The Men Who Stare at Goats (15)

06 November 2009

REPORTER Bob Wilton is in search of his next big story when he meets Lyn Cassady, who claims to be part of The New Earth Army, an experimental US army unit.

According to Cassady, a legion of psychic warriors with unparalleled powers can read the enemy's thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it.

Now the programme's founder has gone missing and Cassady's mission is to find him.

Intrigued by his new acquaintance's far-fetched stories, Bob impulsively decides to accompany him on the search.

George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey star in comedy THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS (15), which claims to be inspired by a real life story.

It is directed by Grant Heslov, who wrote - with Clooney - Good Night and Good Luck about journalist Ed Murrow and senator Joseph McCarthy.

The film is based on a book by Cardiff-born journalist Jon Ronson, who investigated claims of a New Age unit in the US army.

When producer Paul Lister received the first two chapters of the book from Ronson's literary agent, he found the title irresistible.

"It's such a great title. It made me pick up the book right away and say, 'What is this?' And it's the central idea in the movie.

"The chapters were very funny," he adds. "I couldn't wait to get the rest of the book. It was full of strange, true stories that had resonance.

"That was the draw for me - I thought, 'Hang on a minute. How can something so funny and strange be real?'"

Jeff Bridges says: "The tone of the movie is funny, scary, serious, endearing. It's the full gamut of emotions.