Newly stationed in Jordan, idealistic CIA agent Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) teams up with veteran operative Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe) and the head of Jordanian intelligence (Mark Strong) to infiltrate an underground network of terrorists and locate a criminal mastermind. Based on the best-selling novel by David Ignatius and directed by Ridley Scott, this suspenseful spy thriller features top-rate performances and explosive action sequences.

I can’t put my finger on it but I just didn’t care for this movie. It is one of those films where you ask does the end justify the means. In this case I say no. Roger Ferris (DiCaprio) is the action guy here. He seems to know what is going on and knows his job well. Ed Hoffman (Crowe) plays the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream eating boss who undermines Roger’s efforts. Ed Hoffman is definitely a different type of character Russell Crowe normally plays. He constantly calls the people around him “buddy” in an insincere way. You just want to slap his smug face.

I should caution there were scenes of torture and at times Ed Hoffman was extremely vulgar. Vulgarity doesn’t bother me but I have been with mixed company who would feel uncomfortable watching this. On the subject of vulgarity I admit I have always got a kick out of Jeremy Piven’s character in Entourage and Kim Cattrall in Sex in the City. Both characters are so outrageous I find myself actually laughing out loud. The character of Ed Hoffman is not funny here, just annoying.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe both have made better movies. I liked Leonard DiCaprio’s work in The Aviator and Catch Me If You Can. I liked Russell Crowe in L.A. Confidential and American Gangster.

Both actors also had gangster movies out at the same time. Leonard DiCaprio was in The Departed and Russell Crowe was in American Gangster. American Gangster is the much better movie.

This film is not awful but I was expecting better. The acting is fine but I am only giving this one 2.8 stars.

Click here for the Netflix link in case you would like to add it to your queue. Russell Crowe is rumored to be extremely difficult to get along with. Below is a spoof from South Park on him a few years ago.

All the best,

Alan
Alan Zibluk
The Internet Guy
E-mail: al@alzibluk.com