Lions for Lambs

This weekend I had the opportunity to view a pre-screening of the movie, Lions for Lambs which is directed by Robert Redford and stars Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, and Meryl Streep. The movie is about a ambitious senator, Tom Cruise, a politically charged professor, Robert Redford, and bleeding heart liberal journalist, Meryl Streep. The story begins after two determined students at a West Coast University, Arian and Ernest follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, 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 Cruise who plays the shady, ambitious and over dramatic senator is about to give a bombshell story to a hostile liberal journalist. As arguments, memories and bullets fly, the three stories are woven ever more tightly together, revealing how each of these Americans has a "profoundly deep" impact on each other and the world. However this movie fails horribly its noble intentions.
The movie plays a like long version of the typical anti-war moveon.org commercials and the same old talking points heard on AM950.

I do not have a problem with a movie trying to convey a political message. I realize this movie could be considered anti-war which I really have no problem with. However what I do have a problem with is the liberal elites promulgating this movie as having some kind of deep political meaning. I have seen many anti-war movies which I enjoyed i.e Born on the forth of July, Full Metal Jacket, Hamburger Hill, Platoon, etc. All of which make US soldiers look like barbarians and the enemy, victims of the Imperialist, colonialist, Republican war machine. The Hollywood elites have every right to make as much propaganda as they want and try to force it down our throats. But this movie is simply horrible. The casting was so off it makes you feel sorry at the pathetic attempt of Redford in trying to elevate himself to a kind of deity of political correctness. Tom Cruise is equally awful. His character comes off as this hot shot Top Gun wanna be who over exaggerates his patriotic concern for the U.S. Robert Redford looks like he has overdosed on Botox and reminds me of the typical anti-war idealist who thinks his two cents actually make all the difference. Meryl Streep's character was by far the best, and this is not saying much. She plays the typical bleeding heart liberal who sick and tired of Republicans and their evil manipulative ways. However she does play her part well and it could be considered the most authentic of the movie.


The simplistic message of the movie is that Democrats seem to do what is right, while Republicans are deliberately putting soldiers in harms way for political gain. This simplistic portrayal of the political landscape is obtuse and hypocritical knowing that Democrats voted along side of the Republicans for both the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions. Instead of trying to be holier then thou and overdosing themselves on political correctness, the goal should be an united effort to confront Islamic Terror with force and an unabating effort to crush its backwards medieval view of the world. This movie is a cliched effort by the left and what hear he from them on a daily basis. I suggest if you are interested in the leftist mindset and care to digest some anti-American rhetoric, you can browse the Internet or go talk to a political science professor on any American campus and you will get the gist of what this movie is all about.