Like George Clooney's, Syriana, Body of Lies is a solid action thriller. Both films take viewers on a rough and rocky ride inside volatile areas of the Middle East. Both plots twist tightly around the complexity of the international issues. Though both Russell Crowe and Leonard DiCaprio are advertised, Crowe takes a backseat -- it's really DiCaprio's film. Either way, the acting is top notch, the cinematography crisp and direction sharp and well paced. I'm usually not crazy about thrillers, but this one had me engaged from start to finish.

DiCaprio says of the film: "There are huge action elements to this movie, but the plot is very intricate. At the end of the day, it was how advanced the thinking of the CIA was and how that translated into the story that really sparked our interest and engaged us. As we worked on the movie, we became more and more fascinated with how an organization like this operates against an enemy that is extremely difficult to find in a world so unfamiliar to them."

While deception plays an important role in the plot, "Body of Lies" as a title doesn't quite fit the film. Here's my suggestion: "Ally or A Lie?"

-- Books by Author/Illustrator/Speaker Ross Anthony --