Here are two clips from the series where you can actually hear Jon Ronson explaining what's going on. The documentary aired on Channel 4 in Britain and was made up of three parts, "The Men Who Stare at Goats", "Funny Torture" and "Psychic Footsoldiers." Above is a clip of a man claiming to have stared down a goat, and below is another clip from the documentary where the Predator is being used. Followed by a clip of George Clooney demonstrating the same weapon from Goats.

Compare The Two:

We wrote about Machine Man a while back, and its odd story of a guy who literally reinvents himself by lopping off body parts and replacing them with machine bits intrigued us with its blend of Tetsuo and slapstick. So we're intrigued by the idea of a Machine Man movie, and it's interesting that Barry has sold the movie rights before the book comes out in print (in 2011) and, for that matter, possibly before he's even finished writing it.

According to Variety, Barry's novel Company was already optioned by Universal. And his classic novel Jennifer Government was picked up by Warner Bros., with George Clooney and Stephen Soderbergh producing. (Although Barry says on his blog that the Warner Bros. deal "didn't work out," sadly.) I can literally think of no other novelist whose works I'd be more excited to see filmed. Okay, maybe Jim Munroe. But that's it. [Variety]

The film is inspired by Jon Ronson's non-fiction bestseller. Ewan McGregor plays a reporter who's tracking down the rogue military mind jedi George Clooney — which is pretty awesome, seeing as McGregor played a jedi. Either way the film, which is directed by Grant Heslov, looks hilarious. Here's the official synopsis:

Reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Now, the program's founder, Bill Django (Jeff Bridges), has gone missing and Cassady's mission is to find him. Intrigued by his new acquaintance's far-fetched stories, Bob impulsively decides to accompany him on the search. When the pair tracks Django to a clandestine training camp run by renegade psychic Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey), the reporter is trapped in the middle of a grudge match between the forces of Django's New Earth Army and Hooper's personal militia of super soldiers. In order to survive this wild adventure, Bob will have to outwit an enemy he never thought possible.

Goats will be in theaters November 6, 2009 November 6.

Cussing Badger Bill Murray

Who Am I?

We Look Good, Personal Fav Clip!

Whack Bat Rules, Thanks owen Wilson

Thinking Is Happening

Wes Anderson Talks Dahl's Books

The film was inspired by Jon Ronson's non-fiction book about a secret government program to create a psychic military team that could read peoples minds, walk through walls, and kill a goat by staring at it, among other useful brain powers. They were called the First Earth Battalion and McGregor plays a reporter following around the greatest mind Jedi, Clooney, for the story. It moves at the speed of a Coen Brothers flick, and has Jeff Bridges in it. So chances are we'll be staring at Goats too.

Men Who Stare At Goats will be released into theaters on November 6th.

The film was inspired by Jon Ronson's non-fiction book which explained how the government tried to create a psychic military team that could walk through walls, read peoples minds, tell the future and kill a goat by staring at it. The film looks like a fast paced comedy with a cast full of old pros, plus a pot-smoking Bridges in a braid can never fail. Here's the official synopsis:

Reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Now, the program's founder, Bill Django (Jeff Bridges), has gone missing and Cassady's mission is to find him. Intrigued by his new acquaintance's far-fetched stories, Bob impulsively decides to accompany him on the search. When the pair tracks Django to a clandestine training camp run by renegade psychic Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey), the reporter is trapped in the middle of a grudge match between the forces of Django's New Earth Army and Hooper's personal militia of super soldiers. In order to survive this wild adventure, Bob will have to outwit an enemy he never thought possible.

Goats will be in theaters November 6, 2009 November 6.

According to Variety, the network is looking to adapt Stephenson's The Diamond Age: Or a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer" into a longform series, with Clooney attached as producer. Screenwriter newbie Zoë Green - who currently has projects in development with Rob Reiner and Disney - has been announced as writer, but no launch date has been revealed.

'Diamond' sparkes for Zoë Green [Variety]

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Update: The Sci Fi Channel has let us know that The Diamond Age is still in development. Interestingly, Neal Stephenson is on a panel at this year's CES next week featuring other science fiction innovators (like Lucy Lawless) as they "discuss the mutual influence they've had on each other."