The Men Who Stare At Goats (2009)

With an all-star cast, The Men Who Stare At Goats (2009) was full of promise to deliver an epic comedy with one of the wackiest plots. The story is of a journalist, played by Ewan McGreggor, in Iraq stumbling upon members of a secret division of the U.S. Army, known as the New Earth Army, who were handpicked for their psychic abilities. Unfortunately, director Grant Heslov fails to put together a coherent movie, and the twists and turns seem irrelevant and boring.

There are some very funny moments which make the film passable, however, these appear to rarely. George Clooney, who plays Lyn Cassady, one of the most skilled members of the New Earth Army, displays the best comedic performance, and is the most engaging character within the film.

The Men Who Stare At Goats is based on a book by Jon Ronson, released in 2004 with the same title, which describes the real-life research which the U.S. Army undertook to test New Age ideas on the battlefield. Techniques such as trying to run through walls or stare out the enemy were attempted, and this is where the comedy of the story lies.

While the quirky premise of the film appealed to me greatly, I was disappointed in the end with a mediocre production and a few less-than-average performances from seasoned actors who should deliver more. No wonder the New Earth Army never caught on.