Everyone wants to do something important with their lives, and maybe even take a stand for something they believe in. But there is always a fear it will all be in vain.
Lions for Lambs is a three-perspective story about making the right choice, and doing what you believe is right. Professor Malley (Robert Redford) is talking to his un-motivated student Todd (Andrew Garfield) about what he plans to do with his life. He tells Todd about two of his students Ernest and Arian (Michael Pena and Derek Luke) who made the decision to join the Afghanistan war because they wanted to make a difference.
The third perspective shows a journalist, Janine Roth (Meryl Streep), who has been given the chance to interview Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise) about his plans for the war. After talking to Irving, Roth is faced with an important moral dilemma; is winning really everything?
It was a good choice to show every aspect of this story, from discussion of events to the results of it in the war. It was very interesting to see how each character’s choice affected others involved.
It felt as if each character was sincere in their decisions, right or wrong, and you can understand why they feel this way. The use of cause and effect also worked well to not only keep your attention, but also understand the results of bad choices. The three-perspective angle worked well to show you the real point addressed the movie.
In an interview with the Independent, Robert Redford, Michael Pena, and Andrew Garfield talked about this movie, and their reflections on it. Redford was quick to address the real point he was trying to make, “This movie isn’t about the war, that is only a catalysis. It is about the conditions that lead us into these situations, this repeating mindset that occurs in times of trouble. Why does this mindset keep repeating itself?”
The Independent asked Garfield how this movie personally affected him. “I feel as helpless as you all do [in decision making]. I found something that I am fairly good at, which is acting, and I feel I have something to offer with this art.”
When asked if Pena thought his character was sympathetic, he said, “He [Earnest] stood for what he truly believed. I had some friends from south Chicago that joined the war, and really had to believe they wanted to make a difference. That’s what this movie is about, making a stand.”
This is a movie for our generation, the college students who are close to graduation yet have not bothered to consider their future. If there is one movie you see before the year ends make it this one.