Body of Lies (15)

By Mike Polanyk

Director Ridley Scott seldom makes a bad film. The last six years have seen him notch up hits with Matchstick Men, Kingdom of Heaven, American Gangster and now this excellent spy drama.

Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) is one of US Intelligence’s top dogs, a resilient man working around the world in places where human beings are measured by the amount of useful information they have.

He’s usually directed by a handler back in America; the voice at the other end of his secure phone line being ruthless CIA veteran Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe).

Working on his strategy from a laptop in the suburbs, Hoffman is on the trail of a terrorist leader who appears to have orchestrated a bombing campaign while eluding the world’s most sophisticated intelligence network.

To lure the terrorist out into the open, Ferris will have to inveigle his way into his murky world, guided by Hoffman. But, as Ferris closes in on his target, he realises he must decide who to trust. Pick right and he’ll get out alive. Pick wrong, and he will probably be killed.

Based on Washington Post columnist David Ignatius’ 2007 novel about a CIA operative, this is typical Scott territory – complicated plot, polished production and a fine cast.

Scott certainly likes working with Crowe these days – and this is one of their successful collaborations.

But for me, it’s Brit Mark Strong who steals the show, with a bravura performance as the head of Jordanian intelligence.

The publicity claims that it is an authentic depiction of spying in the Middle East. It’s certainly compelling stuff.

The sparring between DiCaprio and Crowe is riveting and there are sufficient violent explosions to keep action fans happy, including a convincing depiction of a bomb going off in a crowded bazaar.

Body of Lies is a good, multiplex action-adventure film, with fantastic technology and a little bit of philosophising.