Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier

NoirFan · 11-17-08, 10:16 PM

IMDB synopsis:

Quote:

A reporter in Iraq might just have the story of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady, a guy who claims to be a former member of the U.S. Army's First Earth Battalion, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions.

Director:
Grant Heslov
Writers:
Jon Ronson (book)
Peter Straughan (screenplay)
Genre:
History

Cast:

George Clooney ... Lyn Cassady

Ewan McGregor ... Bob Wilton

Jeff Bridges ... Bill Django

Kevin Spacey ... Larry Hooper

First pix of Clooney. This looks intriguingly bizarre.

iamiam · 11-17-08, 10:30 PM

Just based on the cast, I would see this.

troystiffler · 11-18-08, 12:28 AM

Sounds ambitious. Would go and see it without thinking.

PopcornTreeCt · 11-18-08, 02:27 AM

WTF? That sounds like the plot of a video game... a bad video game.

sauce07 · 11-18-08, 10:10 AM

Clooney looks like an 80's pediofile

NoirFan · 11-19-08, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt

WTF? That sounds like the plot of a video game... a bad video game.

It's based upon a true story. Obviously the idea of a legitimately paranormal soldier is absurd, but I'm sure the military has tried all manner of unorthodox warfare and experimentation over the years. Look at their attempts to use LSD as a truth-telling serum. I'm definitely going to check out Jon Ronson's book now.

Sierra Disc · 11-19-08, 11:38 PM

I dunno, words that should never be in movie titles together -- "Men," "Who," "Goats."

Jeffy Pop · 11-20-08, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt

WTF? That sounds like the plot of a video game... a bad video game.

I just picked up the book today. From the looks of it, it seems more along the lines of Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

And it's got Clooney in it. Say what you will about the guy, but he picks some interesting roles.

d2cheer · 11-21-08, 11:41 AM

Agree, but do you think they will keep the title? Seems like it may go through at least one title change even though it is based on a book.

Brian T · 11-21-08, 11:59 AM

The book is a great read, a swift mix of humour and jawdropping U.S. military inanity (the "First Earth Battalion"

). In tone it is indeed reminiscent of Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, only far more likely to be true, and anchored by something more substantial than a first-person point of view: interviews with actual participants, some of whom still believe in the paranormal. A couple chapters into it, I thought it would make an excellent movie. Not surprising that Clooney would find it workable.

Part of the program included "de-bleating" goats in Fort Bragg and having military types actually try to stare them to death in the hopes of honing superior mental powers for use during wartime. There's few developed countries on the planet where I can see such ideas being given serious consideration.

Jeffy Pop · 11-21-08, 05:58 PM

I started reading the book today. Laugh out loud funny. Some of the dialogue....

NoirFan · 05-19-09, 03:20 PM

From Variety:

Quote:

...in the first major pickup of (Cannes), Overture has grabbed domestic rights to war comedy "Men Who Stare at Goats," featuring Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges and helmed by Heslov.

GoldenJCJ · 05-19-09, 04:09 PM

I'm looking forward to this! Clooney, McGregor, and Bridges are all fantastic when they go the comedy route.

madcougar · 05-20-09, 02:19 PM

Ahhh... finally spotted the word that makes me very interested in seeing this... "comedy."

NoirFan · 08-18-09, 06:01 PM

First image

Zen Peckinpah · 08-18-09, 08:46 PM

Seth Gecko, Rentboy, Verbal Kint, and The Dude in the same movie. HOLY SHIT. If it was rated G, ran 80 minutes and the movie was an inspirational story of goat farmers, I'd see it opening day.

The Bus · 08-28-09, 09:05 AM

HD Trailer

GoldenJCJ · 08-28-09, 11:26 AM

^ Looks good. I actually laughed out loud several times throughout the trailer!

Zen Peckinpah · 08-28-09, 01:10 PM

This movie looks like nothing but great, greater, and greatest.

Brian T · 08-28-09, 01:16 PM

This premieres at the Toronto Film Fest in a couple of weeks. Ordered most of my tickets early this year; hoping they go through.

KillerCannibal · 08-28-09, 03:08 PM

Looks like it could be great, and what a cast. I'm def in.

Dr Mabuse · 08-28-09, 03:31 PM

Let's do this right, embedded in HD.

Dr Mabuse · 08-28-09, 03:32 PM

This looks excellent btw...

gmanca · 08-28-09, 04:19 PM

Yeah, this is going to be awesome.

chris_sc77 · 08-28-09, 04:40 PM

Looks very funny but I am concerned about IMDB listing the runtime as only 90 minutes. Hopefully that is a grave error.

11-18-08, 12:28 AM	#3
troystiffler DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Phoenix, AZ, Passively angry as heck but gosh darn I'll sit back and take it you know, whatever Posts: 10,282	Sounds ambitious. Would go and see it without thinking. __________________ Hrmph.

11-18-08, 10:10 AM	#5
sauce07 DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 5,523	Clooney looks like an 80's pediofile __________________ "It's hard to explain why you end up in ERAGON and not GOODFELLAS." - John Malkovich on turning down the role of Jimmy Conway. PSN - sauce07 DVD Aficionado My Countdown Counting down to: April 20th Bubble Bubble Bubble

11-21-08, 05:58 PM	#11
Jeffy Pop DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Denver Posts: 1,521	I started reading the book today. Laugh out loud funny. Some of the dialogue.... __________________ "Oh, I'm serious, baby. I am Yahoo Serious. I'm Serious FM. Welcome to the World Serious of Seriousness, sponsored by Honey Nut Seerioes."

05-19-09, 04:09 PM	#13
GoldenJCJ DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,849	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier I'm looking forward to this! Clooney, McGregor, and Bridges are all fantastic when they go the comedy route. __________________ ...

05-20-09, 02:19 PM	#14
madcougar DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Houston Posts: 5,308	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier Ahhh... finally spotted the word that makes me very interested in seeing this... "comedy." __________________ "Never underestimate stupid." Madcougar, 2002 X-Box Live Gamer Tag: Madcougar92

11-17-08, 10:30 PM	#2
iamiam Needs to contact an admin about multiple accounts Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 448	Just based on the cast, I would see this.

11-18-08, 02:27 AM	#4
PopcornTreeCt DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Central Florida Posts: 25,826	WTF? That sounds like the plot of a video game... a bad video game.

11-19-08, 11:38 PM	#7
Sierra Disc DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: May 2000 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 5,562	I dunno, words that should never be in movie titles together -- "Men," "Who," "Goats."

11-21-08, 11:41 AM	#9
d2cheer DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 5,524	Agree, but do you think they will keep the title? Seems like it may go through at least one title change even though it is based on a book.

11-21-08, 11:59 AM	#10
Brian T DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1,302	The book is a great read, a swift mix of humour and jawdropping U.S. military inanity (the "First Earth Battalion" ). In tone it is indeed reminiscent of Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, only far more likely to be true, and anchored by something more substantial than a first-person point of view: interviews with actual participants, some of whom still believe in the paranormal. A couple chapters into it, I thought it would make an excellent movie. Not surprising that Clooney would find it workable. Part of the program included "de-bleating" goats in Fort Bragg and having military types actually try to stare them to death in the hopes of honing superior mental powers for use during wartime. There's few developed countries on the planet where I can see such ideas being given serious consideration.

08-18-09, 06:01 PM	#15
NoirFan DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nightmare Alley Posts: 17,114	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier First image __________________ DVDAf "If you want something done right, you have to live in the past." - Bruce Eric Kaplan 2012 Horror Challenge

08-18-09, 08:46 PM	#16
Zen Peckinpah DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,889	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier Seth Gecko, Rentboy, Verbal Kint, and The Dude in the same movie. HOLY SHIT. If it was rated G, ran 80 minutes and the movie was an inspirational story of goat farmers, I'd see it opening day. __________________ "The next time the motherfucker call, tell him I said suck my dick. I don't give a fuck, whatever the fuck make the people laugh, say that shit. Do the people laugh when you say what you say? I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'do you get paid?' I said, 'Yes.' He said well tell Bill I said have a Coke and a smile and shut the fuck up! The Jello puddin'-eating motherfucker!"

08-28-09, 09:05 AM	#17
The Bus DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New York Posts: 51,621	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier HD Trailer __________________ Movies: 2002 / 03 / 04 / 05 / 06 / 07 / 08 / 09 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 2013 "Too much disclaiming in this post." – Dr. Mabuse

08-28-09, 11:26 AM	#18
GoldenJCJ DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,849	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier ^ Looks good. I actually laughed out loud several times throughout the trailer! __________________ ...

08-28-09, 01:10 PM	#19
Zen Peckinpah DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,889	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier This movie looks like nothing but great, greater, and greatest. __________________ "The next time the motherfucker call, tell him I said suck my dick. I don't give a fuck, whatever the fuck make the people laugh, say that shit. Do the people laugh when you say what you say? I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'do you get paid?' I said, 'Yes.' He said well tell Bill I said have a Coke and a smile and shut the fuck up! The Jello puddin'-eating motherfucker!"

08-28-09, 01:16 PM	#20
Brian T DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1,302	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier This premieres at the Toronto Film Fest in a couple of weeks. Ordered most of my tickets early this year; hoping they go through. __________________ My reviews and other ephemera: From The Journal of Rex Saigon

08-28-09, 03:08 PM	#21
KillerCannibal DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Behind the Orange Curtain Posts: 17,064	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier Looks like it could be great, and what a cast. I'm def in. __________________ DVDAf Horror Movie Challenges: 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

08-28-09, 03:31 PM	#22
Dr Mabuse DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge... Posts: 18,852	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier Let's do this right, embedded in HD. __________________ "A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

08-28-09, 03:32 PM	#23
Dr Mabuse DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge... Posts: 18,852	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier This looks excellent btw... __________________ "A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

08-28-09, 04:19 PM	#24
gmanca DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,506	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier Yeah, this is going to be awesome.

08-28-09, 04:40 PM	#25
chris_sc77 Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bellefontaine, Ohio Posts: 5,628	Re: Men Who Stare at Goats (Heslov, 2010): Clooney as "paranormal" soldier Looks very funny but I am concerned about IMDB listing the runtime as only 90 minutes. Hopefully that is a grave error.