The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)

Directed by Grant Heslov. Starring Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, Stephen Lang, Robert Patrick, Stephen Root, Waleed Zuaiter, Glenn Morshower. [R]

Reporter McGregor stumbles onto a crazy story after meeting an incognito ex-Special Forces officer (Clooney) who was part of an experimental unit devoted to creating and training psychic warriors, the kind who’d be able to read and influence minds, turn invisible, phase through walls, that sort of thing. A wild idea, inspired in part by (reputed) truth; it’s offbeat but unfocused, and it never makes much of its ideas, ultimately stranding a good cast in a story without a point of view or compelling purpose. Spotty laughs from Clooney and Bridges (as the New Age-stimulated group leader), but same as the script, their characters don’t go anywhere. Scribe Peter Straughan adapted from Jon Ronson’s same-named book. First—and, to date, only—feature directing effort from actor and frequent writing/producing partner of Clooney’s, Grant Heslov.

48/100