The Men Who Stare at Goats

[Bourne101]

Directed by Grant Heslov

Written by Peter Straughan

Genre: Comedy

Plot Outline: Reporter Bob Wilton is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady, a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Now, the program's founder, Bill Django, has gone missing and Cassady's mission is to find him. Intrigued by his new acquaintance's far-fetched stories, Bob impulsively decides to tag along. When the pair tracks Django to a clandestine training camp run by renegade psychic Larry Hooper, the reporter is trapped in the middle of a grudge match between the forces of Django's New Earth Army and Hooper's personal militia of super soldiers. In order to survive this wild adventure, Bob will have to outwit an enemy he never thought possible.

Starring: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Rebecca Mader

Rated R for language, some drug content and brief nudity.

Runtime: 93 mintues

Looks very intelligent and hilarious. Definitely checking this one out.

[ilovemovies]

I don't know about intelligent but it DOES look HILARIOUS! Can't wait to see it! Great cast too!

[MisterChristian]

Seeing a screening on Wednesday.

[Smiert Spionam]

Looks like an awesome time. Great cast.

[SpongeMike182]

George Clooney is great when he gets a coen bros. kind of role. funny thing is this looks like a coen bros. movie but it's not. It's weird, cool, and it's got some great actors. Count me in. Plus how often do you get to see George Clooney use his psychic powers to make a goat fall over?

[ericdraven]

two of my favorite actors(Clooney and Bridges) in the same movie = me jizzing my pants.

[screamer581]

Looks awesome. I need to read the book one of these days as well.

Heh and Goat.

[Highspeed]

Definately lookin forward to this it looks hilarious.

[cloneofkelso]

Looks preety good Clooney doesn't let me down too often although Michael Clayton was a snooze fest

[Mr. Peanut]

I started to dislike Clooney about 2-3 years ago. The man gets too much credit, and within the next decade seems to be looking to take over Hollywood (as best he can). Ive even heard the man is possibly the next guy to head the MPAA? In any case, until his popularity dies down and people stop sucking him off - I am going to be a Clooney Anti-Fan.

This looks funny as hell though, Ill no doubt see it. I love the cast (sans Clooney, who is actually a decent actor and better director). I wish I could play the biggest prank on him ever and just go to every shoot he has and do the voice from Amityville Horror... "GET... OUT... !" After about a month or two I think hed be freaked out enough to pack his bags and head out.

[poguesfan]

I fucking hate George Clooney (smug motherfucker) but I enjoy his movies, so go fucking figure. I'll check this one out, looks like it falls in line with other political satire as Dr. Strangelove and Burned After Reading, to name a few.

[echo_bravo]

Definitely looks funny. Not sure when I'll be able to see this though. Hopefully sometime in theaters.

(Bridges looks like he is gonna steal every scene)

[screamer581]

Wow, Owen Gleiberman gave this an F. I think George Clooney must have stolen his wife from him at some point. (He gave O Brother... an F as well)


http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20317535,00.html

[ilovemovies]

Yeah, that really surprised me. I mean, I've seen this movie get some mixed reviews but an F? C'mon. That grade should be reserved for the worst movies of the year, and even if this disappoints, I highly doubt it'll be down there with drek like Halloween II, Crank: High Voltage and The Unborn.

[ElderPredator]

It's terrible because in the film, there is a shootout at an army base and now the Fort Hood massacre. I really hope it doesn't hurt the film and I can't wait to see it tonight!

[jz68]

The people who cut the trailer for this deserve an Academy Award. I haven't been this disappointed in a movie in a long time. A few chuckles other than what we saw in the trailer but not much else.

4/10

[IAmZod]

But was really great. It wasn't gut-busting funny, but it was great. And what got me really liking the flick was the quote at the beginning "You wont believe how much of this isn't made up" or something to that effect. Which puts a whole new spin on it. Sure maybe the scenes aren't too funny when you present them as comedic fiction ala O Brother Where Art Thou, but to know that there is a chance that what you see on screen really happened, it is fantastic.

8.5/10

[Cbenz]

I can't say I was too impressed with this, and I was looking forward to it so much. Clooney and Spacey were hilarious, but the plot didn't seemed to have anywhere to go. The ending felt so pointless.

The thing that ruined it for me was the lack of music. There were a few classic rock songs thrown in for narrative relevance, but other than that there was very little music at all. This made the comedic scenes which fell flat, fall even harder. This wasn't helped by the fact that someone fell asleep in the theater during the screening and snored loudly throughout the film's run-time.

I loved the General though. He was the best part. I would have rather watched a movie about how the army puts up with a wacky general who tries to walk through his office wall. That would be a far out movie.

[Bourne101]

The Men Who Stare at Goats - 7/10

I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. This movie is fucking hilarious. Clooney, McGregor, Bridges and Spacey are all a hoot and all do a great job. The story is completely crazy. It's amazing that some of it is actually true. But as crazy and stupid as some of the stuff is, the film is very intelligently written, even if it is a tad unfocused at times. It's a breezy, hilarious, well-acted and intelligent comedy that flies by in no time. I definitely recommend it.

[TeeRay]

It was a really odd movie, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. I can't really explain why but I really dug the last scene. It seemed so appropriate.

4.5/5

[bigred760]

I'll be seeing this tomorrow.

[SkyNet]

Didnt laugh my ass off at the flick.. but i did thoroughly enjoy it. It entertained me, and that is all i ever ask. Plus with that cast, i mean, the flick could have been complete shit, but you get a cast like that and it is going to be an enjoyment to watch.

[bigred760]

I also didn't laugh hysterically at the movie, but it definitely had its moments . . . and plenty of them. It's not really a comedy, but more of a dramedy, or simply a drama with some funny quirks about it. Clooney is fantastic in the movie, and Ewan McGregor also delivers a great performance as a reporter following a "psychic" soldier in Iraq on a mission. The movie does a good storytelling job as it follows the two on their "mission" while McGregor explains a lot of the history behind Clooney's "super powers" in flashback sequences. These sequences include Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey and include most of the movie's funny scenes. The weirdness of some of the situations as Clooney explains his super-abilities and as we see how the U.S. Army backed this group of soldiers is where most of the movie's charm lies. I especially enjoyed how Clooney explains a lot of what a "jedi" (what the special unit called its members) is to Ewan McGregor. The movie does have its lulls here and there, but in the end - is quite an enjoyable movie.

7/10

[JoeChar4321]

Originally Posted by jz68

The people who cut the trailer for this deserve an Academy Award. I haven't been this disappointed in a movie in a long time. A few chuckles other than what we saw in the trailer but not much else.

4/10

I feel the exact same way. Those trailer people earned their pay on this turd.

4/10

What an absolute waste of on screen talent. Many times during this dull and genuinely unamusing film a thought popped in to my head... "Clooney, Bridges and Spacey could've spent their time filming a REAL movie but choose to do this with their time instead?" Besides mocking the military and the war on terror, this movie offers nothing of substance. I can't say I even chuckled once while watching it. Very disappointing movie, I expected better from that cast.

[ThatGuy09]

Very funny movie. I like weird comedies like this and I was surprised the crowded audience at my screening was digging the absurdity of it all.

9/10.

[Mongotron]

It was exactly what I expected, a slow moving, light hearted comedy with depth. While I typically enjoy comedies such as I Love You Man and Tropic Thunder, its nice to see that there are still films that are legitimately funny but not silly or dumb. It didnt hurt that Clooney, Bridges and Spacey were all doing things that they are good at. I missed Spacey as an antagonist(the best thing about Superman Returns BY FAR) and Bridges getting back to 'The Dude' mentality was refreshing. I would like to see what the film would be like if they hadn't cast a former Jedi like Macgregor in a movie with more then its share of Jedi references...would it be better or worse?

Mongo-Rating: 7/10

[Z_oasis]

Also i couldnt help but notice how much George Clooney looked like George Harrison in his Longer Hair/Mustache scenes.

Random yet observent

[hulk2009]

seen the trailers a few times, doesn't look too bad but a bit weak. still might do good, do to the fact that a few real good actors are in it.