TERROR INCOGNITO: FROM PAGE 49
ever butt out — Body of Lies doesn’t ever really get inside his head. Ferris’ relationship with an Iranian-born nurse (Golshifteh Farahani) is meant to soften his own brand of icy pragmatism, but there’s not enough time to develop it into something that explains the self-sacrifice he’s later willing to make on her behalf.
After 128 minutes spent with Roger Ferris, I can’t really say that I understand what makes him tick. It’s fortunate, then, that Body of Lies can at least tick along as a tense little thriller. Scott knows how to wrangle nervous energy out of both bullet-riddled chases and silent waiting, and he’s never been shy about using a little excruciating damage to a human body to make a point.
Monahan’s script maintains a clean, crisp trajectory through the narrative and finds enough space for even the clash of wills
