I’m not sure what you can expect from a film titled “The Men Who Stare At Goats.” But I can guarantee it is nothing like you have ever imagined. Director Grant Heslov tells us right away, “More of this is true than you would believe”, which basically implies that portions of this film are a big fat lie. But what actually follows is a disjointed, uneven attempt at satire that may poke at you funny, but ultimately leave you scratching your head.
The film follows small town journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor). After suffering a nasty divorce with his wife, Wilton flees to the Middle East seeking adventure and headlines. There he meets Lyne Cassady (George Clooney), member of a special army unit that teaches super powers to its soldiers. Lynne is the only soldier to have become so skilled at his psychic powers, that he could stop the heart of a goat with a single stare. They proceed to journey across the desert in pursuit of Lyne’s “mission”, which he refuses to describe to Bob. The film flashes between present day and twenty years in past during the glory days of the “Earth Army.”
Clooney and McGregor all but save the movie. Clooney is wild-eyed and quirky alternative to the suave sophisticate we usually see him as, and the difference is very enjoyable. McGregor’s innocent rendition of the likeable lead is expertly delivered. Along with other Hollywood professionals Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges, who plays Cassady’s hippie commanding officer, the cast of “The Men who Stare at Goats” channel all their enthusiasm to create an all around stellar performance.
The problem is that for all the fun this movie must have been to make, I was not that fun to watch. There are some good moments, like Clooney crashing a car on the only rock in an entire desert. However most of the humor was lost on me. It’s like wanting to laugh at a joke when you aren’t fully sure if you got it.
In fact there were many things about this film I didn’t understand at all. For example, the notion that this is all based on true events. The movie is based on a book of the same title written by Jon Ronson, which deals with the U.S. army’s exploration of potential military application of the paranormal. Apparently the army has been experimenting with these “New Age” concepts for decades. Does this mean we’re supposed to believe a real life soldier used his mind power to stop the hearts of goats and walk through walls? What the heck is this movie getting at?
It is clear that the film is supposed to be making fun of something. But it seems to have forgotten to tell us what that something is. Is it the hippie antiwar movement? The Special Forces? Blockbuster war Dramas? Or simply psychics themselves? Somebody needs to tell Heslov, that for satire to be successful you need to make it clear to your audience what you are making fun of.
There is not much that can excuse this film’s overall lack of plot. This is the type of story you would expect from a Cohen Brother’s flick. “The Men who Stare at Goats” is full of unbelievable situations and mind-boggling humor. In other words, you can’t make this stuff up. The concept was promising, but apparently all of the most interesting material in world could not get Heslov to tell a good story.
I’m still trying to figure out what the point was. Sure, it was an entertaining movie and all, but I cant help but feel like Heslov made off with not only 90 minutes of my time, but a few of my brain cells as well.
And as for the message, I’m not sure one was ever delivered. Maybe its something like: in times of great adversity, we must not be confined by the rules and let ingenuity guide us. But remember, that is just a guess.
Of course, let’s not forget the real reasons to go see this film. 1: Getting to stare at George Clooney for an hour and a half. Which, lets face it, is appealing to a wide range of people. 2. Enjoying the immense irony of Ewan McGregor discussing “Jedi” mind powers. 3. The ultimate oxymoron: Hippie soldiers.
This film is one big inside joke that I just don’t get. Go ahead and add it to your netflix cues, and maybe take some advice from Jeff Bridges character and trip on acid while you watch. Maybe it will make more sense then.
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