Men Who Stare At Goats

Men Who Stare at Goats follows journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) as tries to find a story by teaming up with Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) on a comedic trip through war torn Iraq. Cassady claims to be a member of an experimental group that is trained to use mental powers to complete their missions. These powers include remote viewing, walking through walls, and even killing goats by staring at them. At first Cassady says that he is a contractor, but later admits that he is on a secret mission given to him by the unit’s, the New Earth Battalion,  former commander Bill Django (Jeff Bridges). The catch is that he does not yet know what the mission is. He is supposed to figure that out using his powers.

After escaping kidnappers the two men are found and brought to a camp run by Cassady’s rival and former member of his unit Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey). Hooper has taken the concepts of the New Earth Battalion to the private sector with an evil twist. It becomes Wilton and Cassady’s mission to stop him and save Django.

Django says when pitching the idea of the New Earth Army, “We have to dream a new America that no longer has an exploitative view of natural resources, no longer promotes consumption at all costs, but to achieve this dream we must become the first superpower to develop super powers.”

This quote accurately displays the idea of the movie and the purpose of the New Earth Army. An America is needed that is concerned with people before all else. The New Earth Army is an organization that intends to start with the army and win wars through positive powers instead of killing and torture. The movie culminates with an ending that expresses this idea.

This story while not completely true is based off the bestselling non-fiction book of the same name by Jon Ronson. The movie takes true life events and twists them into a comedic masterpiece.

The movie is hard to believe, but the DVD comes with extras including a short documentary that has interviews with the men this is based off of. It will sure up any doubts one might have about how much of the movie is reality.

Everything about this movie is great. The story is complete with an intriguing plot, the acting of Academy Award winners Spacey and Clooney and Academy Award nominee Bridges is superb, and Academy Award nominated director Grant Heslov puts it all together in a way that grabs one’s attention and does not let it go. It is one of those rare movies in which it is truly difficult to find a flaw.

I recommend this movie for everyone, but it will especially touch those who have served in the army.

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