Scheduled to be released this Friday, the new movie directed by Ridley Scott “Body of Lies” is currently facing a lot of criticism, many saying that there is nothing special about it.

The production stars two important names in the film industry, Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, who play Roger Ferris, a CIA agent trying to catch a terrorist named al-Saleem, and Ed Hoffman, the former’s handler, respectively.

“Body of Lies” is based on an eponymous novel written by David Ignatius, a Washington Post columnist who received much praise for his approach to describing the Central Intelligence Agency’s missions. The one who adapted the book into a screenplay was William Monahan, an Academy Award-winning American screenwriter who has also worked alongside Ridley Scott on the 2005 movie „Kingdom of Heaven.”

Nevertheless, it was his collaboration with director Martin Scorsese on „The Departed” that earned him the aforementioned Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The movie’s cast included „Body of Lies” leading actor DiCaprio, opposite Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson.

As for Scott, who can pride himself in some prestigious awards as well, including a Golden Globe and an Emmy, he is best known for movies such as “Alien,” „Blade Runner,” „Thelma & Louise,” „Gladiator” and „Black Hawk Down.”

Unfortunately, his latest work seems to have failed to meet the critics’ expectations, since it has been deemed as being boring and not at all thrilling, which for a spy movie, translates as a box-office suicide.

Mixing together various cliches such as the means justifying the end, the tortured by guilt agent that chooses his mission over his conscience, the trust nobody but yourself rule, the veil of betrayal and deceit that shrouds every action, „Body of Lies” appears to have nothing to bring to the war-on-terrorism movies table. Except an abundance of car-chases, sky-surveillance missions, gunfights, torture and the always painful to watch, especially by Americans and especially in such a context, blowing-up of different buildings.

It appears as though, in their attempt to avoid making any political statements, the team have managed to render „Body of Lies” incapable of making statements of any kind, simply letting it to gnaw away at both the viewers' patience and the much worn-out idea that terrorism is an evil thing that must be stopped by all means.

Leonardo DiCaprio, 33, rose to fame due to his portrayal of Jack Dawson in the 1997 James Cameron movie „Titanic,” in which he starred alongside actress Kate Winslet.

Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe, aged 44, achieved stardom back in the year 2000, when his leading role in Ridley Scott’s movie „Gladiator” made the spotlight shine brightly upon him. He has also starred in „A Beautiful Mind,” „The Insider” and „A Good Year.”