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We were lucky enough to be invited to a LoveFilm preview screening of this new film in London last night and more unusually to get the unique chance as a movie goer to interact with the British author Jon Ronson, on whose book the film is based. The film follows a reporter, Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor), who stumbles onto the story of a lifetime when quite by chance he meets a self confessed Special Forces Operator, Lyn Cassady (George Clooney)in a Kuwait hotel. As they embark on a new mission, Lyn reveals his twenty-year involvement in a Top Secret, black ops military unit and shares details of their activities, each more bizarre than the last (including staring at goats).This is a wonderfully funny film, with quirky characters that develop as the story unfolds, characters that will have you laughing out loud and as the credits begin to roll as you get up from your seat at the end of the film you will leave the cinema still talking about the story on your way home. After watching the film you would certainly have questions you would love to ask were you to have the chance - well we had that chance and did just that. Jon Ronson took questions from the floor and the first was how much of the story is based on fact - he said that the US Military under the support of several President's including Ronald Regan received significant funding to develop a psychokinetic fighting force that could be used against America's enemies using skills such as Remote Viewing and the power of the human mind to eliminate the other side. Where did the name for the book come from? Jon told us that his wife Elaine, came up with the title The Men who Stare at Goats as they were chatting about the story over a bottle of wine. Was it true that he lived next door to Naomi Campbell? This was true, he said, they were neighbours in a quiet London street and that Naomi had mentioned it during one of those Red Carpet interview's at the film's recent premier. In the film, Jon Ronson's part as the reporter is played by Ewan McGregor - so what you are watching is the author's own personal take on the story. What came out of the questions from the audience was that the US Military actually took this psychic weapon idea seriously enough that they secured significant funding for this off the wall program so to conclude it makes you realise just how crazy the people that govern us truly are!Go see it - on general release November 6th 2009.
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