THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS

(PG-13)

How good does this sound: George Clooney, Kevin Spacey (two actors I could watch in anything!) Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor and an interesting, apparently somewhat true story about the U.S. government involved in mind control experiments? Based on John Ronson's book, the tale is about the Army's New Age exploration of extra sensory techniques to be used on the enemy. It all happens in the 1980's, and journalist McGregor hooks up with mind control specialist Clooney, himself a protege of the guru Bridges. The movie loses its narrative flow almost immediately, turning a potentially terrific story into a muddled and confusing hit-and-miss. The zany humor and energy is there, but the art of unfolding the plot is gone. With all the onscreen talent, how sad that the director (Grant Heslov) is from the school of individual scenes adding up to nothing. By the end, it's a real snooze. One hat..and that's only for terrific Clooney playing comedy for truth, and Spacey always able to deliver a line with power and cynical strength.