BODY OF LIES
A murky, violent spy thriller for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
Body of Lies is entertaining and never boring, with excellent performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. Once the story finds its direction, it becomes a tense modern version of the murky spy thrillers of the 1960s, where no one can be trusted—not even the people on your side.
The cost is substantial. The first act is fuzzy, making it difficult to identify with the characters or their goals. The film’s morality is also murky and not entirely believable or satisfying. Its strong foul language and very strong violence place it firmly outside a family movie night.
If you are an adult or older teenager drawn to serious espionage thrillers, Body of Lies has enough tension and acting skill to hold your attention. For children and young teens, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESRoger Ferris, an undercover CIA operative played by Leonardo DiCaprio, gathers intelligence on Muslim terrorists in the Middle East. His secretive boss, Ed Hoffman, played by Russell Crowe, sends him into a dangerous operation involving a terrorist leader, a possible safehouse in Amman, Jordan, and the country’s charismatic head of intelligence.
As Roger tries to navigate competing agendas, betrayal and deception place his life in increasing danger.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is a solid, entertaining thriller that falls short of greatness. The movie is never boring or uninteresting, and its performances are excellent. DiCaprio and Crowe give the story strong dramatic energy, while the espionage setting supports a tense, serious atmosphere.
The main weaknesses are structural and thematic. The premise is fuzzy during the first act, and by the time the story’s direction becomes clear, viewers may have struggled to invest in the characters and plot. The movie’s murky morality also makes it less satisfying and believable than it could be. It lacks the spark of brilliance that would make a great spy thriller stick in your memory.
The Worldview
Body of Lies presents a light but somewhat murky and unsatisfying moral worldview. It includes some positive references to God, but its characters operate in a world shaped by lying, deceit, kidnapping, terrorism, and competing loyalties. Terrorism is rebuked, yet the film suggests that there are no completely innocent people in this line of work. That moral ambiguity weakens the story’s clarity.
The film includes Muslim characters and does not clearly promote or reject Islamic theology. Its political correctness gives the War on Terror a restrained treatment rather than a gung-ho, pro-American one. The story also flirts with anti-American content without fully embracing it. A discussion about what the Koran says regarding violence against non-Muslims further places the film’s moral questions within a religious and political conflict.
The film’s central question concerns how people use truth, deception, and violence in pursuit of security. Scripture gives a clearer standard: “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light but somewhat murky and unsatisfying moral worldview with some positive references to God but also some light political correctness, plus Muslim characters are involved in the story but the movie neither promotes nor rejects Islamic theology, though man argues about what the Koran actually says about violence against non-Muslims with another man in one scene; at least 65 obscenities and 10 strong profanities; some very strong violence includes two fingers smashed with a hammer to the point of being cut off, torture, a planned beheading that’s not completed, and a man is punished by being whipped on his naked rear end, plus plenty of action violence such as explosions, bombs, rocket propelled grenades, gunfights, chases through streets, threats of torture, fighting; no sexual content; brief upper and rear male nudity; alcohol use; smoking; and, lying, deceit, kidnapping, terrorism rebuked, and movie flirts with anti-American content but never quite gets there.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film’s characters use deception while claiming to pursue security. Why does Scripture call Christians to put away falsehood, even when truth seems costly?
Ephesians 4:25 · Colossians 3:9The story presents terrorism as evil while also portraying a morally compromised fight against it. How should Christians pursue justice without becoming shaped by the evil they oppose?
Romans 12:21 · Micah 6:8The characters struggle to know whom they can trust. What makes someone worthy of trust, and where does lasting security come from?
Proverbs 11:3 · Psalm 46:1–3The film includes an argument about what the Koran says concerning violence against non-Muslims. How should Christians approach conversations about other religions with both truth and gentleness?
Acts 17:22–31 · 1 Peter 3:15The Final Word
Body of Lies offers adult viewers an entertaining, well-acted spy thriller, but its slow beginning, murky morality, strong language, and very strong violence limit its audience. For discerning adults who can handle those concerns, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For family viewing, choose from.
