Small town newspaper reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor), recently dumped by his wife, hopes to find new meaning in his life by covering a “big” story, the war in Iraq.  While waiting to cross over into the war zone, he encounters Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a shadowy figure who claims to be a member of The New Earth Army.  These “Warrior Monks” ostensibly have uncanny psychic powers, and can read the enemy’s thoughts, pass through walls (maybe), and even kill a goat by simply staring at it.

In flashbacks, we learn that this ultra-secret branch of the U.S. Army was started during the 1980s by “hippie-like” officer Bill Django (Jeff Bridges) and, subsequently, brought down by Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey), another member of the unit who had his own nefarious agenda.

Wilton, not really sure if he’s dealing with a lunatic, accompanies Cassady, who is on a “secret mission,” into Iraq.  Theirs is a wild ride, fraught with many close calls, but it will change the lives of both men forever.

CRITIQUE

The Men Who Stare at Goats is a “fish-out-of-water/buddy movie,” that embraces elements of both Star Wars and Alice in Wonderland.

It’s Star Wars because, aside from the fact that Ewan McGregor starred in George Lucas’ second trilogy, soldiers of the New Earth Army think of themselves as “Jedi”.  Indeed, the key characters of director Grant Heslow’s film are evocative of the most notable icons of Lucas’ work.  Lyn Cassidy is reminiscent to Obi-Wan, Guru Bill Django is Yoda, Larry Hooper, who embraces the Earth Army’s “dark side,” is Darth Vader and Bob Wilton represents the Luke Skywalker character.

Like in Alice in Wonderland, once Wilton joins Cassidy on his “secret mission” (that came to him in a vision) into Iraq, the world as he knows it becomes bizarre.  Is he (Wilton) traveling with a total “nut case,” or are the things that Cassidy tells him real.  Certainly, Cassidy is able to get them out of a couple of very dangerous situations, only to get them embroiled in even more treacherous ones.

Peter Straughan has written a very entertaining screenplay, based on Jon Ronson’s book, that that moves back-and-forth between past and present without impeding the forward movement of the story.  The movie does, however, drift during its last twenty minutes or so, when it appears that the filmmakers were unsure of how to conclude their story.

Clooney is in top form as man on a mission, never really letting us know whether he’s crazy or not, and Jeff Bridges is a delight, playing his role as the officer in charge of the New Age Army like he was “the big Lebowski”. 

The Men Who Stare at Goats is a fun, somewhat unique movie with plenty of laughs that, believe it or not, is based on fact.

THE VIDEO

The 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen picture is sharp with no problems.

THE AUDIO

The 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound is crisp and clear.

THE EXTRAS

Audio Commentaries by director Grant Heslow and book author Jon Ronson.

Project "Hollywood": A Classified Report From the Set: Your standard “Making of” documentary featuring interviews with the director, writers, producer and cast members. 

Goats Declassified: The Real Men of the First Earth Battalion: Featurette includes interviews with several former military personnel who were part of the real New Age Army back in the 1980s.  According to them, much of what occurs in the movie actually happened.

Also included are 4 Deleted Scenes.

FINAL THOUGHT

The Men Who Stare at Goats is an enjoyable romp that shouldn’t be taken too seriously.