At the same time as the interview, college student Todd Hayes (Andrew Garfield) meets with his political science Professor, Steven Malley (Robert Redford).  Malley offers Todd the option of receiving a passing grade if he never shows up to his class again.  Dumbfounded, Todd inquires as to the objective at hand and these two begin their educated dialogue on what can be done by civilians in the US during a time of war.  Malley encourages Todd to use his brilliance for a greater cause and do something.

In the same hour, under orders of Senator Irving, a select group of army rangers in Afghanistan board an aircraft to launch a new mission hoping to blindside the opposing forces.  Two of the men end up left behind in the middle of the eastern tundra and their commanding officer executes every measure he can to retrieve the two friends.  These boys are Ernest Rodriguez (Michael Pena) and Arian Finch (Derek Luke) who were former students of Professor Malley.  Though untraditional of America’s poster war heroes, this Mexican and black pair assume positions of unbelievable bravery and loyalty.  Inspired by Malley’s classes, they decided to enlist and actively make a difference in this war.  By undertaking the roles of lions, they imagine coming back to the US and making real changes in the government and legislation.  Their story is shared with Todd at the same time Senator Irving receives a call to confirm that the mission he executed has failed.  The three scenes continue to overlap with the focus shifting to Finch and Rodriguez, their lives past and present.

The account of these young soldiers constructs the only real action throughout the film.  The scenes in Afghanistan are particularly captivating and portray the sense of isolation and disorder that must occur regularly.  What is beautiful is the degree of heroism honored to the soldiers, reminiscent of WWII classics.  All characters, for that matter, are likeable and relatable. Though they each harbor opposing views, balance is sustained because in the end, no one rises as the protagonist above the others.  Bottom line is, there is no villain other than the war itself.

In addition to some excellent performances, my hat is also tipped toward Mr. Matthew Michael Carnahan.  His writing is conversational and quick-witted, reverberated through intelligent characters.  All of you film fanatics may want to rip this one apart calling it predictable and preachy, but it’s well executed and entertaining and for that I am a fan.  Though the message is obvious, it is inspiring.  Its simplicity is to be appreciated as well.  Though Lions wasn’t King of the Box-office, I recommend giving it a try.