Hood Today

There is no doubt that the U.S. government conducts top secret research and defense projects in the name of the protection and stability of the country.

"The Men Who Stare at Goats" is the newest film from director Grant Heslov and stars Academy Award winner George Clooney ("Syriana" and "Michael Clayton"). The plot sheds light on an incredible true story about a secret project specializing in psychic warfare.

Heslov's latest project tells the story of how struggling journalist Bob Wilton, played by Ewan McGregor ("Star Wars Episodes I-III"), encounters former psychic spy Lyn Cassidy, Clooney's character, and go on the most bizarre road trip ever to find Cassidy's commanding officer, Bill Django, portrayed by Jeff Bridges ("Iron Man").

While cruising through the Iraqi desert, Cassidy instructs Wilton on the origins and principles of the initiative, codename "Project Jedi," whose goal is to create soldiers who do not fight with guns but fight with their minds, while dodging potential terrorists, firefights, and road bombs.

Wilton also learns that the "Jedi"-the term the psychic soldiers call themselves- are capable of crossing to the dark side, if they use their powers to inflict harm on innocent beings, like goats.

"The Men Who Stare at Goats," is an oddball comedy loaded with beatnik antics, drug usage, and a story that will make anyone ask, "If the Pentagon actually funded this, what do they consider a stupid and ridiculous idea?"

The movie may be a comedy, but the fact that it is based on this outrageous and unbelievable story, saps the bulk of humor out of the film completely.

The only aspect of the film that is more foolish than the story itself is Ewan McGregor's character, Wilton. Any self respecting journalist would realize that a story about soldiers with psychic powers, who dabble in drugs and hippie philosophy, belongs in the tabloids or comic books, but the fact that Wilton is gullible enough to go along on a journey with a screwed-up soldier like Cassidy is simply sad and disgraceful.

Also, the movie is misnamed. Clooney's character, Cassidy is the only psychic soldier throughout the entire movie who actually stares at a goat to make its heart stop, so the movie should be called "The Man Who Stared at a Goat."

As outrageous and unbelievable as this film may be, it has one or two rays of life at best.

Kevin Spacey ("American Beauty" and "Superman Returns") is absolutely awesome as Larry Hooper, a fellow psychic soldier who grows jealous of Cassidy's prowess and is continually shunned by the program because he feels that his talents don't contribute to the cause. The more he is neglected, the more he turns against the program, seeking to dismantle it and make it his own.

The movie, from start to finish, fights to keep the audience's interest and it doesn't say die.

"The Men Who Stare at Goats," is simply bittersweet, unfortunately that will also be the taste audiences will take with them as they leave the theater. The story, acting and execution, is bitter, while you may get a sweet chuckle or two out of it.

From the opening scene with the brigadier general trying to use his powers to walk through a wall, to Django and Wilton spiking the water supply of a U.S. army base in Iraq with LSD, "The Men Who Stare at Goats," is a jaw-dropping comedy riddled with stupidity and skepticism.

It is an oddball comedy that just cannot be taken seriously. It is a movie that makes anyone question the rationality of the U.S. government during the early 2000-2004 time period.

Article Tools