Lions for Lambs, released in theaters on Nov. 9, 2007, is a highly ambitious and dialogue-driven war drama that uses a triple narrative structure to explore the connection between Washington D.C. politics, media complicity, and the sacrifices made by soldiers in the field. The film is less about military action and more about the power of information and engagement in a time of conflict.
The plot unfolds across three concurrent stories, each a high-stakes conversation or a desperate battle for survival.
In Washington D.C., Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise), a charismatic, presidential hopeful, unveils a controversial new strategy for the War in Afghanistan to veteran TV journalist Janine Roth (Meryl Streep).
Irving attempts to sell Roth on the plan, challenging her ethical obligations as a reporter and a citizen.
This segment is a tense intellectual duel about media responsibility and political spin.
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, Dr. Stephen Malley (Robert Redford), an idealistic political science professor, engages in a philosophical struggle with Todd Hayes (Andrew Garfield), a cynical, privileged, and apathetic student.
Malley attempts to inspire Hayes to use his potential and become active by telling him the story of two of his former students.
These two former students, Special Forces soldiers Arian Finch (Derek Luke) and Ernest Rodriguez (Michael Peña), are the human cost of the policies discussed in D.C.
As part of Senator Irving’s new strategy, they are deployed to a hostile, snowy region of Afghanistan where their mission goes rapidly awry, leaving them stranded and fighting for their lives against Taliban forces.
The film expertly cuts between these three settings—the power broker’s office, the professor’s lecture room, and the remote mountain—showing how every decision made at the top directly impacts the soldiers on the ground.
Kevin Dunn and Peter Berg also appear, rounding out the supporting cast as figures within the media and military apparatus, respectively.
Redford also directed the film.
Robert Redford in Lions for Lambs (Photo/United Artists)
Reception for Lions for Lambs
Lions for Lambs grossed $6.7 million on its opening weekend, finishing fourth at the box office.
The film would gross $64.8 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave the film two and a half out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
Lions for Lambs‘ legacy rests on its pointed critique of the American public’s disengagement and the political establishment’s handling of the War on Terror. Though some critics found it heavy-handed, its all-star cast brings necessary gravity to the material. It remains a powerful examination of where the responsibility lies in a democracy, arguing that the true battle is for the public’s attention.
