Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘Body of Lies’?
Body of Lies

Body of Lies (2008)

tomatometer

54

Average Rating: 5.8/10
Reviews Counted: 200
Fresh: 107 | Rotten: 93

Body of Lies relies on the performances of Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio to elevate it beyond the conventional espionage thriller.

52

Average Rating: 5.7/10
Critic Reviews: 42
Fresh: 22 | Rotten: 20

Body of Lies relies on the performances of Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio to elevate it beyond the conventional espionage thriller.

audience

65

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 124,793

My Rating

Movie Info

Fresh off of their success with director Martin Scorsese's The Departed, star Leonardo DiCaprio and screenwriter William Monahan team with director Ridley Scott for this screen adaptation of David Ignatius' novel Body of Lies. When CIA operative Roger Ferris (DiCaprio) uncovers evidence indicating that a major terrorist leader may be operating out of Jordan, he enlists the aid of CIA veteran Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe) in infiltrating the elusive saboteur's vast underground network. During the

R, 2 hr. 8 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

William Monahan

Feb 17, 2009

$39.4M

Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast

All Critics (204) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (110) | Rotten (97) | DVD (19)

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 Source: Film.com | Comment (1)
Film.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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

November 10, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies | Comment
At the Movies
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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

November 10, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies | Comment
At the Movies
Top Critic IconTop 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 Source: Chicago Tribune | Comment
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: CNN.com | Comment
CNN.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A high-priced potboiler that never comes to a boil.

October 13, 2008 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | Comment
Christian Science Monitor
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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 Source: East Bay Express | Comment
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 Source: What Culture | Comments (3)

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 Source: Matt's Movie Reviews | Comment
Matt's Movie Reviews

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

February 21, 2010 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comment
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 Source: Florida Times-Union | Comment
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 Source: Washington Times | Comment

Short on thrills and shorter on political insights

August 26, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion | Comment
CinePassion

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

April 18, 2009 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures | Comment
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 Source: Window to the Movies | Comment
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 Comment
H Magazine

Passable entertainment -- but definitely not on par with the usual DiCaprio, Crowe, or Ridley Scott output.

February 27, 2009 Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | Comment
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

...a respectable spy film, with plenty of thought and action, transferred to Blu-ray disc in terrific high-definition picture and sound. (Blu-ray Edition)

February 16, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Body of Lies

One of Ridley Scott's most underrated movies.

February 12, 2012
Liam Gadd

Super Reviewer

I don't know what to say. It's a good movie. But I just feel I have no personal interest in the story. It's well done and all...so...good for them. And let's remember everybody...This is Lenny D's big 10-0

January 24, 2012
TheGame90
Martin Sahlin

Super Reviewer

    1. Ed Hoffman: Ed Hoffman doesn't know shit until he steals it from the guy on the ground and that's me.
    – Submitted by rob g (13 months ago)
    1. Hani: This is unusual. Your Ed Hoffman would rather have less information than share what he has with me.
    – Submitted by rob g (13 months ago)

Latest News for Body of Lies

February 16, 2009:
RT on DVD: High School Musical 3 or Midnight Meat Train?
It's a good week for mediocre films (Body of Lies, Changeling, Quarantine and Flash of Genius, which...

October 9, 2008:
Critics Consensus: Express Scores, Body of Lies Falls Flat
This week at the movies, we've got suspicious spies (Body of Lies, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and...

What's Hot On RT

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

The Grey, Chronicle, Albert Nobbs

Summer Movie Guide
Summer Movie Guide

One hub, one place for reviews, list, pics!

Gangster Squad
Gangster Squad

Check out the trailer for this L.A. noir!

Argo
Argo

See the trailer for Affleck's latest.

Top Movie Quizzes

LEGO Mania: 2011 Best Picture Nominees
by natalie - 21,734 taken
created 15 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 52,774 taken
created 18 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 32,027 taken
created 18 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 32,639 taken
created 18 months ago

Foreign Titles

  • Mensonges d'Etat (FR)
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Mobile