History,Drama,Adventure,Action
United States of America
Lions for Lambs is a political drama film directed by Robert Redford and stars Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, and Robert Redford himself. The film follows three interconnected storylines that take place simultaneously in real-time. The first story is about a Republican senator named Jasper Irving (played by Cruise) who is a presidential hopeful. He gives an interview to a skeptical television reporter named Janine Roth (played by Streep) and reveals his new strategy for winning the war in Afghanistan. The senator believes that victory can only be achieved by sending American troops to remote regions of the country to engage with local communities and build trust with the people.
The second story is about two US special forces soldiers, Lieutenant Arian Finch (Derek Luke) and Sergeant Ernest Rodriguez (Michael Peña), who are on a reconnaissance mission in Afghanistan. When they are ambushed by Taliban forces, they hold their ground while they wait for rescue. Meanwhile, the senator's new strategy is being put to the test as the military plans a rescue mission.
The third story follows a political science professor at a California college named Dr. Stephen Malley (Robert Redford) who is frustrated with the lack of engagement and passion from his students. He invites one of his students, Todd Hayes (Andrew Garfield), to stay after class and discuss his future. Todd is a bright student who is disillusioned with the state of the world and lacks direction in his life. Dr. Malley challenges Todd to re-engage with life and make a difference in the world.
Throughout the film, the characters grapple with important questions about war, politics, and personal responsibility. The film received mixed reviews upon release but was praised for its thought-provoking themes and strong performances from the cast.
