IMDb > The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)
The Men Who Stare at Goats
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The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 39 | slideshow) Videos (see all 19)
The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) -- A reporter in Iraq might just have the story of a lifetime when he meets a guy who claims to be a former member of the U.S. Army's First Earth Battalion, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions.
The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) -- Clip: I see a tin mug
The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) -- Interview: Ewen Mc Gregor "On the cast"
The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) -- Paranormal Goats TV spot teaser
The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) -- Trailer for this comedy about psychic soldiers

Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   5,757 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 73% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Grant Heslov
Writers:
Peter Straughan (screenplay)
Jon Ronson (book)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Men Who Stare at Goats on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 November 2009 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | War more
Tagline:
No goats. No glory.
Plot:
A reporter in Iraq might just have the story of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady, a guy who claims to be a former member of the U.S. Army's First Earth Battalion, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
NewsDesk:
(559 articles)
Box office: ‘New Moon’ barely tops ‘The Blind Side’ with $42.5 million
 (From Reel Loop. 30 November 2009, 11:09 AM, PST)
‘New Moon’ Gets Blind Sided, Stays on Top
 (From newsinfilm. 30 November 2009, 10:47 AM, PST)
User Comments:
A great way to spend a lazy afternoon with a couple of mates more (89 total)
US Showtimes:
Pacific Culver Stadium 12 12:30pm | 3:05 | 5:45 | 8:20 | 11:05 (personalize) more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

George Clooney ... Lyn Cassady

Ewan McGregor ... Bob Wilton

Jeff Bridges ... Bill Django

Kevin Spacey ... Larry Hooper

Stephen Lang ... Brigadier General Dean Hopgood

Robert Patrick ... Todd Nixon

Waleed Zuaiter ... Mahmud Daash

Stephen Root ... Gus Lacey

Glenn Morshower ... Major Holtz

Nick Offerman ... Scotty Mercer

Tim Griffin ... Tim Kootz

Rebecca Mader ... Debora Wilton

Jacob Browne ... Lieutenant Boone

Todd La Tourrette ... Dave
Brad Grunberg ... Ron
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for language, some drug content and brief nudity.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
94 min
Country:
USA | UK
Language:
English
Colour:
Colour (DeLuxe)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
USA:R (certificate #45563) | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-13 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Norway:15 | Netherlands:12 | UK:15
Filming Locations:
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA more
Company:
BBC Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Lyn Cassady explains his work is like being a "Jedi Warrior" to Ewan McGregor (who played a Jedi Master in the Star Wars prequels). more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: In the Ft. Bragg scene dated 1980, portraits of both President Reagan and Defense Secretary Weinberger can be seen hanging on the wall; although elected in 1980, Reagan was not sworn in until 1981 and soon thereafter appointed Weinberger. more
Quotes:
Bob Wilton: So what do you use to remote view?
Lyn Cassady: I drink. And I find classic rock helps.
Bob Wilton: Any music in particular?
Lyn Cassady: Boston. Boston usually works.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "The Jay Leno Show: (#1.32)" (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Oudistic more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
15 out of 19 people found the following comment useful.
A great way to spend a lazy afternoon with a couple of mates, 13 November 2009
9/10
Author: Doctor_Mongoose from United Kingdom

I'm going to say its definitely up there in the top few films I've seen at the cinema this year. It has been criticised for lacking more biting criticism of the US government, but I think people who are saying that are missing the point. It does have a fair bit to say about how stupid the US Military can be and how they like to blow money on obviously pointless ventures, but there is a whole other side to it.

I thought that the film was more about the human spirit and how that if you want to make a difference and want to do something you've got to really go for it no matter how stupid the aim. Obviously the idea of trying to be a psychic spy is unattainable and may sound ludicrous, but so may be the notion of trying to create world peace and help bring different people together over a united cause. The film was more about how these drifters and lost souls managed to find something that they found worthy of pursuing and really devoted themselves to it, and I think this message is more admirable than any side-criticism of the USA.

The film plays out mainly as a buddy movie with Geogre Clooney, who is doing his usual comic act very well, and Ewan McGregor as they head around Iraq not really knowing what they are looking for and getting into loads of hilarious antics along the way. I don't think I've laughed so much in the cinema this year, and the whole audience was laughing along as well.

I thought the structure was hardly groundbreaking, but done really well. Flashbacks involving Jeff Bridges and Clooney help add comic relief during some of the straighter scenes in the film and also at times are used to rack up the tension and reveal interesting insights. It is of course up to your interpretation if the flashbacks are 100% real, because they are told from the point of view of Ewan McGregor, recounting stories that were told to him by Clooney. This sorts out another common criticism that the film is extremely unrealistic, but there are some key scenes saying that Clooney might not be telling the whole truth that I feel have been overlooked.

It isn't going to be Oscar-fare or the greatest thing you'll ever see but with a good cast and a lot of laughs there isn't really going to be a much better way of spending a lazy Saturday afternoon with some popcorn and a buddy or two.

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