By Sam Watermeier

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Get ready for a new type of super spy: He’s fat, old, bearded, and tired. Look out James Bond. I’m referring to the two main characters in “Body of Lies,” the new thriller from master Ridley Scott (“Alien,” “Blade Runner”) written by Academy Award winning screenwriter William Monahan (“The Departed”). “Body of Lies” is a refreshing change of direction from the hectic, relentless, fantastical spy movies of late like “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “Casino Royale.” Unlike those films, “Body of Lies” delivers “average Joe” characters that are relatable and credible. This is a plus because it’s getting difficult to connect with invincible super spies. However, the film’s plot is not as captivating as its characters.

Based on the novel by David Ignatius, the film revolves around two CIA agents: Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his boss Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe). Ferris is frustrated and tired of all the death and destruction he witnesses on the job. Hoffman could care less about Ferris’s emotional trauma because he is just the guy behind the scenes, the one that sits in an air-conditioned office “pulling the strings” while agents risk their lives for him. Since he cannot relate to Ferris’s struggles and has not experienced the same destructive events, he remains indifferent. The plot kicks into action when Ferris and Hoffman create a terrorist and stage bombings in order to lure another Middle-eastern terror-monger into a trap. Sounds exciting, right? Well, unfortunately the pace of the film does not quicken at this point and the movie does not offer the thrilling spectacles and action implied. However, the depth of the characters makes up for this disappointment.

Most spy thrillers like the “Bond” or “Bourne” films focus only on thrusting their heroes into exciting action. Unlike James Bond and Jason Bourne, Ferris and Hoffman do not constantly chase enemies in fancy cars around exotic locales. With its exploration of the principal characters’ personal lives, “Body of Lies” transcends the spy thriller genre. The film juxtaposes the men’s spy business with their non-work related routines. For example, there are several scenes where Hoffman is doing ordinary things like eating cereal or taking his kids to school while talking to CIA operatives over the phone. We also see Ferris on a date with a girl in one of the war-torn countries where he is stationed. These scenes add an emotional layer that the “Bond” and “Bourne” films lack. “Body of Lies” shows that men are more than their profession.

DiCaprio and especially Crowe create the most relatable spy characters I have ever seen. Crowe gained 50 pounds for the role and sports a gray wig. His attitude in the film is that of an ordinary middle-aged man. He does not seem like a sneaky mastermind, but an average Joe which makes his performance complex and engaging. DiCaprio displays a vulnerability unlike other famous spy characters that is very touching. He shows genuine fear and sadness. When a girl he’s dating in the Middle East is kidnapped, he falls apart. Any other film spy would show little or no emotion.

“Body of Lies” is not the best film in theaters right now. It is a little slow and dull in parts. However, it is worth seeing merely because it breaks the mold for spy thrillers with its credible characters.

“Body of Lies”

Grade: B

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe

Rated: R