Lions for Lambs (2007)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Robert Redford

Writer (WGA):

Matthew Michael Carnahan (written by)

Release Date:

9 November 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

If you don't STAND for something, you might FALL for anything

Plot:

Injuries sustained by two Army ranger behind enemy lines in Afghanistan set off a sequence of events involving a congressman, a journalist and a professor.

Plot Keywords:

Afghanistan | Professor | Decision | California | Reporter

Cast

Robert Redford	...	Professor Stephen Malley
Meryl Streep	...	Janine Roth
Tom Cruise	...	Senator Jasper Irving
Michael Peña	...	Ernest Rodriguez
Andrew Garfield	...	Todd Hayes
Peter Berg	...	Lt. Col. Falco
Kevin Dunn	...	ANX Editor
Derek Luke	...	Arian Finch
Larry Bates	...	Soldier
Christopher May	...	Soldier
David Pease	...	Soldier
Heidi Janson	...	Soldier
Christopher Carley	...	Sniper
George Back	...	Student
Kristy Wu	...	Student

Also Known As:

Lions et agneaux (Belgium: French title) (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Leones por Corderos (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Arslani Kuzulara (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Gyávák és hosök (Hungary) [hu]
Hrdinové a zbabelci (Czech Republic) [cs]
Jaganjci i lavovi (Croatia) [hr]
Kes liigutavad ettureid? (Estonia) [et]
Løver for lam (Norway) [no]
Leões e Cordeiros (Brazil) [pt]
Lejon och lamm (Sweden) [sv]
Leoni per agnelli (Italy) [it]
Leontes anti amnon (Greece) [el]
Ukryta strategia (Poland) [pl]
Von Löwen und Lämmern (Germany) [de]

MPAA:

Rated R for some war violence and language.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

South Korea:15 | UK:15 | Ireland:12A | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-11 | Hong Kong:IIB | Taiwan:R-18 | Malaysia:U | Philippines:PG-13 | South Africa:10M | Sweden:11 | Denmark:11 | Norway:11 | Germany:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | USA:R (certificate #43901) | Argentina:13 | Argentina:16 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:12 | New Zealand:M | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | Norway:10 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Claremont, California, USA

Company:

Andell Entertainment

Trivia:

The state flag in Irving's office is Illinois'.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Rodriguez and Arian are giving their presentation, they place letters of induction on the projector to show the class they enlisted. A letter of induction is a draft notice. The draft was over for over thirty years when the movie takes place, and since they volunteered, they would have used DD Form 4/1 "Enlistment and Reenlistment Document"

Quotes:

Todd Hayes: Who never says anything even though he never stops talking.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in An American Carol (2008)

Soundtrack:

Lean wit It

A Learning Experience About Yourself/ Not Liberal Propaganda

As I'm sure everyone knows this movie is about the war in Iraq. It shows 3 conversations between reporter and politician, student and teacher and two soldiers. If you want to understand what has taken place the past couple of years in the U.S. this movie can explain it to you very easily. It is not political propaganda like everyone likes to say it is a lesson about yourself and the decisions you make. It simply states that choosing do something about a situation is better than not doing anything at all. It does state that the war in Iraq is wrong but it does not bash it into your brain, that would be propaganda.

One great aspect of this movie was the acting. Great performances all around from Tom Cruise to Merry Streep and back around to the the director himself Robert Redford. Tom Cruise played so great he almost convinced me of what he was saying and I am a liberal. He played as if he was a politician himself. He seemed to be committed to the role he was playing and he to me was Oscar worthy. Merryl Streep displayed the problems of the media today. How they are hypocritical and contradict themselves, first going along with what the government says without questioning and then criticizing them. This movie shows that all that the news goal now is no longer telling the truth but getting ratings and money any which way they can, no matter if what they presents is fact or fiction. I think Merrly Streep role shows how T.V. and money have forced everyone to settle and cave into what everything the government has to say and there indifference to it. I found this to be the most interesting part of the movie. Robert Redford's role showed the problems that are occurring in this generation. He showed that the people from this generation are just willing to settle for what they have (sort of like the media) instead of taking action in some form or another. Whether it is protesting or even going to Iraq. It also showed that before the U.S. supposedly save the world from terrorism we need need solve the major problems we have here. Like education and making sure future generations won't have to deal with the problems we have today. There was also a conversation between Derek Luke and Michael Pena while they were trapped in the mountains in Afghanistan while trying survive an attack. I think the point of this part of the movie was to show that if we don't do anything to stop violence in the world hardworking intelligent people won't be around.

Let me start of by saying once again that this movie is not liberal propaganda. It does though say something about the war in Iraq though. For many of you foreigners out their I hope you don't think that every American is the way you picture us to be. They're some of us here who strongly disagree with the war in Iraq. Some of us can see that corruption is at its highest level in U.S. history. For other Americans who are reading this do your homework and look at what is happening in our country. Look I understand why people are saying that this movie is too preachy and find it boring. For that I have two thongs to say: Don't watch the movie or educate yourself better and try not to be fooled by what the government says. One documentary that could really help is "Why We Fight". This one is filled with facts so you can't really use the word propaganda with this one. Still what are you Europeans doing about it. All you guys do is talk and criticize America about how it controls everything. Before you criticize my country why don't you look at yours and see what they are doing to help the world become a better place.

I hope everyone understands that this movie is pointed at Iraq but it is mostly pointed towards ourselves. I tries to tell us that in any fight, war, conflict or event you need to try to make a difference even if it does not work out. Trying is the most important part of it. The ends don't justify the means. This points the finger at everyone who complains and does not do anything. It tells you to wake up from the idea that America is always right and never makes mistakes. Do something about it. Isn't that what people are obligated to, to support one another and to do what is right. So when you insult this movie you are not insulting the movie, cast or the director but yourself and what it is to be a person. When you watch this, get past the criticism of Iraq and look at yourself and think what am I doing to make this whole situation better.