The ensemble piece boasts stock characters aplenty, including the sage professor (Robert Redford, who also directs), philosopher/soldiers (Michael Pena and Derek Luke), a beat-down though-noble journalist (Meryl Streep), a smarmy senator (Tom Cruise) and a rich kid with atrophying potential (Andrew Garfield). Unsurprisingly, the skilled performers do the best they can with the TV-movie material.

Cruise plays base adeptly (see Magnolia) and his put-on-smile works well here. Surprisingly, he holds his own in a sparring match with Streep. Predictably strong, the latter plays it humble – and that doesn’t hurt Mr. Maverick – and her mistrusting journalist is simultaneously sympathetic and worthy of chastisement.

Two of the film’s strongest performances come from Derek Luke and Michael Pena as blue-collar schoolboys/prodigies turned soldiers. When flashbacks free them from the broadly drawn, righteous-warrior storyline they infuse starry-eyed idealists with depth and awareness. However, these moments are brief and fleeting. Similarly, veteran actor, Peter Berg - he is going to pigeonhole himself as a Middle Eastern specialist (see his directorial turn in The Kingdom) - is compelling but impotent as a military officer.

Though ambiguities and grey areas abound, Lions is a tidy, subtly shot film, rife with star close-ups and low on visual stunt work (though, the action scenes could use some panache). Presumably, the intent of the staid direction is to emphasize the dialogue, and it does.