Lions for Lambs

**** Stars

Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, and Tom Cruise pull out all the stops and tackle several important issues in a world full of confusion, concern, and consternation. Through a series of sharp and complex debates, Lions for Lambs uniquely captures exactly what America is discussing...Who are we as a nation? I'll never understand why critics are being so harsh on this film. This is a refreshing, original approach towards a country in a very vulnerable state.

I love this new film genre that's being created. Like Crash and Babel, Lions for Lambs has several storylines connecting to one another, where a characters decision effects someone else in the story they've never met. Professor Stephen Malley (Robert Redford) works at the University of California and is lecturing a brilliant student on the importance of using his knowledge towards something good, rather than wasting time complaining about the country's problems and partying with his fraternity. He tells the young man about two students he had (Derek Luke and Michael Pena) who volunteered for military involvement in the War on Iraq. While in Iraq, the two soldiers are affected by a political move made by Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise). He gives his story to journalist Janine Roth (Meryl Streep) who tries to understand Irving's decision.

The Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep debate in particular is hard to take your eyes off of. The Senator has no dark secrets, no ghosts in his closet, but only a man who is doing what he believes to win the war on terror. The journalist has different views and only wants to know the intentions of him and whether or not he is making the right choices for the country. The last scenes in this film are truly riveting.

Whether you are an elephant of donkey, you can't deny that Lions for Lambs message has the right intentions. What can one American do to change the country? The film is not asking for everyone to become a G.I Joe or Mother Teresa, but only to do the right thing involving an important decision in your life.