Take the director of "Borat" and "Bruno," combine him with the reliably bonkers Nicolas Cage, and turn them loose to adapt the weird true story of a cheerful, 50-ish crackpot who sent himself on numerous international missions authorized by God. The goal: to personally capture Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Of course, it's a comedy. That's "Army of One" (unavailable for screening; rated R for language and drug use), a farce based on the stranger-than-fiction experiences of Gary Faulkner, who repeatedly entered Pakistan armed with a single sword purchased from a TV shopping network. Did I mention that it's a true story? Because you can't make this stuff up. The film co-stars Wendi McLendon-Covey ("Bridesmaids"), Rainn Wilson ("The Office") and Russell Brand ("Get Him to the Greek"), the latter cast just a bit against type as God incarnate. The preview trailers look like filmmaker Larry Charles' usual brand of rambunctious nonsense, and Twin Cities film fans have a rare chance to decide in person. It will play in only 10 markets nationwide, including the Theatres at Mall of America in Bloomington, before its DVD and on-demand arrival in two weeks.
COLIN COVERT
