Body of Lies Review

Body of Lies will have you covering your eyes
Take a tough friend if you have trouble with violence;  you may need to leave the theater during some of this film's torture scenes.  But if you can stomach them, or get your buddy to tell you what happened, this is a great film.   The standard line that DiCaprio and his sidekick say to each other as they head toward life-threatening danger says it all (No spoilers here!)

Director Ridley Scott keeps the tension high
The action follows a tired but pretty effective CIA operative (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his associate, cynical pragmatic and desk-jockey Russell Crowe, who calls the shots from afar, as they team up to end a Muslim terrorist cell.  Their very different styles create plenty of tension with chosen ally, the leader of Jordanian intelligence.  You'll get a good look at the Middle East:  environs from middle-of-nowhere nomadic spots, border checkpoints, dense urban areas, Jordan.  Two cilvians are also drawn into the plot, which twists and turns its way toward the finale. 

Wasn't that a book . . .?
Yep.  This film is Based on Washington Post columnist David Ignatius's 2007 novel

Worth the Money
You'll leave the theater asking questions and discussing the film with your friends, always a plus in my mind.   Some fascinating points are made about technology in regards to the war on terror.   My guess, however, is that if you go, you won't be calling your travel agent to book a Middle Eastern vacation any time soon.  

The Bottom Line:  Libby Likes It (but couldn't watch the whole thing!)