Mensonges d'état

Traduit en français, le texte donnerait : Un thriller d'espionnage traditionnel, plus que solide, mais qui manque de l'exotisme de Spy Game ou de la technologie coolness de Enemy of the State pour devenir un succès. Body of Lies plonge directement au cœur du sujet actuel du terrorisme islamique et le fait avec une action parfaite. Cependant, même s'il change de lieux comme sur un écran en mouvement et que l'intrigue avance à un rythme décent, on a toujours l'impression qu'il se répète inlassablement. Peut-être parce que tout ce qui n'est pas lié aux manœuvres d'espionnage semble superflu et inabouti (les tentatives de représenter la vie familiale du personnage de Russell Crowe, les tentatives de représenter la relation de DiCaprio avec une fille locale). Et la fin aurait également besoin d'être différente. (10/01/2009)

I came away from this two-hour conversation film, which cynically glosses over the current tense situation in the Arab world, and occasionally, as if unwittingly, jumps to some good action sequences, knowing I was going to give it four pure stars. But a day has passed now and I’m more and more puzzled by the fact that Scott and Monahan thought it through even deeper, that the black humor is damn chilling and that the current state of the region cannot actually be changed, although it also cannot be prolonged indefinitely. Immediately afterward, my mind flashed to the perfect acting trio of a certain Crowe, the uncompromising DiCaprio, and especially the chillingly charismatic Strong. In addition, the honestly sharp visuals and the fact that this blockbuster autumn probably won't get any more stimulating ensure that I’m giving it the full five stars. Ridley’s rolling Hollywood in his old age like nobody’s business! Edit: It's not as good the second time around, but still a strong 4 stars. (29/11/2008)

Body of Lies is exactly halfway between a crowd-pleasing popcorn flick and a thriller that aims to analyze, provoke, and has slightly higher ambitions. According to the majority of users on FilmBooster, Ridley Scott did not please them with this balancing act, as popcorn enthusiasts feel it lacks more action, excitement, and grandiose scenes, while fans of art critique it for its shallowness, unfinished elements, and clichés. I must say that Scott pleasantly surprised me, and I rank this piece above American Gangster, which I found somewhat distant. I rank Body of Lies in his filmography in third place, behind Alien and Blade Runner, which I still hold dear due to my love for the sci-fi genre. This film relies on a quality screenplay, top-notch direction, and excellent actors, and as a whole, it runs smoothly without any major stumbles. I could, of course, point out a few minor flaws, but if I were to do the same with many of its genre counterparts, I would have to discard a lot of famous films. A thriller like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy certainly surpasses Body of Lies in terms of attention to detail and atmosphere but that is a slightly different sub-genre and a film that is heading in a completely different direction. Overall impression: 90%. After the brutal disappointment with Prometheus, Ridley has redeemed himself in my eyes once again... (18/11/2012)

Syriana in a more commercial guise. In comparison, Body of Lies is easier to understand, more accessible to the general public, but at the same time no less relevant, it’s pertinent not dumb at all and the acting is no worse. Ridley again proves anew that he’s getting a third wind in his retirement and hasn’t lost any of his talent. (14/12/2008)

Three or four stars? I can’t decide. Body of Lies is unable to make up its mind whether it wants to be an entertaining film or one with a message. Unfortunately, it fails at both. The entertainment factor shows up only in a few shootout scenes between constant telephone calls and changes in location, while the “edifying” aspect appears here and there delivered by Russel Crowe (as satirical black humour) and Mark Strong. Plotwise it’s nothing remarkable, either, and I can’t avoid the feeling that the film could have easily continued for another half hour after the unforgettable scene of Leonard’s torture (instead of ending quite abruptly), while the first hour could be left out almost completely. Regardless of that, Body of Lies is not bad at all – it’s directed and acted with panache – it simply fails to impress. (06/12/2008)