Movie Review: "The Good Shepherd"

The Coffee Shop
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Robert DeNiro indulges his personal fascination with espinonage in the Eric Roth story, “The Good Shephard”.

The historical fiction piece loosely follows the birth of the CIA from its early OSS roots in WWII.

The movie is long, slow moving and tedious, just like the intelligence industry. It does faithfully capture the isolation and odd, puzzle-like life that typifies intelligence gathering officers. The movie also does a credible job of following the birth of the modern CIA including a scene showing the construction of the current headquarters building and lobby.

There is a great cast to the movie and Matt Damon probably saves the show as does an inspired perfromance by Tim Hutton as Damon’s son in the movie. I’m not sure why Angelina Jolie was cast and the movie would have been better without her. She needs to stick to the “Tombraider” series of movies since her acting is overshadowed by her bust and would be even if she were flat chested.

For someone who has no interest in the history of the intelligence industry the movie must be an absolute bore. The pace is decrepit and the story convoluted. Awkward attempts at flashing back and forward don’t help much.

The film making is good, costume and photogrpahy are top notch and, did I mention Matt Damon was great? The guy knows how to play a spy whether it is here or in “The Bourne Identity” or “The Bourne Supremacy”, both great movies.

If you’re interested in a rather drawn out dramatization of the the history of U.S. intelligence thorugh one man’s fictional experiences and you don’t have any laundry to do then check out “The Good Sheperd”. If not, you aren’t missing much and you can get a lot done around the house in three hours.

I give “The Good Shepard” two stars ** as barely OK.

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I found it long but holding my interest. It’s not one that I would bring my wife to, and I didn’t. There were some gripping moments of personal sacrifice, and Angelina, while not exactly a role you’d expect for her, provides a little eye candy to break up the slow sections. Damon does okay but just doesn’t pull off an introvert very well. 3/5 stars if you are a history buff, 1 star if not.

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She needs to stick to the “Tombraider” series of movies since her acting is overshadowed by her bust and would be even if she were flat chested.
This line deserves some sort of SlowTwitch Nobel Prize for writing!

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I actually liked the way the story was constructed, telling the rapid days after the bay of pigs in contrast to the long years that had set up that moment. I also liked the different personalities that were involved in the espionage business, and how their stories were told.

Damon was great, Angelina was good but you are right that she is too much of a presence – not for her chest as much as for her alien features. Their creepy looking kid seemed about right for an extra-terrestrial hybrid.

I’d give it at least one more star.

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I’m stuck on the lips…what is with the huge lips? are the hers, enhanced? I dunno…kind of reminds me of a puppet with the lips, boobs,acting talent? not sure …but then what the heck do I know anyway?
I’m in a ranting mood these days…or this week.don’t want to be at work staring at my cubicle walls either…

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here’s a bit on the real-life person on which Damon’s character is based:

http://screens.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/26/bad-shepherds/
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