Lions For Lambs

A lot of the focus on Redford's latest film, the unnecessarily dismissed Lions For Lambs, was on Tom Cruise and the fact he had been so lambasted personally in the media. Now, I understand people's problems with the guy, both on and off screen, but when well cast I have to defend him.

I don't know enough about Scientology to comment. Sure it seems weird, but so is Catholicism, so is Judaism etc. Perhaps a night on the town with old Tom wouldn't be a bundle of laughs, but I like so much of his work - Magnolia, Collateral, Rain Man to name three of the best - that I hate to see him picked on. My political knowledge isn't as savvy as it might be either, so on paper this was a tough watch. However, a bunch of above average reviews led me to give it a chance.

And I'm glad, because there is much more to this than meets the eye. For a start the three leads are impeccable, demonstrating over 100 years of screen experience between them to devastating effect. OK, a lot of it is static; it's conversational, like a high level school debate, but what is said is intelligent and open-minded enough to draw you in and encourages you to ask your own questions. The scenes between Cruise (as I say, perfectly cast as a smug yet beguiling senator) and the ever wonderful Meryl (is there nothing she can't do) Streep are particularly sparkling.

The direction too is efficient and unpatronising - coming in at just over 90 minutes it is certainly palatable, even to the darkest cynic. It won't leave you stunned for days like the best of the year, but it's deserving enough of praise and definitely recommended for when the mood doesn't want action, comedy or fantasy. Give it a try, you may be surprised.