"BODY OF LIES"
(2008) (Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe) (R)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Moderate	Extreme	Extreme	*Heavy	Extreme
Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Mild	None	Moderate	None	Extreme
Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Moderate	Heavy	Mild	Heavy	Extreme

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QUICK TAKE:

Dramatic Thriller: A Middle East based CIA field operative clashes with his supervisor back in the states as the two try to find and stop a terrorist ringleader.

PLOT:

Roger Ferris (LEONARDO DiCAPRIO) is a CIA field operative who's so good at what he does that he pretty much has free reign in his Middle East territory. That is, except for the fact that his supervisor back in the states, Ed Hoffman (RUSSELL CROWE), actually has final say over their collective quest to stop terrorists.

After Roger and his partner Bassam (OSCAR ISAAC) are injured while investigating a terrorist outpost in Iraq that might be under the control of ringleader Al-Saleem (ALON ABOUTBOUL) -- who's called for bombings worldwide -- the field operative is sent to Jordan. There, he's assisted by Skip (VINCE COLOSIMO) in working with Hani Salaam (MARK STRONG), the head of Jordanian anti-terrorism efforts.

After being injured yet again and tended to by Iranian nurse Aisha (GOLSHIFTEH FARAHANI) to whom he's attracted, Roger decides the only way to find Al-Saleem and his men -- who've abandoned technology in order to avoid detection -- is to create a fake terrorist who will challenge Al-Saleem's ego.

With the aid of CIA tech wizard Garland (SIMON McBURNEY), they target architect Omar Sadiki (ALI SULIMAN) as their patsy. From that point on, Roger and Ed clash over how to proceed, with the former being concerned with collateral damage the latter creates in their quest to find and stop the terrorists.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?

Older teens might be enticed, particularly if they're fans of any of the performers, director Ridley Scott's work, or the anti-terrorism angle.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R

For strong violence including some torture, and for language throughout.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

LEONARDO DiCAPRIO plays a respected and resourceful covert CIA field operative who's the eyes, ears and occasional muscle of his organization on the ground. He clashes with his boss over various tactics, although their end goal is the same. He uses strong profanity, drinks, takes a beating on more than one occasion, and is upset that Ed doesn't seem to care about the collateral damage their actions might have.

RUSSELL CROWE plays his immediate boss who conducts business from afar while handling various at-home domestic issues. He's good at what he does, but isn't concerned about any collateral damage he might create, as long as he gets the job done. He uses strong profanity, and does some smoking and drinking.

MARK STRONG plays the confident head of Jordanian security who has mixed feelings regarding working with the Americans and particularly Roger, but obviously knows his stuff. He smokes several times.

GOLSHIFTEH FARAHANI plays the Iranian nurse working in Jordan who tends to Roger's wounds and reluctantly allows herself to develop some feelings toward him.

ALON ABOUTBOUL plays the head terrorist who's responsible for various bombings and wants more to occur. He also briefly smokes.

SIMON McBURNEY plays the technology information expert who helps frame Omar as a terrorist in order to try to draw out Al-Saleem. He uses strong profanity, smokes, and drinks.

VINCE COLOSIMO plays Roger's assistant in Jordan whose overeagerness in catching the bad guys jeopardizes their efforts. He smokes some.

ALI SULIMAN plays the Arab architect and unwitting patsy in Roger and Ed's plan to lure out Al-Saleem.

OSCAR ISAAC plays Roger's assistant in Iraq who accompanies him on a dangerous mission. He smokes some.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

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Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

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OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this dramatic thriller that's been rated R. Profanity consists of at least 45 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also used. Some sexually related dialogue is present, and the side of a tortured man's bare butt is briefly seen (he's fully nude, tied down, bent-over, on a table).

Violence consists of people being killed by various means (gunfire, explosions, etc.), as well as scenes of torture, fighting, and a dog attack. Those scenes and some moments of potential peril might be unsettling and/or suspenseful to viewers, and some of that violence has bloody results (some of which is extremely graphic).

Various characters drink and/or smoke in various scenes, and there's a brief, drug-related comment. All sorts of bad attitudes are present, as is some behavior that might be enticing for kids to imitate, while there are a few brief references to a pending divorce.

If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's all sorts of handheld footage and other camera movement in the film (sometimes very bouncy/shaky).

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ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE

Roger and another man have beer.

A comment is made about everyday Jordanian men smoking hash.

Roger starts to open some wine for him and Ed, but the scene ends before any consumption occurs.

We see many beer bottles on a table by Ed and Roger (who holds a beer), with Ed saying he really needs to get drunk.

Garland has wine by him, and then again in another scene.

Done separately but seen in the same sequence, Roger has wine, Hani has a drink while wine is on the dinner table, and Garland has wine.

Miscellaneous people have drinks.

BLOOD/GORE

Ed's young son urinates in the toilet, but we don't see or hear anything.

Terrorists fire machine guns at an informant, hitting him in the leg (with bloody results).

During a gun battle, many of those who are shot have blood spurt out from them, while Roger is very bloody following a bar car crash.

We see a small bone fragment being removed from Roger's skin following an explosion (seen in very bloody and graphic close-up). Later, he pulls out a smaller piece of the same himself.

Among various things Roger tells Skip he (Roger) needs to do is "take a sh*t."

Roger's leg is very bloody (with bite wounds) as are his hands following fighting another man and being attacked by a dog.

Aisha gives Roger his rabies shot, but we don't see the needle insertion.

We see a bloody victim being carried away from a terrorist bombing.

Aisha jabs a rabies shot (a needle) down into Roger's belly.

We briefly see clothed dead bodies from the morgue (one with what looks like a bullet hole wound to the head).

There's a wreck and Skip flies out through the windshield and hits the street, bloody (but later seen alive, albeit injured in the hospital).

We see patsy's dead body lying in a trash dump.

Realizing something is amiss, Roger slowly enters Aisha's place with his gun drawn, and finds a little blood on a wall.

Al-Saleem smashes one of Roger's fingers with a large mallet (with very bloody results and Roger screaming in pain), and then does the same to the next finger (with similar results). One terrorist then slams Roger's head down to a table, and he and others struggle with Roger to pin him down, face-up, on the table. One then holds a knife to be used on him, but just then soldiers burst in, shooting the various terrorists dead (with bloody results).

We see Roger, after his severe beating, with various bad-looking cuts and bruises.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE

The terrorists obviously have bad attitudes for their beliefs and actions.

Some may view those who inflict torture on captured terrorists as having bad attitudes.

We see video of Al-Saleem calling for terrorist attacks around the world.

In his battle against terrorism, Ed doesn't care who gets hurt as long as it's not Americans or American interests (and thus isn't concerned about collateral damage or giving asylum to informants, etc.).

A man quotes Ed using the term "towel head" and Ed gives off other racist vibes in his comments and actions.

Ed refers to Aisha as Roger's "Jordanian piece of poontang," prompting Roger to kick him back out of his chair.

Roger and Ed agree to set up a non-terrorist as a terrorist rival to Al-Saleem, all to draw out the latter (with Garland manipulating technology and wiring funds to make that happen).

Ed tells Roger that the latter needs to figure out what side of the cross he's on, meaning a hanger or a nailer (some viewers might not like the reference).

Roger sees that someone has left photos of him and Aisha, meaning they're aware of that friendship/budding relationship.

When Roger states that he likes the Middle East, Ed replies that nobody likes the place as there's nothing there to like.

FRIGHTENING SCENES

Scenes listed under "Violence" and/or "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material.

Hani takes Roger out to the desert where we see his men with a hooded and bound man. Hani says this man was his friend who turned into a terrorist, and the viewer may think this man is going to be executed (but he isn't).

Roger sneaks into a hotel room to get information off another person's computer, and we then see that owner returning to his hotel room. Roger then hears him and has to sneak out without detection.

Realizing something is amiss, Roger slowly enters Aisha's place with his gun drawn, and finds a little blood on a wall.

Using their vehicles, terrorists create a dust storm to stymie the CIA from observing what's occurring, and then speed off in all directions, with one vehicle containing Roger as their hostage.

Al-Saleem smashes one of Roger's fingers with a large mallet (with very bloody results and Roger screaming in pain), and then does the same to the next finger (with similar results). One terrorist then slams Roger's head down to a table, and he and others struggle with Roger to pin him down, face-up, on the table. One then holds a knife to be used on him, but just then soldiers burst in, shooting the various terrorists dead (with bloody results).

GUNS/WEAPONS

Handguns/Machine guns/Missiles/Bombs/Knife: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details.

Throughout the film, various guards and such carry various weapons.

We see a tank at a military base.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR

Phrases: "F*ck that sh*t," "Get the f*ck out of here," "F*cked up," "Back the f*ck up," "Stop acting like such a f*cking ingénue," "You gotta be f*cking kidding me," "F*cking c*cks*cker," "F*cking around," "M*therf*ckers," "Go f*ck yourself," "It's too f*cking bad," "That was f*cking embarrassing," "F*cker," "Who the f*ck..?" "If I may be so f*cking impolite," "Scared sh*t-less," "Piece of sh*t," "(Cut the) bullsh*t," "A real pile of sh*t," "I need to take a sh*t," "You scared the sh*t out of me," "Sh*t-load," "Nobody's innocent in this sh*t," "Quit being a p*ssy," "Like happy hour at the cathouse," "If you're not thinking of p*ssy, you're not concentrating," "Jordanian piece of poontang," "Who the hell is it that we're fighting?" "Hell yes," "A terrorist asshole," "Screws up," "Towel head," "Whatever" and "You're a devious S-O-B."

The action and other stunts might be enticing for some kids to imitate.

We see miscellaneous graffiti.

Roger spits at Skip while mad at him.

Roger spits in Al-Saleem's face while angry at him, with a terrorist then doing the same to Roger.

JUMP SCENES

None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)

A moderate amount of suspenseful, heavily-dramatic, and action-oriented music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)

None.

PROFANITY

At least 45 "f" words (2 used with "mother"), 19 "s" words, 1 slang term for sex ("bang"), 4 using female genitals ("p*ssy" and "poontang"), 1 using male ones ("c*cks*cker"), 4 hells, 1 ass (used with "hole"), 1 crap, 1 damn, 1 S.O.B. (said as just the letters), 9 uses of "G-damn," 2 of "Jesus Christ" and 1 use each of "For Christ's sakes" and "God."

SEX/NUDITY

About the terrorists coming out, Ed jokes that it's like "happy hour at the cathouse."

Ed tells Roger the latter should take a few weeks off and "bang" the wife, with Roger reminding him that he's getting divorced.

We hear the sound of a man being tortured and then see him tied down over a table, nude (we see the side of his bare butt), and being repeatedly whipped.

Ed quotes a person by saying that if one isn't thinking about "p*ssy," then they're not concentrating.

Ed refers to Aisha as Roger's "Jordanian piece of poontang," prompting Roger to kick him back out of his chair.

SMOKING

Hani (cigars), Ed (cigars), Garland (cigarettes) and Bassam and Skip (cigarettes) each smoke several times, while Al-Saleem and a number of minor and miscellaneous characters smoke at least once (including one with a hookah).

TENSE FAMILY SCENES

Roger gets a call from his lawyer that his (Roger's) wife wants the house. We later hear that they're getting divorced.

Roger has a brief flashback memory of his family (presumably in better times).

Ed tells Roger the latter should take a few weeks off and "bang" the wife, with Roger reminding him that he's getting divorced.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT

Terrorism and terrorists.

The quote that opens the film by saying that those to whom evil is done end up doing evil on others.

We see video of Al-Saleem calling for terrorist attacks around the world.

The terrorists using only verbal or written communication (and thus nothing electronic that can be traced, etc.).

In his battle against terrorism, Ed doesn't care who gets hurt as long as it's not Americans or American interests (and thus isn't concerned about collateral damage or giving asylum to informants, etc.).

Ed's comment that those in their line of work end up screwing up their marriages.

Hani telling Roger that torture doesn't work since those being tortured will say anything to make it stop.

Aisha's comment that a man is not his job.

When Roger states that he likes the Middle East, Ed replies that nobody likes the place as there's nothing there to like.

The comment that nobody's innocent in the fight against terrorism (meaning legal and/or moral laws are sometimes broken).

VIOLENCE

Armed men raid a terrorist stronghold, but those inside then detonate their building, resulting in a huge explosion that presumably kills many people.

A man uses a large paddle to hit a bound, captured terrorist. We partially see the blows, and then hear that the bound man is dead.

We see footage of a car exploding, a soldier being shot, and a missile striking another vehicle, resulting in another explosion.

An informant gets angry and confronts Roger who grabs and throws him to the ground and then holds a gun on him.

Terrorists fire machine guns at an informant, hitting him in the leg (with bloody results). They then grab that man and start to put him in their vehicle, but Roger fires a shot from a distance to that man's head (no blood) to kill him and thus prevent his pending torture for information.

Bassam shoots two terrorists, while Roger shoots a third (all with bloody results). A small gun battle then breaks out, with Roger also throwing a grenade (it explodes, but we don't see if anyone was hit). Roger then shoots another with his machine gun, and then encounters a terrorist holding a bomb trigger in his hand. Roger shoots him dead and then flees, with that bomb going off and knocking Roger down. He and Bassam then flee as an even bigger explosion goes off. In their car, they encounter two vehicles of terrorists who give chase, with Roger shooting at them, while those men prepare to fire rockets at them. But military helicopters are then on the scene and fires missiles into those two vehicles, destroying them, but the second blast also hits Roger's vehicle that's then involved in a bad crash (he's wounded and very bloody, while Bassam is apparently killed).

We see a flashback to the above paddle beating.

During a foot chase, a person is knocked down, as is another person on a bicycle. Roger must then deal with a man wildly swinging a knife at him. Roger grabs, hits and apparently knifes that man to death, all as two dogs attack Roger. He strikes one and tries to scale a wall, but the other dog hangs onto his leg, although he manages to get over it (but suffers bad bite wounds on his leg and cuts on his hands).

We hear the sound of a man being tortured and then see him tied down over a table, nude (we see the side of his bare butt), and being repeatedly whipped.

A terrorist bombing rips through a crowded market (we see one person being blown aside, and then hear that 75 people were killed). Footage of that bombing is seen again.

We see a terrorist safe house that's now burning (presumably done by the terrorists to cover their tracks).

Hani hits Skip in the face or throat (for ruining an opportunity to get the terrorists). Regarding the same, Roger punches and kicks Skip, sending him tumbling down a huge trash heap.

Ed refers to Aisha as Roger's "Jordanian piece of poontang," prompting Roger to kick him back out of his chair.

The CIA and/or affiliated forces blow up a deserted military base (filled with already dead bodies from a morgue) to make it appear to be the act of a new terrorist outfit.

Realizing a patsy is in danger, Roger tries to get into his car to drive him to safety, breaking a side window. But that man takes off, with Roger shooting at his pursuers. During this, there's a wreck and Skip flies out through the windshield and hits the street, bloody (but later seen alive, albeit injured in the hospital). We later see the patsy's dead body lying in a trash dump.

While angry, Roger throws something against a wall that breaks.

Al-Saleem smashes one of Roger's fingers with a large mallet (with very bloody results and Roger screaming in pain), and then does the same to the next finger (with similar results). One terrorist then slams Roger's head down to a table, and he and others struggle with Roger to pin him down, face-up, on the table. One then holds a knife to be used on him, but just then soldiers burst in, shooting the various terrorists dead (with bloody results).

Reviewed October 7, 2008 / Posted October 10, 2008

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