I have planned to post this writing on Sunday (11/11) actually, just because I was seen this movie at midnight show on Saturday night. But I got ill. And I just forget to post it and just now I have a chance. Not bad for every one who want to spend their weekend with watching movie at movie theater , they should not feel deceive like me. This movie directed by Robert Redford whose acted as one character at the same time is Dr. Stephen Malley. Categorized as the ensemble-mosaic genre (like Syriana,Rendition, or A Mighty Heart) with mixed actor-actress between senior (Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise) and new one (Michael Peña, Derek Luke, Andrew Garfield).The movie poster was interesting, considering I was not read any review about it. My hope continues after several minutes sat and watched this movie. But after this movie came to the scene which show interview between senior reporter Janine Roth (Meryl Streep) with Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise), I feel weird.

Beside weird way to interview for senior reporter like her –told she has been a reporter for more than 30 years-, also acting of Tom Cruise is too usual and plain. But above all, I disturbed with the way the movie try to indoctrinate their viewer about United States’ politic and foreign policy.After came home, I search on the web about this movie and my guess was right, this movie got many criticism. From the title itself told has no reference in history -even there are dialogue told the opposite statement- by TimesOnline (http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/london_film_festival/article2672737.ece). Even tough it can be inspired by conversation of two German General during 1^st World War named Erich Ludendorff and Max Hoffmann which appeared in memoir book of another German General named Erich von Falkenhayn, The Commander-in-Chief of German Armed Forces within 1914-1916.

There is another book titled Lions Led by Donkey by Captain P.A. Thompson published at 1927. Because of that, there are many review criticized this movie title must be “Lions Led by Donkeys”. But my guess is, this movie try to follow success has made by The Silence of The Lambs (1991) with took alike title.Furthermore, I guess this movie also trying to copy the same message delivered by Michael Moore in his movies, mainly Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), boldly the anti-war message. However, Lions for Lambs have failed to persuade their viewers just because too frankly speaking and lacking of sense-of-humor. Far for Fahrenheit 9/11 which succeeded to conduce new consciousness and point-of-view globally.  However, I took a little boon from it. That is the real action is more important than any plan only most of it than dreaming utopia. Beware, I suggest you never step too far which could you ended up like character Ernest Rodriguez (Michael Peña) and Arian Finch (Derek Luke) got!

Sebenarnya saya mau memasang tulisan ini hari Minggu (11/11) lalu karena saya menonton film ini midnight malam Minggunya. Tapi ternyata saya tepar (duh, bahasanya!). Dan saya terlupa terus untuk memasangnya hingga baru sekarang saya posting. Lumayan buat yang mau nonton supaya tidak tertipu seperti saya!Film ini merupakan garapan sutradara Robert Redford yang sekaligus berperan sebagai salah satu karakter yaitu Dr. Stephen Malley. Dikategorikan masuk sebagai  genre campuran-mosaic (seperti Syriana, Rendition, atau A Mighty Heart) dengan aktor campuran antara lama (Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise) dan baru (Michael Peña, Derek Luke, Andrew Garfield). Poster filmnya sih menjanjikan, mengingat saya belum membaca resensinya. Begitupun setelah menonton beberapa menit. Tapi setelah film ini masuk ke adegan wawancara antara wartawati senior Janine Roth (Meryl Streep) dengan Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise), saya kok malah jadi merasa aneh.

Selain cara wawancara yang tidak lazim untuk wartawati senior sekaliber itu –dikisahkan sudah lebih dari 30 tahun jadi wartawan-, juga gaya akting Tom Cruise yang ‘biasa bangeet.’ Tapi secara keseluruhan saya terganggu dengan indoktrinasi yang coba dilakukan oleh pembuat film ini tentang perpolitikan dan kebijakan luar negeri Amerika Serikat. Setelah pulang dari bioskop, saya mencari di internet tentang film ini dan benar saja, film ini banyak dikritik. Dari judulnya saja yang dikatakan tidak memiliki referensi sejarah kuat –walau ada dialog mengatakan hal yang berlawanan- oleh TimesOnline (http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/london_film_festival/article2672737.ece). Meski bisa saja  kata-kata itu diinspirasikan oleh percakapan antara dua orang Jenderal Jerman bernama Erich Ludendorff dan Max Hoffmann yang muncul dalam buku kenangan Jenderal Jerman lain bernama Erich von Falkenhayn, Komandan Tertinggi Angkatan Perang Jerman 1914-1916.

Ada pula buku lain berjudul Lions Led by Donkey karya Kapten P.A. Thompson yang diterbitkan tahun 1927. Oleh karena itu banyak ulasan di internet mengkritik judul film ini yang mustinya “Lions Led by Donkeys”. Tapi dugaan saya film ini mencoba mengekor kesuksesan film thriller The Silence of The Lambs (1991) dengan mengambil judul yang mirip.Lebih jauh, saya juga menduga film ini mencoba meniru pesan yang dituangkan Michale Moore dalam film-filmnya, terutama Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), terutama pesan anti-perangnya. Toh, Lions for Lambs gagal mempersuasi pemirsanya justru karena terlalu menggurui dan miskin humor. Jauh dari Fahrenheit 9/11 yang justru menimbulkan kesadaran dan sudut pandang baru secara global. Meski begitu, saya menarik sedikit pelajaran dari film ini. Yaitu tindakan lebih penting dari sebuah rencana belaka apalagi sekedar utopia angan-angan. Tapi awas, jangan sampai terlampau nekad sehingga berakhir seperti karakter Ernest Rodriguez (Michael Peña) dan Arian Finch (Derek Luke)!  

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