Lions for Lambs

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Lions for Lambs has an interesting trailer and the star power of Meryl Streep, Robert Redford (who also directed) and Tom Cruise. Really liking most of the work they have been involved with (see my review of Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia), I rented it from the RedBox and hoped for the best. Some have chosen to simply write this off as just another anti-war protest movie from Hollywood. This movie did discuss the war and showed how much a waste of potential it is, but that wasn't all it was trying to say. I particularly found interesting the discussion between Robert Redford's professor character and Andrew Garfield's student character.

I'm not going to ruin it for you by saying too much. Some say the show is boring. I would disagree. It is frustrating and some argue it doesn't really have a point. They aren't looking hard enough. There is so much subtext and passionate message to motivate yourself and get involved. Near the end, the student asks why try if those who tried and failed end up in the same spot you are in. Redford's Professor Malley simply says at least you would have done something. We may not always succeed and life may not always make sense, but we need to try. The power of one may not seem significant, but our light may be just the thing to motivate someone else off the couch. I'm not suggesting everyone join Rocky Anderson in an anti-Bush, Anti-War protest rally, but with so much at stake this election year, we need to try making a difference. We need to stand up and say a new direction is required--change is needed. Our single voices can unite into a chorus of power. Maybe your getting involved is actively working on a campaign, or knocking on doors to support your candidate. That's fine if it is. Maybe your effort will be to get out and vote (or stay in and vote with the new mail-in ballot). Change of the status quo is not an impossibility, but we need to flush our apathy away.

Meryl Streep's character asks why the government is starting a new military plan of action now and now last year or three years ago. She makes the point that World War II only took five years to win and we are already in our sixth year since 9/11. I agreed with the war when it started, believing in the reports of WMD's like everyone else. I agree that Saddam Hussein needed to go and that the world is much better now that he is gone. But it simply has gone on too long and has cost too much in lives and monetarily. Stay the course and hope for the best is asinine. I support Obama's plan for turning responsibility for Iraq over to their leaders, asking them to step up and become independent and responsible. Meanwhile, I believe we need to turn our country's focus inward to help feed the hungry to those who call America home, to help teach literacy and make a difference here. It is easy to be indifferent, but the better option would be to stand up and at least try to make a difference. Even Obama can't do it alone. Life isn't a karaoke. It is a choir and your voice is needed.

In short, it was a movie that made me think. I liked that and felt just as entertained as watching a comedy that made me laugh for two hours. But this movie was not about entertainment or star power. It was about a message and motivation. I got it. You should too. It is available at RedBox and may still be in dollar theaters (debuted November 2007). I recommend it, highly.