It was probably fortuitous that I watched The Mist and Lions for Lambs in the same weekend. They are both similar movies, at least in how heavy-handed they are in trying to make a political point.
The Mist, inspired by a Stephen King short story, is so wrought with anti-Bush fervor, you almost forget to enjoy the fun of murderous extra-worldly creatures.
The movie is about a mystical mist that descends on a small town after a violent thunderstorm. A number of town residents become trapped by the mist and the frightening creatures it cloaks.
The strength of the movie is its simplicity and its acting. You will probably not know the name of the actors but you will know their faces. There are many strong character actors in this movie to be enjoyed.
The movie is at its worst when it becomes preachy.
Basically, don't follow religion blindly and if you are one of the good guys, namely people who are prone to being rationale, you can't give up -- even if you are surrounded by a world of rubes.
Lions for Lambs is an interesting rumination on the war in Afghanistan, made a couple of years ago when nobody much cared about the war we were fighting in that country.
It is a more straight forward political message flick as its main characters include a Congressman, a veteran news reporter, two soldiers and a political science professor.
Again the message is laid on thick. The few, intellectuals that have been drowned out by apathy and the political winds, need to stand up and fight even if they have no chance to win.
I think I would have enjoyed the film more if I had just watched the acting performances which were really great actually. Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, among others, were all quite good.
Give these a watch if you are bored, but don't expect too much from them.
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