The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)

This movie is not for everyone (almost nothing is). But we enjoyed its skewed, dry humor, particularly the interplay between George Clooney's self-important wacko Lyn Cassady and Ewan McGregor's naïve reporter Bob Wilton; and Jeff Bridges was hilarious as the hippie army guy Bill Django. Perhaps not a good choice for Veteran's Day (in fact, we saw it last week, but then I got a cold--almost all better now, thanks), because it spoofs the armed services and the men in uniform.

Based on the 2004 book by Jon Ronson (with screenplay adapted by Peter Straughan, adapter of the more slapstick How to Lose Friends & Alienate People), the movie begins with a notice that "more of this is true than you would believe." Here are my favorite performances by the three stars (yes, Kevin Spacey was in it--he did not star). For Clooney it would have to be the comedies Intolerable Cruelty (2003) and O Brother Where Art Thou (2000); I also liked the Ocean's series, especially the first one (2001), the romantic comedy One Fine Day (1996), and all three that he directed: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), and Leatherheads (2008). His next one, acting only, Up in the Air (2009), is generating a lot of buzz. McGregor started off with a bang with the excellent and dark Shallow Grave (1994) and then the even darker must-see Trainspotting (1996). Many of his other movies have not moved me, including the Star Wars I-III series (everybody who has written about this movie has pointed out that Clooney's group refers to itself as Jedi warriors), but I did like, and liked McGregor in Miss Potter (2006), Cassandra's Dream (2007), and Amelia. I am a Bridges fan, and especially liked his performances in Cutter's Way (1981), Starman (1984), Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988), The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), The Fisher King (1991), and The Door in the Floor (2004), among others.

This is the feature directorial debut by Clooney crony Grant Heslov (wrote/produced Good Night, and Good Luck, produced Intolerable Cruelty and Leatherheads, acted in those and a bunch of small roles). Observation: I'm pretty sure that only one female human has a speaking part in this movie (some goats of indeterminate sex bleated): Wilton's wife, played by Rebecca Mader (red-headed Charlotte on Lost; like McGregor, a Brit using an American accent here). There is an elderly mother in one scene serving tea, and she got screen credit, but I don't remember her saying anything. The reviews, by professionals and amateurs, have not been kind, even though no goats, kitties, nor puppies were harmed. If you want to go with the majority, avoid it. We had fun and laughed often.