The Men Who Stare At Goats is a quirky movie, funny, weird and I found it thoroughly entertaining. The fact that the movie is adapted from a book of true stories makes it even more interesting. Apparently the United States Army had a real unit that focused on psychic warfare back in the 70’s. The screenplay follows a reporter in Iraq who digs up a story on a United States Army unit experimenting with paranormal powers. The founder of the unit has a vision after being shot during the Vietnam war and creates the New Earth Army, an unconventional new age Army unit. Part of the work the Army unit was working on was involving a select number of psychic soldiers who stared at goats in the hope of killing them with the power of their minds. The movie’s tagline is “No goats. No glory.”, lets you know how silly this comedy can be.

Clooney (Lyn Cassady) and Bridges (Bill Django) are hilarious and strangely touching as only they can be with such unique roles like these. McGregor and Spacey are very good as always, my only wish is that Spacey had more to do in the film. The screenplay was well written and a real challenge to the screenwriter to explain this story. The film is well done, from direction to acting to screenplay. Choosing to watch this film is up to your choice of humor, no doubt some people won’t get the irony of the film. I can see this film as a cult classic one day. If you like the Coen brothers style of filmmaking this movie might be one you will enjoy.

2009. Directed by Grant Heslov. Starring George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Robert Patrick.

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