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...