To call The Good German an homage to the old War dramas of the 1940's is an understatement. Shot in black & white with lenses used from the period, and performances in that old style. In fact several scenes are completely ripped off (wait till you see the ending). It's a beautiful film with amazing shots and sets. You can see Soderbergh and the actors having fun with it. That being said, the biggest thing lacking in this film is story. It is full of holes, and it just doesn't go anywhere. Ultimately the film suffers from it but, if you love films from that period, that you should see it. It's not a bad film, it's just a perfect example of style over substance.