Considering the sheer star power of both Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, it’s surprising to realize that an action movie led by them flew under the radar. However, that’s the case with 2008’s Body of Lies, which saw the two legendary actors share the screen in the lead roles with Ridley Scott in the director’s chair. A dark spy thriller with them should be a major blockbuster but Body of Lies made just $115.9 million (via Box Office Mojo) and was largely forgotten soon after.
Surprisingly, this wasn’t the first movie to feature both actors as they worked together back in the underrated western The Quick and the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in 1995. However, DiCaprio was not yet a star and neither was in the lead role, so that one being forgotten makes more sense. Body of Lies kind of had everything it needed to succeed, including a talented supporting cast, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Body Of Lies Is A Tense Action Thriller
The Film Focuses On The CIA’s Hunt For A Terrorist
While it is an action movie, Body of Lies is more of a tense political thriller. The story centers on a CIA agent (DiCaprio) on the ground in Jordan and how he communicates with a CIA strategist (Crowe) who is watching his every move via satellite as they work together to take down a terrorist organization. The intense moments come from watching DiCaprio’s Roger Ferris in the middle of the action, while the political intrigue comes from whether or not everyone in the CIA can be trusted.
The interesting premise is enough to make Body of Lies something worth checking out but the movie is actually way more star-studded than just its two Oscar-winning lead actors. Though they weren’t big names at the time, several actors who went on to have major careers played significant roles. Mark Strong appears as an intelligence chief, Oscar Isaac pops up as a field operative, and Annabelle Wallis has a small part as Strong’s character’s girlfriend. Of course, there’s also the selling point of Ridley Scott as the film’s director.
Crowe & DiCaprio’s Charisma Carry Body Of Lies
The Two Actors Were The Highlight Of The Movie
One thing that may have held Body of Lies back from bigger success was that it didn’t receive sparkling reviews. That’s not to say critics were harsh on the movie, though. It holds a middling 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but audiences who did see it appreciated it more at 62% on the Popcornmeter and a 7.0/10 on IMDb. Regardless of any review, even the critics who may not have liked the movie were sure to praise the work of DiCaprio and Crowe. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus reads:
Body of Lies relies on the performances of Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio to elevate it beyond the conventional espionage thriller.
That means that fans of Crowe and DiCaprio should certainly seek this out. It features solid espionage action from an all-time great director, several future stars in early performances, and the sheer charismatic power of DiCaprio and Crowe, which is more than enough to make Body of Lies a strong hidden gem worth watching.
