Lions for Lambs

R

Released Nov 9, 2007

1 hr. 32 min.

Drama

List

27%

183 Reviews

Tomatometer

47%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Inspired by their idealistic professor, Dr. Mallery (Robert Redford), to do something meaningful with their lives, Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Peña) join the military and ship out to Afghanistan. Their experiences tie together two separate but related stories. In California, Mallery tries to break through to a disaffected student, while in Washington, D.C., a presidential hopeful (Tom Cruise) prepares to give a journalist (Meryl Streep) the scoop of a lifetime.

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Critics Consensus

Despite its powerhouse cast, Lions for Lambs feels like a disjointed series of lectures, rather than a sharp narrative, and ends up falling flat.

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Alexandra H

This is a very engaging movie. It has an interesting plot-structure. It switches back and forth between an episode of Americans fighting in Afghanistan and a Senator selling our Afghan strategy to a journalist (Meryl Streep). Engaging movie with actors who are fun to watch (Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, and Streep), and a lot to say. I highly recommend it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/17/24

Full Review

Adrian B

A very strong cast gives some sense to the film. A lot of loose ends, questions in the air. Still, it was worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/04/23

Full Review

john e

In 2007 Lions for Lambs was released. This war themed drama features Meryl Streep, Robert Redford and Tom Cruise. The film is actually three different stories being told in simultaneously that revolve around the United States' "War on Terror". One story involves the smug up-and-coming Senator Irving (Cruise) who is attempting to sell his new military strategies to the well-respected journalist Janine Roth (Streep). The second story revolves around two military personnel (Michael Pena and Derek Luke) whose lives are affected by the senator's strategy changes. The third story is that of a college professor (Redford) trying to reignite the passion of a student (Andrew Garfield) whose attendance and drive have waned. The three stories are intertwined but never actually touch. I was disappointed by this because it didn't allow Streep to act with Redford (he also produced and directed the film). Instead, most of her time on-screen time was spent with Cruise. For me, this was the acting equivalent of listening to Barbra Streisand sing a duet with Yoko Ono. I couldn't help but feel the exasperation Janine was exhibiting as she listened to Senator Irving's plans was simply Streep channeling her own frustration trying to act off Cruise. The film is very heavy handed and consists of many monologues that might have been better suited for a debate than a plotted movie. For the most part (Cruise aside) it's very well acted, and there are lots of questions that the audience is left to ponder. If questioning things is something you enjoy, then this film might be for you, just be prepared to be a bit bored during the journey.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

ian u

It lacks that burst of intrigue which engages the viewer and turns any movie into magical pieces of art.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The film was made in 2007--It's a blatant disgusting piece of propaganda. The result of the chaos, death, and destruction created by the U. S. in the Middle East in its quest for resources is now more than evident (2022). If you love propaganda, mindless flag waving, and watching your tax dollars disappear down the rabbit hole of the military industry (even in a fictional kind of way), this movie's for you. I wonder how long it will take before the American people realize that it's not about "democracy," (unless democracy is delivered via drones and bombs), and peace. It's about Empire and the resources necessary to keep that Empire afloat.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

These 2 quotes sum up the debate in the movie. Cruise's character: "We simply cannot allow their form of evil and terror to spread. And through precise military action we will take the essential first step." Streep's character: "First step? But what have we been doing for the past six years, Senator? You know, World War ll took less than five." These sum it up because the journalist's criticism is dishonest. If she really wanted a decisive, short war with minimal casualties to American soldiers, then she would advocate for WW2-style rules of engagement. Instead, the military is hampered by self-sacrificial rules of engagement (i.e. "precise military action" = Americans on the ground in Afghanistan instead of bombs from above against the regimes in Iran and Saudi Arabia that are the root cause). That self-sacrificial strategy is presented as equivalent to war in general. Thus, the inevitable conclusion that most people make is: "Well, if *that* is war, then I'm against war." In short, real war of self defense has been taken off the able as an option, and our soldiers and civilians continue to die while the jihadist movement continues decade after decade. We would still be fighting (or would have lost to) the confederates, nazis, and imperialist shinto if such self-crippling rules of engagement had been used back then. Later, Cruise's character insists that they'll do "whatever it takes." In reality, he means "whatever it takes... within the narrow boundaries of what is allowed by the self-sacrificial rules of engagement." In short, the blame for any and all collateral damage should be on the aggressor (the jihadists)--not the defender (the Americans). Until we correct this preconception, ending the threat will not be possible and our soldiers and civilians will continue to die while evil is appeased.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

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Robert Redford

Director

Robert Redford

Dr. Malley

Meryl Streep

Janine Roth

Tom Cruise

Sen. Jasper Irving

Derek Luke

Arian

Michael Peña

Ernest

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Lions for Lambs: Official Clip - News vs. Business

0:48

Lions for Lambs: Official Clip - A Greater Depression

2:18

Lions for Lambs: Official Clip - Lions Led by Lambs

2:12

Lions for Lambs: Official Clip - A Tipping Point

1:54

Lions for Lambs: Official Clip - The Senator Challenges Janine

2:07

Lions for Lambs: Official Clip - The Cost of Leaving Afghanistan

2:21

Lions for Lambs: Official Clip - The "Science" in Politics

2:30

Lions for Lambs: Official Clip - Not Laying Down

2:10

Lions for Lambs: Official Clip - Malley on Adulthood

1:36

Lions for Lambs: Official Clip - Helicopter Attack

1:19

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

A film about engagement that fails utterly to engage? This may, in itself, be some kind of achievement, but who gives a stuff. I may now be even less engaged than I've ever been.

Aug 23, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: C

Feb 18, 2012

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 2/5

Nov 18, 2011

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Strong acting and sharply scripted characters are unable to disguise Redford's opinionated brand of current events, which often teeters dangerously close to Army recruitment.

Rated: 5/10

Nov 26, 2020

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Easily one of Oscar season's more disappointing entries.

Rated: 2.0/4.0

Sep 14, 2020

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Lions for Lambs, hits hard, hits home but doesn't quite hit it out of the park.

Nov 14, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

Inspired by their idealistic professor, Dr. Mallery (Robert Redford), to do something meaningful with their lives, Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Peña) join the military and ship out to Afghanistan. Their experiences tie together two separate but related stories. In California, Mallery tries to break through to a disaffected student, while in Washington, D.C., a presidential hopeful (Tom Cruise) prepares to give a journalist (Meryl Streep) the scoop of a lifetime.

Director: Robert Redford
Executive Producer: Daniel Lupi
Screenwriter: Matthew Michael Carnahan
Distributor: United Artists, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Wildwood, United Artists
Rating: R (Some War Violence|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 9, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 17, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.0M
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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