A Film Review

"Lions for Lambs" (2007)

Director:  Robert Redford

Cast: Robert Redford as Professor Stephen Malley, Meryl Streep as Janine Roth, Tom Cruis as Senator Jasper Irving, Michael Peña as Ernest Rodriguez, Derek Luke as Arian Finch, Andrew Garfield as Todd Hayes

 

Synopsis:  These are destinies of six people. The man (Tom Cruis), who can persist in his opinion only by words, thinking he is the most intelligent and make right things for the sake of the country. Two men (Michael Pena and Derek Luke) who don't stay outside and give themselves up in what they believe. The man (Andrew Garfield) who also doesn't want to stay outside, trying to do his best for it; and the man (Robert Redford) who is trying to stop and make understand him. And the man (Meryl Streep) who loses his faith and gives up his principles.

Review: The film "Lions for Lambs" describes one day in the lives of six people. Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruis) starts a new strategy against their enemy, as he has to protect American people - it's his responsibility, his job. The politician works out a plan in action as America has been attect by diplomacy, and as a result there's a war, the war that the US can't lose. The Senator gives an interview to Janine Roth (Maryl Streep), who has dedicated 40 years of her life to journalism. Having heard the whole information, Janine loses her faith in the government, gives up her principles. Meanwhile, Professor Stephen Malley (Robert Redford) tells the life story of his two best students Arian (derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Pena), who didn't want to stay outside and, having left  college, they joined the army. They have been sent to Afghanistan, where were killed. Professor tells it a young journalist Todd Hayes (Andrew Garfield), who also doesn't want to stay outside. And Malley only wants to stop and make understand him the whole picture.

The film makes us think, think about war and the choice. Having watched this movie, I think everyone sit motionless for some time thinking, as there are different problems here. And every character personifies one of them. For example, Cenator - fight for power; Janine Roth - journalist's honesty; Arian and Ernest - self-sacriface; Hayes - youth's choice; and proffessor as a lighthouse, that sends on the right path.

As for actors, I'll say that: all of them were good, as all dialogs, emotions, motions, till flick of the eyelash, were accurate. Best af all I was estonished by Maryl Streep's play. I watched some movies with her participation, but sill estonish by her grace, self-controll and ability to express any emotion like she lives her character's life.

To sum it up, I'll say that: every day we can notice events that Robert Radford has showed us in this movie. I mean politics and everything that connects with it. Politicians just do their job, telling people only what they really should know. And it doesn't matter in some cases in what way the result was achieved, what's really necessary is the result itself.