The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)

This is a solid movie based on a true story. Reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is assigned an interview with Gus Lacey, a strange, middle-aged man who claims to have participated in an experimental military division that studied whether paranormal activities could help to win wars. When Wilton’s wife has an affair, he heads to Kuwait hoping to prove to her that he can do something great. By coincidence he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a member of the same military unit, who has been assigned on a secret mission in Iraq.

It is interesting when you combine hippies with the military. It is definitely an unusual film. The First Earth Battalion was the name of an idea proposed by Lieutenant Colonel Jim Channon, to implement New Age ideas principles into the military. There have been two major battles in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2004 and 2006, and both involved the military and not private security forces. Lyn Cassady is based on Guy Savelli. General Hopgood is based on Major General Albert Stubblebine III. Larry Hooper (Spacey) is a fictional character.