Lions For Lambs (2007)

A political science professor (Robert Redford, who also directed) at a Southern California university attempts to engage an apathetic student (Andrew Garfield, SOCIAL NETWORK) into being an active participant in his life. In Washington DC, television journalist (Meryl Streep) interviews a U.S. senator (Tom Cruise, looking like John Edwards) who tells her of a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan. Two soldiers (Michael Pena, Derek Luke) stranded on a snow covered plateau in Afghanistan are surrounded by enemy forces. The film bounces back and forth between the three storylines with mixed results. Still, credit must be given to Redford for attempting a film that deals with ideas rather than action. The California and DC storylines are essentially talking head pieces, a dialogue between the two characters bouncing opposing political and social views off each other. This doesn't make for scintillating cinema and the dialogue would have to sparkle in order to engage us and it doesn't, it just comes across as wordy. But at least it's about something and if not a success then a noble failure. The striking underscore is by Mark Isham. With Peter Berg.