Move Over Dr. Strangelove, It's "Men Who Stare at Goats"

Pajamas Media ^ | November 14 | Christian Toto

[AJKauf]

For an anti-war comedy starring George Clooney, it isn’t as ideologically intense as one might expect. And it's really funny.

The ultimate anti-war movie moment once belonged to Dr. Strangelove: Slim Pickens astride a nuclear weapon, whooping it up as he falls to his doom.

That killer sequence now has some company: the sight of soldiers staring down an innocent goat in a new war comedy starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor.

The Men Who Stare at Goats, inspired by true events gleaned from Jon Ronson’s nonfiction book, recalls the U.S. military’s efforts to harness paranormal powers to help boost the war machine.

And yes, the soldiers in question do stare down a hapless goat at one point in the film.

Clooney’s political leanings and previous films (like Three Kings) would make one guess that Goats is just another incendiary anti-war effort....

[K-oneTexas]

“Dr Strangelove” was a very funny satire. The previews for “Men Who Stare AT Goats” doesn’t even remotely look like fun or satire ... rather just weirdness Hollywood style to make a buck.

[rlmorel]

I won’t watch anything with George Clooney in it, unless my wife forces me to. And then it is under protest.

Scum, All.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"The ultimate anti-war movie moment once belonged to Dr. Strangelove: Slim Pickens astride a nuclear weapon, whooping it up as he falls to his doom."

I think that position is safe.

[jimbo123]

Not a penny for Clooney or his ilk.

[thesharkboy]

I won’t watch anything with George Clooney in it

Not even "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"

[x_plus_one]

The continual references to "Jedi Knights" to and by Ewan Mc Gregor is the funniest thing since he once played the ultimate jedi knight - Obi Wan Kenobi in the star wars saga.

George Clooney and Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey are type cast as well.

[rlmorel]

Agreed. Even though Dr. Strangelove is a completely anti-military film, you can't deny the humor in it! I watched it a couple of years back, and this jumped out at me:

[rlmorel]

I saw that and liked it. But that was before he began to shoot his mouth off. Or if he was shooting his mouth off, nobody was listening.

[Rennes Templar]

I don’t watch any of Clooneys films either, except for “Oh Brother”

[Fido969]

I love that movie. But what was it that jumped out at you?

[The Duke]

I don’t watch any of Clooneys films either, except for “Oh Brother”

Same here ... although I must say "Oh Brother" is a real favorite of ours here.

[UNGN]

That appears to be the shadow of the camera plane. Shadows plagued Hollywood movies during that era. Any outdoor night time scene will have intense sun shadows in any 50’s/60’s movie.

[Seven plus One]

"Burn After Reading" was pretty good, "From Dusk till Dawn" was one of the best bad movies ever. Any movie with a gas powered vampire impaler... I don't know exactly why Hollywood people need to be such commies, but I will not let that interfere with my pursuit of amusement. I just watch out for the propaganda. It's easy to spot, point out and ridicule. That in itself can be entertaining, If I'm really bored.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***And yes, the soldiers in question do stare down a hapless goat at one point in the film. ***

Nothing new. Lion tamer Clyde Beaty used to stare down the big cats in the old cliffhanger series at the movies.

Goats don’t eat people. Big cats do!

[fish hawk]

What’s really funny is that just about every review I’ve read about this movie says don’t waste your money.

[TXBlair]

Not even that one. He is dead to me.

[FreeperinRATcage]

That’s apparently the shadow of a B-17 Flying Fortress. While I’m not sure how this adds to the “anti-war” meme, its a neat “Easter Egg”.

[This_far]

Like others, I don’t watch Clooney even for free. As to this movie, I’ve seen similar reviews and non recommendations.

Clooney must have some special arrangement with the studio since it’s not available at Netflix yet. (I don’t think the bootleggers bothered with it either)

[Squantos]

Awesome movie ! Oh Brother ....

[WOSG]

My crystal ball sez its on comedy central within 2 years.

No point spending money to go Stare at Liberal Hollywood Goats for 2 hours.

[rlmorel]

That is a shadow of a B-17, not a B-52...:)

They rented a B-17 to film the terrain with, and put the B-52 model up in front of it...

[rlmorel]

It doesn’t really add to the theme of the thread, but if you are discussing anti-war films with all kinds of negative stereotypes Strangelove is in there. It was actually a clever movie with some great memorable dialog...more so than goats will be.

[karnage]

“Goats” is pretty funny, though certainly not at the briliant level of “Strangelove.”

[karnage]

Clooney starred in one of my favorite comedies in the last 10 years, “Intolerable Cruelty.” Hilarious.

[rlmorel]

Okay...I did see that one too. And I did see Oceans Eleven. But I drew the line somewhere...

[fieldmarshaldj]

The best part of "From Dusk till Dawn."

[ops33]

If you look carefully, the aircraft’s shadow on the ground is not a B-52. According to the Internet Movie Database, the shadow is of a B-17.

[rlmorel]

That was the whole point of my post...:)

Of course, I had the conceit that somehow I was the first one to spot that...just shows how ignorant and conceited some people can be!