Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Lions for Lambs

 Lions for Lambs
type
TVTItem
 Lions for Lambs
label
Lions for Lambs
 Lions for Lambs
page
LionsForLambs
 Lions for Lambs
comment
Lions for Lambs is a 2007 American drama war film directed by Robert Redford and starring Redford, Tom Cruise, and Meryl Streep. It was the first Cruise/Wagner Productions film since the company joined with United Artists subsequent to Cruise having a falling out with Paramount in 2006.The plot is about three interconnected stories: The first story is about Dr. Stephen Malley (Redford) attempts to reach talented and privileged, but disaffected, student Todd Hayes (Andrew Garfield). Hayes is naturally bright, comes from a privileged background, but has apparently slipped into apathy upon being disillusioned at the present state of affairs; now, he devotes most of his time to extra-curricular activities like his role as president of his fraternity. Malley tests him by offering a choice between a respectable grade of 'B' in the class with no additional work required or a final opportunity to re-engage with the material of the class and "do something." Before Todd makes his choice, he must listen to the second story: Dr. Malley's story of his former students Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Peña) and why they enlisted in the army to fight in Afghanistan after graduating from college.For the third story: Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., a charismatic Republican presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving (Cruise), has invited TV journalist Janine Roth (Streep) to his office to announce a new war strategy in Afghanistan, hoping that Roth's positive coverage will help convince the public that the plan is sound. Roth has her doubts and fears she is being asked to become an instrument of government propaganda.
 Lions for Lambs
fetched
2023-10-20T10:49:07Z
 Lions for Lambs
parsed
2023-10-20T10:49:07Z
 Lions for Lambs
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Lions for Lambs / int_18d15922
type
Title Drop
 Lions for Lambs / int_18d15922
comment
Title Drop: When Malley is telling Arian and Ernest about World War I, he mentions how German officers admired the courage of the British soldiers they were fighting, while at the same time laughing at the stupidity of their superior officers, and to illustrate the points, he quotes General Max Von Gallwitz, who wrote, "Nowhere else have I seen such lions led by such lambs."
 Lions for Lambs / int_18d15922
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_18d15922
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_18d15922
 Lions for Lambs / int_1ab65185
type
That Reminds Me of a Song
 Lions for Lambs / int_1ab65185
comment
That Reminds Me of a Song: When Janine is trying to convince her boss Howard that what Senator Irving is proposing is merely a new spin on the same failed strategy, she asks Howard if he remembers The Who, and then sings (out of tune) the last two lines of "Won't Get Fooled Again" ("Meet the new boss/Same as the old boss").
 Lions for Lambs / int_1ab65185
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_1ab65185
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_1ab65185
 Lions for Lambs / int_1b395eea
type
Standard Hollywood Strafing Procedure
 Lions for Lambs / int_1b395eea
comment
Standard Hollywood Strafing Procedure: Deserves a mention as an aversion. The battle scenes feature some strafing runs by A-10s, but instead of neat ordered lines of puffs, the result, from the point of view of those on the ground, is of several large grouped explosions, approximating very well the power of a 30mm shell and the disordered pattern in which the shells hit the ground in reality.
 Lions for Lambs / int_1b395eea
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_1b395eea
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_1b395eea
 Lions for Lambs / int_23be181a
type
Patriotic Fervor
 Lions for Lambs / int_23be181a
comment
Patriotic Fervor: Of the "Patriotism Is Bad" side; the film lambastes wars misguidely fueled by this.
 Lions for Lambs / int_23be181a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_23be181a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_23be181a
 Lions for Lambs / int_281de59f
type
Extremely Short Timespan
 Lions for Lambs / int_281de59f
comment
Extremely Short Timespan: The movie takes place over the course of a single day. Most of it takes place within an hour (albeit in different time zones).
 Lions for Lambs / int_281de59f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_281de59f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_281de59f
 Lions for Lambs / int_355007c3
type
Brilliant, but Lazy
 Lions for Lambs / int_355007c3
comment
Brilliant, but Lazy: Malley accuses Todd of being this (Todd's initial protestations that he's merely busy with other things outside of class notwithstanding), in contrast to Arian and Ernest, who weren't brilliant, but worked hard.
 Lions for Lambs / int_355007c3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_355007c3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_355007c3
 Lions for Lambs / int_364b9be6
type
Flipping the Bird
 Lions for Lambs / int_364b9be6
comment
Flipping the Bird: Combined with Lame Comeback - when Ernest tells one of his fellow students the country that borders Minnesota (which he claims most people don't know) is Canada, the student flips him the bird. To emphasize what a Lame Comeback it is, Malley responds, "That's the most intelligent thing you've said all day."
 Lions for Lambs / int_364b9be6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_364b9be6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_364b9be6
 Lions for Lambs / int_43964f3
type
Worst News Judgment Ever
 Lions for Lambs / int_43964f3
comment
Worst News Judgment Ever: Discussed - Senator Irving points out to Janine their interview will likely get only a couple of minutes on a broadcast that will be devoted to soft news only.
 Lions for Lambs / int_43964f3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_43964f3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_43964f3
 Lions for Lambs / int_4e3d253b
type
Downer Ending
 Lions for Lambs / int_4e3d253b
comment
Downer Ending: Arian and Ernest both get killed because The Cavalry Arrived Late, Janine is unable to convince her boss they should be questioning Senator Irving's "new strategy" instead of reporting it, meaning nothing will change with The War on Terror, and Senator Irving will likely not be harmed by the failure of the Afghanistan mission. The only hopeful note is maybe Todd will start to become less apathetic.
 Lions for Lambs / int_4e3d253b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_4e3d253b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_4e3d253b
 Lions for Lambs / int_4e7f703c
type
Wham Shot
 Lions for Lambs / int_4e7f703c
comment
Wham Shot: As much as Malley's class debates Arian and Ernest about their presentation, they, and Malley, are shocked to see the letters Arian and Ernest reveal showing they've joined the army.
 Lions for Lambs / int_4e7f703c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_4e7f703c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_4e7f703c
 Lions for Lambs / int_5313c266
type
Bookends
 Lions for Lambs / int_5313c266
comment
Book Ends: The movie begins and ends with Todd watching the news on television.
 Lions for Lambs / int_5313c266
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_5313c266
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_5313c266
 Lions for Lambs / int_53b6ab6a
type
Jumped at the Call
 Lions for Lambs / int_53b6ab6a
comment
Jumped at the Call: Arian and Ernest both enlisted in the Army. Averted with Malley, who was drafted to fight in The Vietnam War, does all he can to talk Arian and Ernest out of joining the Army, and admits to Todd when they joined anyway, it broke his heart.
 Lions for Lambs / int_53b6ab6a
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_53b6ab6a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_53b6ab6a
 Lions for Lambs / int_53c9fc92
type
Flashback
 Lions for Lambs / int_53c9fc92
comment
Flashback: Though most of the movie takes place over the course of one day, there's a flashback to Arian and Ernest giving a presentation in Malley's class about using part of U.S. foreign policy (engagement) at home - where they propose all juniors in high school should forgo school that year and do Peace Corps type work either abroad or in the poorest sections of home - before revealing they've joined the army, after which Malley takes them to lunch to try and talk them out of it.
 Lions for Lambs / int_53c9fc92
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_53c9fc92
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_53c9fc92
 Lions for Lambs / int_6aaf4011
type
Apathetic Student
 Lions for Lambs / int_6aaf4011
comment
Apathetic Student: Malley thinks Todd has become this - Todd, in turn, tries to argue he's actually The Cynic because of all he's seen in class and in the real world, but Malley isn't buying it.
 Lions for Lambs / int_6aaf4011
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_6aaf4011
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_6aaf4011
 Lions for Lambs / int_6bd689ca
type
Meaningful Echo
 Lions for Lambs / int_6bd689ca
comment
Meaningful Echo: When he's explaining to Malley why he's become The Cynic, one of the examples Todd gives is how someone who decides to run for President of the United States starts their campaign by announcing they aren't running for President. Later, as Janine is leaving her interview with Senator Irving, she asks if the "new strategy" he's planning for Afghanistan is his way of announcing something bigger for his career, and the senator responds he is not running for President.
 Lions for Lambs / int_6bd689ca
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_6bd689ca
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_6bd689ca
 Lions for Lambs / int_7b6e47a5
type
Armor-Piercing Question
 Lions for Lambs / int_7b6e47a5
comment
Armor-Piercing Question: Senator Irving intends this to be the case when he asks Janine, "Do you want to win The War on Terror? Answer yes or no." They're interrupted before Janine can respond.
 Lions for Lambs / int_7b6e47a5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_7b6e47a5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_7b6e47a5
 Lions for Lambs / int_8042e814
type
Actually Pretty Funny
 Lions for Lambs / int_8042e814
comment
Actually Pretty Funny: As Arian and Ernest are preparing for their class presentation, Arian gets so nervous he drops his notes, and Ernest makes a joke about it to get him to lighten up. In response, Arian says, "You know why they got rid of affirmative action? It was because of his (Ernest's) GPA", which Ernest laughs at.
 Lions for Lambs / int_8042e814
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_8042e814
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_8042e814
 Lions for Lambs / int_a7e47a11
type
Your Approval Fills Me with Shame
 Lions for Lambs / int_a7e47a11
comment
Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: When Arian and Ernest tell Malley it was his class and his words that inspired them to join the Army in the first place, he admits if he'd known what they were going to do, he'd have cut his tongue out.
 Lions for Lambs / int_a7e47a11
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_a7e47a11
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_a7e47a11
 Lions for Lambs / int_a8f905e3
type
While Rome Burns
 Lions for Lambs / int_a8f905e3
comment
While Rome Burns: Discussed:
 Lions for Lambs / int_a8f905e3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_a8f905e3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_a8f905e3
 Lions for Lambs / int_ad1db87c
type
Oh, Crap!
 Lions for Lambs / int_ad1db87c
comment
Oh, Crap!: Malley when he sees that Ernest and Arian have enlisted in the army.
 Lions for Lambs / int_ad1db87c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_ad1db87c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_ad1db87c
 Lions for Lambs / int_c83751cb
type
Description Cut
 Lions for Lambs / int_c83751cb
comment
Description Cut: As Falco watches Arian and Ernest try to survive after the helicopter they were in was shot down, he says he'd like to know who it was that said the area was secure. We immediately cut to Senator Irving.
 Lions for Lambs / int_c83751cb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_c83751cb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_c83751cb
 Lions for Lambs / int_e3585b3d
type
No Party Given
 Lions for Lambs / int_e3585b3d
comment
No Party Given: Averted; Senator Jasper Irving is stated to be a Republican. We're even given the state he represents: Illinois.
 Lions for Lambs / int_e3585b3d
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_e3585b3d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_e3585b3d
 Lions for Lambs / int_name
type
ItemName
 Lions for Lambs / int_name
comment
 Lions for Lambs / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Lions for Lambs / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Lions for Lambs / int_name
 Lions for Lambs / int_name
itemName
Lions for Lambs

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 LionsforLambs
sameAs
Lions for Lambs
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Brilliant, but Lazy / int_7ca9cc5d
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Standard Hollywood Strafing Procedure / int_7ca9cc5d
 Lions for Lambs
hasFeature
Two Lines, No Waiting / int_7ca9cc5d