The Good Shepherd
Written by Eric Roth
Directed by Robert De Niro
Universal
2006
Rating:


Had "The Good Shepherd" been based on a John le Carrι novel and been called "The Spy Who Was Left Out in the Cold," perhaps director Robert De Niro's labyrinthine film about the social history behind the founding of the Central Intelligence Agency would have received the acclaim it so richly deserves. De Niro, making his second directorial effort following 1993's "A Bronx Tale," utilizes an old-fashioned style of filmmaking to tell his story of how Edward Wilson (Matt Damon) transformed from an English literature student to a cold-blooded spy involved in the 1961 Bay of Pigs debacle that attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro. Anyone expecting "Casino Royale" is likely to be disappointed. "The Good Shepherd" is deliberate and methodical as it traces the moral knot Edward ties for himself. De Niro is more interested in exploring the real CIA using the cinematic grammar of "The Godfather," "The Conversation," "The Conformist" and "Serpico," films that systematically traced moral trajectories instead of stringing together action sequences.

The dense screenplay by "Munich's" Eric Roth is psychologically rich in its depiction of Wilson, a man whose admiral father committed suicide under suspicion of treason, thus allowing Wilson to be more easily manipulated into becoming an unquestioning patriot. Wilson is further pushed to enlist in a government operation that keeps him away from home when he accidentally impregnates socialite Clover (Angelina Jolie) and has to marry her instead of his true love, deaf intellectual Laura (Tammy Blanchard). The seeds of Wilson's entry into the CIA produce twisted roots, resonating in the decisions Wilson makes as a company man. Damon is fittingly opaque in the role of an emotional recluse who uses his reserve to wield power. The whole of "The Good Shepherd" is similarly restrained, allowing subtle clues to be methodically collected over the course of its 160-minute running time until they're put together to form a devastating mosaic of real espionage, betrayal and patriotic sacrifice.

Posted Saturday, January 20, 2007

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http://filmzeus.pressbin.com/film/good.shepherd