Body of Lies (2008)

All Critics (208) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (113) | Rotten (97) | DVD (19)

Perhaps Scott's ever-restless shooting style doesn't quite differentiate between the peaks and troughs of the narrative, yet it's still an engrossing account of the intersection between process and ethics.

November 21, 2008 Full Review

Trevor Johnston

Time Out

Top Critic

Good solid far-fetched multiplex action-adventure fare in the Bondian mode, with awe-inspiring technology and just enough moral philosophizing laced through it to give the mind a little something to chew on.

November 10, 2008 Full Review | Comment (1)

Jonathan F. Richards

Film.com

Top Critic

Just because it's really dense and layered doesn't mean it's good.

November 10, 2008 Full Review

Ben Lyons

At the Movies

Top Critic

A complicated movie about the war on terror with two terrific performances and a terrific director.

November 10, 2008 Full Review

Ben Mankiewicz

At the Movies

Top Critic

DiCaprio's solid, though I wonder if a real CIA agent could get away with looking so earnest every second. Crowe has the right idea, in addition to all the fun: Just throw it away, throw it away and pretty soon you build yourself a clever characterization

October 18, 2008 Full Review

Michael Phillips

Chicago Tribune

Top Critic

Yes, there are a couple of chase scenes, but Scott rarely shifts into high gear.

October 18, 2008 Full Review

Tom Charity

CNN.com

Top Critic

A compelling, nail-biting spy thriller.

January 16, 2013 Full Review

Jeffrey Lyles

Lyles' Movie Files

It has none of the sweep of, say, Syriana, as if that mattered to the audience it's gunning for.

August 15, 2011 Full Review

Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

Russell Crowe has finally realised he's just an ordinary fat guy now, and taken a role he can accurately portray.

March 24, 2011 Full Review | Comments (3)

Mike Edwards

What Culture

Body of Lies is an extremely well paced, tightly wound, and intensely violent thriller. There is no damnation or congratulations here. As Russell Crowe muses as the end: "No one is innocent"

July 7, 2010 Full Review

Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

...[Ridley] Scott's most entertaining and involving effort since 2001's Black Hawk Down.

February 21, 2010 Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

It doesn't help that those action scenes all blend together, relying overmuch on speeding convoys of big black SUVs and surveillance planes that can see you picking your nose from miles up.

December 24, 2009 Full Review

Matt Soergel

Florida Times-Union

Visually, the film is quite striking. Few modern filmmakers handle desert landscapes as well as Mr. Scott.

August 30, 2009 Full Review

Sonny Bunch

Washington Times

Short on thrills and shorter on political insights

August 26, 2009 Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

I am just getting tired of the preaching I have to endure as a film critic.

April 18, 2009 Full Review

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

A certain rawness and despairing urgency is never quite achieved for the message the film wants to deliver, and so it remains a well-intentioned, well-produced, yet generally unmemorable entertainment.

March 31, 2009 Full Review

Jeffrey Chen

Window to the Movies

Body of Lies is a taut, captivating thriller that deserves attention both from thrill-seekers and thinking people.

March 6, 2009

Todd Gilchrist

H Magazine

• 1. Hani: Insa.
  – Submitted by Melvin L (8 months ago)
• 1. Ed Hoffman: So he wants to come to America in one piece instead of going to paraidse in a thousand... he should've thought of that before.
  – Submitted by Melvin L (9 months ago)
• 1. Hoffman's Wife: Ed, it's 6:00 in the morning.
  2. Ed Hoffman: Saving civilization, honey.
  – Submitted by Melvin L (9 months ago)
• 1. Roger Ferris: If something happens you'll shoot me, right?
  2. Bassam: Yep.
  3. Roger Ferris: Good.
  – Submitted by Melvin L (9 months ago)
• 1. Bassam: Big boss, man, what's happening?
  2. Roger Ferris: Rules of the day: If the car gets immobolized, start shooting; nobody gets traded, everybody dies.
  3. Bassam: So, same as everyday?
  4. Roger Ferris: You got it.
  – Submitted by Melvin L (9 months ago)
• 1. Roger Ferris: You are a rare and delicate flower.
  – Submitted by Melvin L (9 months ago)

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