RIDLEY Scott remains one of the most consistently exciting directors of the moment.

Last year’s American Gangster was a stone cold classic to add to a CV that already boasts such landmark movies as Alien, Gladiator, Blade Runner and Black Hawk Down.

Next up is the keenly-anticipated Body Of Lies, notable for the pairing of Scott regular Russell Crowe with Leonardo DiCaprio. Judging by its trailer, the results are truly spectacular.

The film finds DiCaprio playing CIA operative Roger Ferris, who uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan.

When Ferris devises a plan to infiltrate his network, he must first win the backing of cunning CIA veteran Ed Hoffman (Crowe) and the collegial, but perhaps suspect, head of Jordanian intelligence.

Although ostensibly his allies, Ferris questions how far he can really trust these men without putting his entire operation – and his life – on the line.

According to Scott, the film – in a nutshell – is about “trusting no one and believing no one”.

The film is based on a novel by former Washington Post journalist David Ignatius, who is widely considered to be a leading authority on the Middle East and someone with a reputation for avoiding Arab stereotypes in his work.

It’s something that Scott maintains he has done in the film, whilst also delivering a war on terror themed story that should be able to appeal to large audiences – last year’s crop (though good) failed to pull off that achievement.

Nevertheless, the allure of seeing DiCaprio go head-to-head with Crowe should be a sufficient temptation for genuine film fans, particularly with a visual stylist such as Scott behind the lens.

Talking to Empire magazine about the project, the director said he jumped at the chance of working with Crowe again (for a fourth time) as they keep each other on their toes, while DiCaprio has been an actor he’s been wanting to work with for some time.

Commenting on the pleasure of working with both, he added: “The more I do it, the more I find these guys’ intelligence, their sensitivty, everything… it’s no accident that they are where they are.”

Body Of Lies opens in UK cinemas on November 21 and you can view the poster or watch the trailer now.

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