- A cast riddled with ALOTT5MA faves (Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper, Jason Bateman, and Jeremy Piven all have major roles, with Coach Taylor and Lyla Garrity both having bit parts).
- The direction by Peter Berg, who, despite a rocky start, is turning into one of the more interesting and diverse directors in the business.
- That the final 20 minutes constitute the best action flick since Bourne Ultimatium, while the first act (set almost entirely in Washington) is some of the best backroom politics stuff I've seen in a good while. (Also, it has one of the best and most hyperkinetic main title sequences of the year.)
- That it's a movie set in the Middle East and about America's role there that isn't making any simplistic political statement (No "Iraq Bad!," "Terrorism Bad!," or "Saudis Bad!" messages here). I think there are some (pretty powerful) themes in there, but unlike, say, In The Valley Of Elah, the movie exists and is highly entertaining wholly divorced from the political sentiments, which leave the audience asking more questions rather than giving answers.
This isn't an "Oscar Flick." It's way too popcorn-y and the performances, while solid, are not overwhelming (though Garner again gets to prove that she can kick ass, look pretty, and act wordlessly). That said, it's an entertaining time at the movies, which, sometimes, is all you want and need. Check it out.
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