--- title: "Body of Lies: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/body-of-lies/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/body-of-lies" critics_score: 55 critics_reviews: 19 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Body of Lies (2008): what the critics said Critics' score 55 from 19 reviews: 5 positive, 9 mixed, 5 negative. The consensus on Body of Lies is mixed: the reviews find capable performances and technical polish, but less agreement that these make a satisfying political thriller. Praise clusters around Mark Strong’s controlled, unsettling presence and Leonardo DiCaprio’s energy, with even several detractors finding the actors stronger than the material. Ridley Scott’s handling of violence and action earns approval from some critics, though others find the staging detached or routine. The spread is wide, with Den of Geek enjoying the excitement and DiCaprio–Crowe banter, while Variety argues that formulaic action squanders a promising premise. Reservations centre on confused or predictable plotting, thin character motivations and political observations that do not go far enough. Even favourable reviews question how much the film understands its subject; the sharper dissenters see its reliance on familiar thriller conventions as the reason it disappoints. ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Rating B. 9 October 2008. Phipps finds the film solid and timely but ultimately less memorable than its promise. He praises its clear storytelling and Crowe’s sly performance, while faulting Scott’s polite distance from the action and human drama. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/body-of-lies-1798205002) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2008. Honeycutt finds the film an unsettling, largely convincing spy thriller, though its central character’s motivations are unclear. He praises Leonardo DiCaprio’s energetic performance and the film’s superb technical credits. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/body-lies-dicaprio-crowe-scott-125307/) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 October 2008. Denby finds the thriller smart, urgent, and insightful, though it ultimately feels like a virtuosic exercise that cannot fully grasp its subject. He particularly praises Ridley Scott’s command of space and violence and the strong performances, especially Mark Strong’s and Leonardo DiCaprio’s. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/10/13/good-fights-david-denby) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint can be verified from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/body-of-lies-2008) ## Screen Daily — Mike Goodridge Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 3 October 2008. The page identifies this as a review of Ridley Scott’s 2008 film, but the review text is unavailable. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined from the accessible page. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/body-of-lies/4041134.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2008. The review's verdict is unavailable in the accessible page. Its specific praise or criticism cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/arts/10iht-fmreview10.1.16810395.html) ## Radio Times — John Ferguson Rating 3/5. Ferguson finds the political thriller underwhelming and less than the sum of its parts. He notes its star cast, Ridley Scott’s direction and William Monahan’s script, but says the promising combination does not deliver. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-3vek6d/body-of-lies/) ## Time Out — Trevor Johnston Rating 3/5. 18 November 2008. The printed three-star rating indicates a mixed-to-positive verdict. The accessible page metadata highlights the high stakes facing DiCaprio’s CIA operator, but gives no specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/body-of-lies) ## Total Film — Jonathan Crocker Rating 3/5. 21 October 2008. The review finds the political thriller overloaded and undercooked, with DiCaprio carrying it while Crowe coasts. It praises Mark Strong’s screen presence and Scott’s explosive action, which propel a gripping final half-hour. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/body-of-lies-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2/4. 9 October 2008. Schager finds the film’s political commentary undercut by dull thriller conventions and predictable plotting. He praises Mark Strong’s suave, dapper performance, while faulting the blandly staged action and melodramatic finale. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/body-of-lies/) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2008. Nathan finds the film visually enthralling but ultimately garbled and badly in need of a coherent plot. He praises Scott’s striking visual style while faulting the impatient, jargon-heavy script and scattered subplots. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/body-lies-review/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the thriller hollow and unconvincing despite its slick urgency. DiCaprio and Crowe are praised for outstripping the material, while the plot and Roger’s characterization draw complaints. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/body-of-lies-leaves-you-feeling-cheated-7410973.html) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 23 November 2008. French finds the film slick, shallow and simplistic, arguing that it adds little to understanding its subject. He singles out Mark Strong’s performance as the film’s redeeming feature. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/nov/23/body-of-lies-review) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 2 October 2008. McCarthy finds the film contrived and formulaic, with an overly conventional climax that undermines its promising premise. He praises the vivid scenes between DiCaprio and Mark Strong, while faulting the film for choosing Hollywood action conventions over a more absorbing, provocative story. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/body-of-lies-1200471951/) ## Den of Geek — Christian Forbes Rating 4/5. 14 November 2008. Forbes calls the film an exciting, enjoyable thriller and recommends seeing it. He praises DiCaprio’s sympathetic performance and the banter between him and Russell Crowe. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/body-of-lies-review/) ## Eye for Film — Richard Mellor Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 November 2008. Mellor finds the film a riveting, uneasy thriller, though he questions the pleasure of its entertainment value. He particularly praises Mark Strong’s sleek, unsettling performance as Hani. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/body-of-lies-film-review-by-richard-mellor) ## /Film — Slashfilmcast Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 2008. The podcast includes a review of Body of Lies, but the page does not reveal its verdict. It says the hosts turn an about-face on Ridley Scott, without identifying a specific element they praise or criticize. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/501000/filmcast-ep-21-body-of-lies-guests-kevin-buist-and-alex-billington/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2008. The critic finds the film gripping and insightful but ultimately a slight misfire. They praise its brutal, distinctive view of espionage while faulting its slow first half and underdeveloped romance. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a135611/body-of-lies/) ## Paste — Jeremy Medina Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 15 October 2008. Medina finds the film passable as a thriller but ultimately heavy-handed and lacking intelligence. He singles out the visceral terrorist bombings as effective, while criticizing the film’s collapse into a gruesome climax. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/ridley-scott/body-of-lies) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/body-of-lies.md