http://www.fandango.com/movies/1/moviefanreviews.aspx?mid=108973&
Lions for Lambs … …
… imho …
an indictment of the media, politicians, our ability to gather foreign intelligence, and dumb social engineering ideas.
* Cruise is unbelievable as the “intelligent but calculating Republican”. The left wing Hollywood types take a swing at West Point.
* Streep is unbelievable as a reporter. The left wing Hollywood types indict the “wind sock” media. Which was clever the first time it was used; not not so much the second and third time.
* Redford was believable as the “voice of America’s troubled conscience”. But, then he exemplifies the Hollywood “watermelon” (i.e., ecological green on the outside but communist red on the inside). The classroom presentation of “eliminating the junior year of high school for national service” was right out of the liberal play book and just as dumb there as it is in real life.
I agree with another reviewer. “no John Wayne heroics” That turned some believable characters into cartoons. And, in this day an age, of overwhelming American air superiority, it would be unbelievable that a ground commander would not have air assets stacked up all over the place. Twenty five minutes to give close ground support. Completely unbelievable. No radio comm with men on the ground. No smoke or flairs to mark their positions for air support. Please. But them one would not expect the Hollywood elite to know anything about a real fight.
And, what student would not take a “no work B”?
I agree with another reviewer that it does ask some questions. Questions that deserve an answer. I state it as “what are you doing?”
Unfortunately the film is soaked in the watermelon pov.
* It assumes that We The People have to do something for “our Country”. That National Servitude, national slavery, is a good thing. Does a “nation” even exist.
* It laughs at the military, and the sacrifices made by men and women for what they believed in. Rightly or wrongly. The ride past the graves in Arlington while Streep’s character weeps was insulting at best.
* It insults the American people, and the youth, by insinuating that we are living off the contributions of our parents. It’s the gooferment that is the parasite here.
So, I think you should see it and see how many more trite insults you can find.
NOT RECOMMENDED for anyone but a policy wonk.
# # # # #
Reinke Faces Life 