The Men Who Stare at Goats Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 7664

Average Rating: 2.5/4

# of Ratings: 135

Theatrical Release Date: 11/06/2009

Blu-ray/DVD Release Date: 03/23/2010

Language: English

Genre: Comedy

MPAA Rating: R

Director: Grant Heslov

Actors: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, Robert Patrick, Stephen Root

Plot: A reporter looks to lose himself in war after his marriage fails. While in Iraq, he stumbles upon a special forces unit that uses psychic power with the goal to end war as we know it. But when the leader goes missing, the trail leads to another psychic soldier, one who has a very different mission in mind. -- Chris Kavan

Indyfreak - wrote on 10/01/2017

Director Grant Heslov aims for a quirky comical style in the vein of the Coen Brothers in this comedy-drama;supposedly based off a true story. Unfortunately it's terribly uneven and the story doesn't flow as easily as it believes it does. Ewan McGregor is trying as the only actor whose character has a real arc with development. The high calibar cast that includes George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, Robert Patrick, Stephen Lang, and Nick Offerman is pretty much wasted. They're playing strange caricatures to fit the movie's broad sense of humor. It's really too bad because the factual events behind the movie really are fascinating.

Unknown - wrote on 11/07/2011

I liked the inspired and goofy moments.

Gabe - wrote on 10/18/2011

I got to admit, I was thinking that this was going to be similar to a Cohen Brother's film. It was, but not necassaryily in a good way. For this movie to have the great actors that it does, I thought Clooney and McGregor were the only ones that even remotely stood out. Bridges and Spacey mailed it in. The movie itself, though quirky just didn't quite feel right. I expected better out of this cast. Still good, but definately not great. Rent this, don't buy it. It's a good popcorn flick, but not much more.

Yojimbo
Movie God

"The Men Who Stare At Goats" by Yojimbo

Yojimbo - wrote on 01/16/2012

A small town reporter attempting to prove himself by becoming a war correspondent in Iraq stumbles across a self-proclaimed "psychic warrior" and accompanies him on his quest to find his mentor. The men Who Stare at Goats reminded me very much of a Soderbergh movie; not only because of the mix of a quality cast, offbeat intrigue and attractive visuals but also because of the fact that it's more than a little guilty of putting style over substance. Mildly reminiscent of the hippie war films of the late 60s and early 70s, it's consciously surreal and humorous approach actually makes for a few genuinely funny moments and the excellent cast make for a very likeable bunch of cranks and nut jobs. The likes of Catch 22 however used humour to make veiled and insightful comments on the absurdity …

Daniel Corleone
Movie God

The Men Who Stare at Goats review

Daniel Corleone - wrote on 11/01/2011

Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) tries to prove that he is something special. He meets an eccentric retired Special Forces operator, Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) who discusses the “Jedi warriors” ability to parapsychological skills including invisibility, remote viewing, and phasing. Lyn revealed that the abilities were taught by U.S. Army officer Bill Django (Jeff Bridges). Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey) envies Cassady’s powers and forms the New Earth Army employing Bill. The cinematography, soundtrack and screenplay were tolerable. The conclusion and antagonist however were not worth remembering. It had some funny moment such as the Barney song torture, the “That... well, the hooker thing is definitely a lie” line and “I'm your commanding officer, and I'm ordering you to …

nyp09
Director

The poor goat...

nyp09 - wrote on 03/06/2010

The majority if people will be able to realise what type of film this is just by looking at the title “The Men Who Stare At Goats”. Despite the silliness of the title and the comedic nature of the film, this film and the book of the same name which it is based on are in fact true stories. The fact that the film is based on a piece of non-fiction makes it even more intriguing, if not totally bizarre. Journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) arrives in Iraq to cover the war, but instead ends up coming across Lyn Cassidy (George Clooney). Cassidy is an ex member of the New Earth Army, a group of soldiers who claim to have psychic abilities. Wilton is drawn into the world of these soldiers as he learns all the ropes and learns what it takes to fight with your mind rather than with weapons. …