Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 10, 2008

Espionage Thriller 'Body of Lies' Questions Terror War Ideology
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Film co-starring Russell Crowe, Leonardo Di Caprio tracks key American
intelligence agent in Middle East on front lines of war on terror 
A new espionage thriller tracks a key American intelligence agent in the
Middle East as he attempts to balance ideology with reality, on the
front lines of the war on terror. Ridley Scott directs the adaptation of
a best-selling novel by Washington Post columnist David Ignatius. Alan
Silverman has this look at Body of Lies. Ed Hoffman, played by
Oscar-winner Russell Crowe, is a veteran Middle East hand, directing
operations in the region from CIA headquarters in Virginia. Leonardo Di
Caprio in scene from Body Of Lies Agent Roger Ferris - Leonardo Di
Caprio - has Hoffman's orders ringing in his ears (delivered by the
ever-present mobile phone) while he tries to succeed and survive in hot
zones across the region. They are in pursuit of a notorious terrorist
named Al-Saleem who is planning a series of attacks. After barely making
it out of Iraq alive, the chase leads Ferris to Amman, Jordan, where,
over Hoffman's objections - telephoned from Langley, of course - he
seeks the help of Jordanian intelligence chief Hani Salaam, played by
London-born Mark Strong. Russell Crowe in scene from Body Of Lies
Meanwhile, Hoffman, back at CIA headquarters, puts his own plan into
action, risking not only the fragile alliance but the life of his own
agent. As Hoffman, Russell Crowe literally phones it in: spending much
of his time barking orders, cajoling and manipulating ...but rarely
face-to-face."There is a distance between him and the reality of what he
is doing, so it is easy for him," Crowe explains. "He is playing a video
game whereas Ferris is inside it, in real life."Leonardo Di Caprio,
right, and Russell Crowe in scene from Body of Lies Leonardo Di Caprio
says Ferris is forced to choose between what is morally right and what
may get the job done."There was this great conflict set up in the book
of this dilemma that this character has where he is asked consistently
to do things that he does not believe in for the betterment of his
country and this war on terror,!
 " Di Caprio says. "He wants to do the best job he possibly can, but he 
is being manipulated by both sides. So, besides just being a great
political piece that is pertinent to this time, it is this fantastic
cat-and-mouse espionage thriller that works on its own."Russell Crowe
with Ridley Scott on the set of Body Of Lies Director and producer
Ridley Scott adds that Ferris's trust-based affiliation with Jordanian
intelligence chief Hani stands in sharp contrast to the agent's
relationship with his dogmatic, pragmatic boss, Hoffman."I think this is
fundamentally about seduction and betrayal," notes Scott. "If necessary
he will betray his most valuable asset in the field if the reward is a
higher reward than losing his asset."Body of Lies also features
celebrated Iranian actress Golshiftah Farahani as a nurse who treats the
agent's injuries and helps him understand more about the culture in
which he is working. Israeli-born Alon Aboutboul portrays the clever and
deadly adversary, Al-Saleem. Much of the film was shot in Morocco, where
director Scott found locations to believably stand in for settings from
Iraq to Jordan.


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