Watch Lions for Lambs

"Lions for Lambs" is a 2007 dramatic thriller film that starred Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, and Robert Redford. The movie is set against the backdrop of the war on terror, and it aims to explore the complexities and moral dilemmas of contemporary American foreign policy. The narrative unfolds through a series of interrelated stories that involve various characters grappling with questions of duty, responsibility, and the cost of war.

The film takes place over a single day, with three separate storylines. The first storyline involves two college students, Arian and Ernest, who are disillusioned with the state of the world and disengaged from politics. Their story is interspersed with flashbacks that show how they arrived at their present political apathy. Meanwhile, the second storyline takes place in Washington DC, where journalist Janine Roth has been granted an interview with Republican senator Jasper Irving, who plans to unveil a new military strategy in Afghanistan. The third and final storyline focuses on two soldiers, lieutenant-colonel Falco and sergeant Rodriguez, who are risking their lives on the front line in Afghanistan to execute senator Irving's new battle plan.

Throughout the film, the characters explore a range of themes related to the war on terror, including the role of the media in shaping public opinion, the ethics of military intervention, and the importance of personal responsibility. A recurring motif in the movie is the idea of the "lions" who initiate wars and the "lambs" who are sent to fight them. This metaphor highlights the tension between those who make decisions of global significance and the individuals who bear the consequences.

In the first storyline, Arian and Ernest are revealed to be former students of professor Stephen Malley, played by Robert Redford. The two young men seek out their old mentor, hoping for guidance and advice on how to engage with the political system. Malley urgently reminds them that they have a duty to engage with politics to change the world for the better, telling them "There's a time to study and a time to act". Malley is the moral center of the film, urging his students to take responsibility for the world they live in and to engage with political issues.

The second storyline focuses on the interview between Janine Roth, played by Meryl Streep, and senator Jasper Irving, played by Tom Cruise. Irving is a charismatic politician who presents his new military plan in Afghanistan as a bold new approach to fighting terrorism. However, Roth is skeptical of his claims and the two engage in a heated exchange about the role of the media in shaping public opinion about the war. This storyline highlights the tension between journalistic standards and serving the public interest, especially in the context of a war that is increasingly unpopular.

The third storyline features the soldiers Falco and Rodriguez, played by Peter Berg and Michael Peña respectively, executing Irving's new plan in Afghanistan. The soldiers are portrayed as professionals with a deep sense of duty and honor, but also as human beings with doubts and fears. The section is portrayed with gritty realism and highlights the human cost of war on the front line.

Throughout the film, there is a sense of urgency that reflects the importance of the issues at stake. The characters grapple with complex moral and ethical issues, and the film leaves it to the viewer to draw their own conclusions. "Lions for Lambs" is a thought-provoking and engaging film that explores the complexities of contemporary American foreign policy in the age of terror. By interweaving the stories of various characters, the film presents a nuanced critique of the war on terror and the political system that produced it. The movie is a must-watch for anyone interested in questions of ethics, politics, and the role of the media in contemporary society.

Lions for Lambs is a 2007 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 47.