The Good Shepherd Review

Another wonderful directorial effort by Robert De Niro. Rather loosely based on the story of James Jesus Angleton, the founder of the CIA's counterintelligence service, the film covers the history of the CIA and highlights the backgrounds of its early operatives and leaders (uber-blue blood for the most part). Castro, La Cosa Nostra, JFK, the Cold War, the convenient myth of Soviet might - it's all in there. Heck, even the rather fetish-y Skull and Bones initiation rituals are shown!

It is thoughful and well-paced and there is nary a car chase or random shoot 'em up to be found. Sorry, kiddies and mental midgets, this one is for the thinking man/woman and sheds some very interesting light and perspectives on corollaries to our iffy modern geopolitical situation and its underpinnings.

Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie are both effectively restrained and thoughtful in their acting. Joe Pesci even appears as an aging Miami mobster in a bit of a comeback role. Damon portrays a rather detached man truly conflicted between his family obligations and his work, not to mention his definition of morality and ethics.

Some will find the nearly 3 hour running time a bit much - but if you can put that in (times 3!) to watch a bunch of wizards, elves and hobbits frolic about, then put in the time for something that helps give context/thought to what's going on in THIS world. :-)