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The Good Shepherd (2006)
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All reviews for The Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd
by
Kowalski76
in
Rebellious Celluloid
lost interest.
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"If De Niro had concentrated half as much on continuity and pacing than he did bringing together this stellar cast this film may have grabbed me. It's an hour too long and for a film that spans decades the cast age remarkably well. The plot and subject matter did interest me, but by the time it got to the point I didn't care any longer. "
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The Good Shepherd (2006)
by
JJ79
in
JJ79 Blog
hasn't rated it.
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"Weighing in at a bloated 160 minutes, "The Good Shepherd" has all the trappings of Oscar bait: an all star cast, a legendary actor in the director's chair and a subject Oscar likes to reward more often than not. But the run time is the biggest detriment in this story about the formation of the CIA. The year is 1961 and Edward Wilson (Matt Damon) is one of the minds behind the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. When it goes disastrously wrong, a hunt begins within the government to weed out the traitor. At the same time, the actions and events which led to Wilson's present predicament are recounted, including his time at Yale and what he did during the second world war. Two hours and forty minutes is an awful long time. Sure, there are longer films out there (most notably "The Lord of the Rings" extended editions) but what separates those experiences from the one you're going to get watching "The Good Shepherd" is this is a character piece as opposed to an action movie. Whereas Viggo ... "
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The Good Shepard (2006, USA, Ro ...
by
CinemaRian
in
CinemaRian Blog
hasn't rated it.
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"The Good Shepard is a movie about the early days of the CIA, beginning in the days just before World War II and ending in the early 60's, after the Bay of Pigs fiasco. It is the second film directed by Robert De Niro, and I think it's fair to say that he is a much better actor than director. Like his first movie, A Bronx Tale, there are some interesting moments, but both films are poorly edited and far too long, and I get the feeling that De Niro is more interested in imitating the styles of director's he's worked with (Martin Scorsese in the first, Francis Ford Coppola here), than he is developing a unique style of his own. I had thought from the realistic tone of the trailers that the movie was based on a memoir by an actual CIA agent, but the screenplay is in fact historical fiction written by Eric Roth. Edward Wilson (Matt Damon) is a Yale-educated CIA agent who is suspected as being a double agent that leaked information to Castro and allowed the US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion ... "
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For Mature Audiences ONLY!
by
JakeStevens
in
JakeStevens Blog
liked it.
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"This movie is for adults. REAL adults. Thinking people. People who read novels. People who like nuanced, understated performances. I almost think this film would be better off as a mini-series, as there are numerous interesting characters and plenty of time-hopping. It's a character study - you've GOT to pay attention in this one, and that's why I wanted to see this in the theater...with no one else in there to distract me. No phones ringing, no geezers coughing, no teenagers giggling or throwing popcorn because they're bored. The "action" scenes are few and far between, and the better for it, because you're not expecting it. The one gripe I have is that Matt Damon's character doesn't seem to age at all (only his spectacles change) while they went to great lengths to make all of the other characters age with make-up and prosthetics. I understand why some people wouldn't care for it - it's a slow burn. "
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This Good movie needs your full ...
by
dj4our
in
dj4our Blog
liked it.
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"The Good Shepherd ***Rated R for some violence, sexuality and language.2 hr, 45 min.written by: Eric Rothproduced by: Robert DeNiro, Jane Rosenthal, & James G. Robinsondirected by: Robert DeNiroIt's taken me almost a week to write a review of this film. I couldn't really figure out how to approach writing about it. Explaining the film to people has been quite a task. It's one of those films that demands every iota of one's attention. It is a very detailed, complex, and involving film. It is more than just a movie about the formation of the CIA. It's about a solitary pursuit involving secrecy, duplicity and paranoia. Ultimately it is a troubling movie about trust and mistrust. The film is mesmerizingly paced and ambitious all while invoking the style of ";Th "
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'Godfather' wannabe, not bad, b ...
by
vhsparrow
in
vhsparrow Blog
hasn't rated it.
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"The length and pedigree of Robert DeNiro’s ‘The Good Shepherd‘ (167 minutes), seems tobe a self-conscious effort to create a Godfather-like epic for the WASP-Intelligence set. With Matt Damon in the lead as a fictionalized version of CIA co-founder James Jesus Angleton, it would have, more properly been executed as a tightly edited 2-hour feature and saved the ‘Director’s Cut’ extravaganza for DVD. The structure of the thing, with its multiple flashbacks and interleaved storylines - personal and Global Politik - by ‘Munich‘ writer Eric Roth - does the audience no favors, as the first hour cuts back and forth between Washington D.C., Berlin, London, WWII, the Bay of Pigs and some African insurgency some-when, some where. So, the CIA was founded 50 years ago by a bunch of Yalie, Skull-and-Crossbones, antisemitic, racist, white guys (and - I couldn’t help but reflect, only 6 years to decimate, by one of their ‘own& "
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Interesting...
by
makyron
in
makyron Blog
liked it.
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"I thoroughly enjoyed this film, its inexorable albeit slow pace didn't detract from the experience. It was like a big puzzle slowly coming together in front of you, and although it had a bit of a surprising climax, the ending was somehow a bit lacking, although if it had gone on any longer it would've begun to seriously drag. Worth seeing, it will challenge you to really think about what you're seeing, but not something I'd probably watch again... "
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Challenging and thought provoking
by
kerihawkins
in
kerihawkins Blog
liked it.
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"This movie was surprisingly good. I was skeptical because I am not an Angelina Jolie fan, and as always, she overacted her part, but because she's not in the film much, it was really good. Matt Damon does a good job portraying a "good shepherd" in the early days of the CIA. He does what is expected of him and pays the price over and over again in order to do what he feels is best for America. After watching this and the movie Breach (another good film), it was interesting to find out just how much the CIA is involved in everything. Although "Spy Game" is my all-time favorite CIA movie, this one deserves a close second. "
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The Good Shepherd
by
Windbreaker
in
Windbreaker!
liked it.
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"The Good Shepherd is long enough to watch over 2 nights, but you need to see it in one sitting. If I was to write out the various plots, they wouldn't seem compelling, but somehow DeNiro keeps you interested. I promise, I won't spoil the movie for you...Dick Clark stars as Matt Damon in this thriller about a man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for immortality and immorality. By simply standing in the shadows, shoulders hunched, fadora pulled low, Dick Clark is able to score young babes. Even handicapped babes. Fitting that chicks who can't hear are attracted to him, since he never utters a word. The cast is excellent. Thankfully, the Cigarrette Smoking Man starring as Alec Baldwin isn't distracting as a man who stays away from his home all night, avoiding Kim Basinger who loves animals far more than people. "
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It goes somewhere... maybe.
by
HalfAngelAngeline
in
HalfAngelAngeline Blog
hasn't rated it.
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"I'm glad that I read the other reviews before I started mine. I'm pleased to know I'm not the only one who actually enjoyed this without really knowing why. I tend to warm up to the strange and not many are stranger than the lead character. Matt Damon is wonderful as a man of not so many words controlling the emotions bubbling just underneath the surface. Too many people watched this thinking there'd be more action rather than the drama it is and weren't prepared for the long haul. What is it, like 5 days long? Bravo, Robert DeNiro, you've created cinematic ballet. It is introspective and respectful and something about it tugs.As as far as everyone else thinking Jolie wasn't irritating, I beg to differ (of course).. It seems ever since the birth of Brangelina, she's lost all oomph. Where's that 'fire' everyone wanked about back in her 'Gia' days? Has it all gone and given way to birthin'? Just a thought. "
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