Yet another one of those shamefully overlooked 2008 films from Warner Brothers (along with Pride and Glory, RocknRolla, Towelhead, Kit Kittredge - An American Girl, Appaloosa, and several others)- Lies didn't draw in the numbers one would expect due to the names attached perhaps because in addition to the fact that it was a slow box office time- films about the Middle East have repeatedly failed to strike a chord with the audience. And it's because of its strong source work that the film works incredibly well due to its authenticity that rings true throughout in dealing with all sides of the conflict as- much like Monahan's script for The Departed- it excels at what DiCaprio argues is his instinctive ability to work 'with information and disinformation, and cat-and-mouse dilemmas between characters.' The adaptation of the novel by former Wall Street Journal and Washington Post journalist David Ignatius 'who covered the CIA and Middle Eastern affairs for ten years,' was first read in book galley form by Ridley Scott. While Hani- as Strong describes- 'prides himself on being able to achieve things in a much more delicate, less obvious way than Hoffman,' since 'his methods consist very much of not rattling the cage, but gently reeling in the fish,' Hoffman warns Ferris not to trust his Jordanian contact or anyone he meets. when you feel you're really alive,' there's a major tale of morality and intrigue unfolding before our eyes.Р”В®mploying his trademark 'four to eight cameras per setup,' as the Lies production notes reveal, gives Scott the unparalleled opportunity to keep moving, filming three hundred and sixty degrees of an entire situation so that he needs minimal takes to get things right as actor Leonardo DiCaprio marvels, he'll direct the movements of helicopters and camera-men synchronizing explosions and angles via his walkie talkie, 'watching all the different monitors, cutting in his head as he goes.'Р”Р‡urther stressing that in his view, Ridley Scott 'has a channel into the eyes of the viewer,' which makes him 'so good at what he does' in seeing 'the big picture' while filming is going on- while the humble DiCaprio may give most of the credit to the lauded award-winning director he was eager to work with for the first time- Scott's ability to get the very best for Lies was equally reliant on the fine-tuned portrayal of his two leads including not just DiCaprio but his frequent collaborator, Russell Crowe. A rare film that respects the audience Scott wants to lose in the sweeping scope of his orchestrated shots by making us never forget that despite the breakneck pace that he prefers since to Scott moving 'as fast as possible. Jane, Black Rain, Matchstick Men and countless others- one often forgets just how diverse he can be, moving effortlessly from the mesmerizing set pieces and extraordinary visuals of Gladiator to the more intimate character driven work found in Thelma & Louise or Matchstick Men.Р”Р„ble to simultaneously engage us in the internal aspects of a character under the most intense of situations- it's this particular strength that makes his most recent film- Body of Lies such a highly intelligent yet nerve-wracking experience.

One of this generation's most masterful directors and the man behind such groundbreaking films as Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, and American GangsterР”Р„s well as the understated but no less fascinating White Squall, G.I.

The words weak and vulnerable aren't in director Ridley Scott's vocabulary.

Body of lies movie reviews