The Men Who Stare at Goats

Name: The Men Who Stare at Goats
Genre: Comedy, War
Released: November 6, 2009
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 54
Cast: Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey

2009

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 188 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	Your Score
6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 188 Ratings

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The Men Who Stare At Goats

Movie Details & Credits

Overture Films | Release Date: November 6, 2009 | R

Starring: Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey

Summary: Reporter Bob Wilton is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady, a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, passReporter Bob Wilton is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady, a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Now, the program's founder, Bill Django, has gone missing and Cassady's mission is to find him. (Overture Films)

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Director: Grant Heslov

Genre(s): Comedy, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 94 min

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Awards & Rankings

88	#88 Most Discussed Movie of 2009
92	#92 Most Shared Movie of 2009

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Derek Elley

A superbly written loony-tunes satire, played by a tony cast at the top of its game. Read full review

Peter Travers

The go-for-broke performances help make all this paranormal activity too much fun to care. Read full review

James Berardinelli

The film is more than a little odd but it has fun with its offbeat premise and moves along breezily until it gets bogged down in the third act. Read full review

Claudia Puig

This is the anti-"Hurt Locker" experience: Where that Iraq War film was absorbing and deadly serious, The Men Who Stare at Goats is irreverent and lighthearted. One only wishes it were a more consistently funny film. Read full review

Peter Rainer

By bringing the story into Iraq, Grant Heslov courts tastelessness. Gooniness and Gitmo don't mix. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

What's impressive about Clooney in The Men Who Stare at Goats is how he marries his goofy, comic side with his dramatic side. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

A magical-realist sitcom war farce that ends up being about nothing but its own slovenly smugness. Read full review

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User Reviews

RonM

Nov 14, 2009

This was a great film. You WILL laugh.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

UriG

Mar 7, 2010

First of all, I must say I was nearly forced to go inside the cinema to watch the movie. But after watching it, I accept that it was a really nice film: fresh, not slow(but not as fast as I would have liked), really funny, and with a few moments that everybody in the cinema laughed really First of all, I must say I was nearly forced to go inside the cinema to watch the movie. But after watching it, I accept that it was a really nice film: fresh, not slow(but not as fast as I would have liked), really funny, and with a few moments that everybody in the cinema laughed really loud. It is worth watching it, so I recommend it to everybody. A must-see film if you wanna enjoy a really nice time!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

SanderS

Jan 3, 2010

Seeing Doctor Parnassas(hope it was right), I left from cinema thinking that the movie had everything right - acting, story and the purpose but it failed with very important thing - entertainment. This movie dosen`t have great story or some other things but it doesn't fail with Seeing Doctor Parnassas(hope it was right), I left from cinema thinking that the movie had everything right - acting, story and the purpose but it failed with very important thing - entertainment. This movie dosen`t have great story or some other things but it doesn't fail with entertainment. You get great emotional feeling and can always enjoy film with your friends. For me it had great message and wasn't disappointed.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

ChadS.

Nov 10, 2009

The New Earth Army manual is all theory; it's never put into practice. If it did, then maybe this anti-war satire would get out of first gear. "The Men Who Stare At Goats" wastes a golden opportunity to expound on the famous "Dr. Strangelove" line: "Gentleman, you can't fight in The New Earth Army manual is all theory; it's never put into practice. If it did, then maybe this anti-war satire would get out of first gear. "The Men Who Stare At Goats" wastes a golden opportunity to expound on the famous "Dr. Strangelove" line: "Gentleman, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room," which was delivered by Peter Sellers(as the president) in the 1964 Stanley Kubrick classic. There's no payoff to Bill Django's conceit that such countercultural ideals of his could accomodate the millitary's predilection for sanctioned violence. In the hands of a more daring filmmaker, one who was willing to rewrite war history(ala Quentin Tarantino), all that "hippie crap"(what Larry Hooper, played by Kevin Spacey, Django's teachings) would be a lot more potent as satire if the special unit's peace and love played a part(positive or negative) in the outcome of our country's skirmishes. The New Ageism that defines the psy-ops program is funny, but one-note in its presentation, because the New Earth Army soldiers never use their special training in a real world situation. The movie is much too preoccupied with the power struggle between Django and Hooper. Lyn Cassady(George Clooney) needs a more dynamic mission than the one the film gives him. "The Men Who Stare at Goats" could have explored the idea of a peace movement as being more than symbolic. For example, a soldier, not some hippie chick at an anti-war demonstration, could stick a flower in the barrel of a gun. But Cassady and Bob(Ewan McGregor) are nowhere near the war. The film needs a second gear. Django needs a venue for his "hippie crap".… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

JeffA

Mar 12, 2010

I was looking forward to this, due to clooney, etc. but it was so disappointing I stopped watching at 38 minutes. It's just dumb. I didn't laugh once, just a rather dull, unfunny movie.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

JamieB

Mar 28, 2010

A complete waste of a stellar cast. At no point does the director come close to making a watchable movie. This is easily Ewan McGregor's worst performance of his career, and that takes into account the abortions that were the Star Wars prequels. Don't waste your time.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

JudyG

Nov 7, 2009

Did not get this movie at all. Totally boring! Waste of money and time.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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