Film Review – The Men Who Stare At Goats

Comedy Starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor

Nov 11, 2009

A bizarre but funny comedy based on the non-fiction book by Jon Ronson telling the secret experiments by the US army into creating psychic spies.

Here’s a brief checklist for instant movie success. Big stars: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges – check. Based on real events – check. Buddy movie aspirations – check. Slapstick comedy – check. Scenes of men trying to kill goats with the power of their minds – er...what?!

No that wasn’t a mistake. Stay with it though, it all makes sense in the end. Sort of.

The Men Who Stare At Goats stars Ewan McGregor as journalist Bob Wilton who wants to prove himself to his estranged wife by travelling to Iraq during warfare. Along the way he meets an ex-special forces agent called Lyn Cassady, once part of the New Earth Army as a psychic spy (or "Jedi Knights" as they become known), since been reactivated by an astral projection of his old boss (Jeff Bridges) and sent on mission to save his old unit. Keep up.

By accident Wilton is dragged into a strange story where remote viewing is apparently possible and the aformentioned men who try to kill goats by staring at them, hence the name. In that comes a little problem as the title is completely daft and almost impossible to say out loud without realising what you’re saying is utter nonsense but it that respect it’s perfect for a film based on the true US military experiments into supernatural phenomena that could be used to secure peace.

Based on the Book by Jon Ronson

Despite sounding ever so slightly barmy all of the above is based on the non-fiction book by British journalist Jon Ronson that delves into the real life world of psychic spies and men who believe they can run through walls. In an interview on BBC Radio Five Live Ronson explains that The Men Who Stare At Goats uses a great deal of his material and around 70% of the film is an interpretation of actual conversations he had years previously. As a result there is an air of legitimacy to the proceedings.

The shortcomings are in the “present day” (2003 to be exact) road movie, life affirming stuff as it’s all too baggy and drawn out for the sake of fleshing out a mainstream yarn to attract Clooney/McGregor/Spacey fans from out of their holes. The film in on much safer ground when looking back into the history of the unit, the rather unconventional training methods used and seeing a ponytailed Jeff Bridges as a militarised Dude leading a team of hippies in fatigues.

Maybe it’s down to the hatstand performances of Clooney, Bridges et al and the dark humour but The Men Who Stare At Goats does at times look like the work of the Coen Brothers, director Grant Heslov however falling short of their impressive visual style. Any potential problems with the pace are countered by the impressive cast (including Kevin Spacey in ruthless form as Cassidy's rival) and Robert Patrick also makes a scene stealing cameo as head of a private security firm hoping to profit from the war.

It’s sure to do decent business due to star power alone but those swooned by its heartthrob leads will also find some laughs in one of the weirder films of the year. While it is a haphazard in presentation and at times is more like a series of ridiculous comedy sketches rather than an actual film this is still one of the funniest releases of the year. Although it’s second in the running for best use of a goat for 2009, that accolade goes to Sam Raimi’s Drag Me To Hell. So close.

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