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 193 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	Your Score
6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 193 Ratings

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The Men Who Stare At Goats

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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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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

martinho_99

May 27, 2021

The hidden gem under comedy movies. Don't let them dislead you this movie is incredible funny and well written. The cast ist just perfect!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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

CarolynM

Nov 10, 2009

My husband and I loved this. It's completely wacky, yet based on a period of time when the US military seriously investigated paranormal approaches to war. Great performances that leave you wondering, "Are they crazy? Am I?"

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Tyranian

Oct 29, 2019

Reasonably entertaining with good performances but the ending is a stuff-up.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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

NerijusD

Feb 23, 2010

Incredibly bad, stupid and... boring film.

0 of 1 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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88	#88 Most Discussed Movie of 2009
92	#92 Most Shared Movie of 2009