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Lions for Lambs
2007
Two determined students as a West Coast University, Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Pena), follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley (Robert Redford), and attempt to do something important with their lives. But when the two make the bold decision to join the battle in Afghanistan, Malley is both .. Read more
| Starring | Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Michael Pena |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Redford |
| Genres | Audio Descriptive, Drama |
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Lions for Lambs
Two determined students as a West Coast University, Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Pena), follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley (Robert Redford), and attempt to do something important with their lives. But when the two make the bold decision to join the battle in Afghanistan, Malley is both moved and distraught. Now, as Arian and Ernest fight for survival in the field, they become the string that binds together two disparate stories on opposite sides of America. In California, an anguished Dr. Malley attempts to reach a privileged but disaffected student who is the very opposite of Arian and Ernest. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C. the charismatic Presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise), is about to give a bombshell story to a probing TV journalist (Meryl Streep) that may affect Arian and Ernest's fates.
| Starring | Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Michael Pena, Derek Luke, Andrew Garfield |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Redford |
| Studio | 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 29 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | New releases |
| Genres | Audio Descriptive, Drama |
| Language | DVD: English, English Audio Description |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | DVD: 24 Mar 2008 Production year: 2007 |
| Format | DVD |
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Most helpful member's review
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82 out of 84 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
An Important and Dividing Film
In the wake of the war on terror there have been many films critical of the actions of America in the Middle East. But none so far have had as fine a cast or as punchy a script as 'Lions For Lambs', which attempts to show us the deep flaws in the system, but also in the public themselves.
The film has three settings: one in Afghanistan with the impending action two soldiers are involved in, another in Washington as an experienced journalist (Streep) interviews a Senator (Cruise) about the next step in the military action in Iraq and lastly, a professor (Redford) discussing the future (and politics) with his most promising student. While this doesn't sound too thrilling remember that this film is not an action movie or even a political/thriller - it's a drama, discussing the political situation in America in 2007 through the narration of three separate stories that are intrinsically linked together by current events.
The dialogue is spot on, though at times is sometimes too perfect to be believable, but there are plenty of lines that stay with you right to the end. The performances are excellent, particularly from the three big leads and they deliver the script with gusto and obvious relish. Be warned though, as 'Lions For Lambs' is far from a balanced film, and it rams it's point home in almost every scene, setting and utterance. This may be bit much for some, especially for those that do not sit on the left side of the fence or for those who have no interest in politics, as there isn't anything extra to entertain 'the masses'. It is also firmly concerned with the American point of view, which may be a little hard to fully relate to this side of the big pond.
'Lions For Lambs' is (from a certain point of view) a moving, and intelligent discussion of modern American politics. From the other point of view it can be seen as simply left wing liberal propaganda, though likely most people in Europe won't feel that as strongly as Republicans in the US. And it must be noted that for a film like this to exist at all is a testament to the very democracy it's criticising. But it does ask a very important and uncomfortable question of all of us - if you take no stance yourself, and distance yourself from all events, then do you have the right to criticise the actions of those that make a stand? -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Killing people is helping people?
LIONS FOR LAMBS is a very intelligent and timely film that addresses what are being donein Afghanistan and our policy in handling the issues of the Middle East played out via tremendous performances from Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise and Robert Redford, with a strong cast of supporting actors. Watching Meryl Streep as a Journalist interact with Tom Cruise on the screen and the strong dialog that plays between them is a wonderful piece of writing from Matthew Michael Carnahan as they discuss the issues of winning the war in Afghanistan. And, as I am reading THE RACE from Richard North Patterson, seeing the Tom Cruise character play to a Journalist to get his story out is another act of political positioning.
Robert Redford as the Professor and his student, Mr. SC frat boy, discuss what he should do with his life, and hearing about the story of his two students who came before him, plays out perfectly with what is important to accomplish in America today as a young man and woman. The last scene in the film with the young man really questioning his career path is a great one. LIONS FOR LAMBS deserves a large audience, but it may play out as just another political story dealing with Afghanistan and Iraq, and it really deserves the attention and the lessons which the film delivers.Remember the scenes in the Afghan mountains and think of the men and women in uniform attempt to win a war of justice...or, in the end, will they be just LAMBS FOR LIONS? -
News and features
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Lions for Lambs: Andrew Garfield
- nrb
- 07 Nov 2007
We caught up with new-comer Andrew Garfield, the young British actor who stars alongside the likes of Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep in Robert Redford's political drama Lions For Lambs. Andrew told us what political impact he hopes the film will achieve and what it's like to star opposite a screen legend. Read more
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Two determined students as a West Coast University, Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Pena), follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley (Robert Redford), and attempt to do ... -