In 1939, while studying at Yale University, young idealist Edward Wilson (Matt Damon) joins a secret society called ¨Skull and Bones¨. Due to his intelligence and unwavering faith in American values, Wilson soon becomes the ideal candidate for secret agent. And begins working in the OSS, precursor of the Central Intelligence Agency, during WW2. He believed in America, and he would sacrifice everything he loved to protect it. But his dedication to his country and his lofty mission is beyond measure. And without realizing it, his enormous dedication to his country has just taken him away from what is most important: his family. Neither his wife Margaret (Angelina Jolie) nor his son Edward Wilson Jr (Eddie Redmayne) will be able to make Wilson abandon his risky profession. Eventually Edward arrives at the new CIA headquarters, noting the lobby's Biblical inscription: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free¨ (John 8:32). The true story of the birth of the CIA through the eyes of a man who never existed !. All our dirty secrets start here !. Who is the good shepherd? The one who looks after his family or the one who looks after his country?
This is the untold and thought-provoking story of the most powerful covert agency in the world containing dramatic events, thrills, intrigue, emotion, romance and family drama. The film is quite good but it suffers from being too long, resulting in it being heavy and boring, with an hour less in its tiring development it would have been much better. Second film after ¨A Bronx Tale¨ directed by the acclaimed actor, producer, director Robert De Niro who won two Oscars for his work in ¨Godfather II¨, ¨Raging Bull¨ and who also stars in this film that spans 40 years of history of the CIA and that highlights episodes such as the landing in the Bay of Pigs (1961) or the complexities of the Cold War in which corruption, intrigue and double spies abounded. The picture is a brooding portrayal of Edward Wilson who's recruited for a career in the newly founded Office of Strategic Services (O. S. S., the predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency) and as founder and agent of the famous secret organization CIA, who sees how his morale is being eroded by the fight against the KGB. While working there, his ideals gradually turn to suspicion influenced by the Cold War paranoia present within the office. As the President named Edward the first head of counter-intelligence. Being partly based upon the founder of the C. I. A.'s counterintelligence operations, James Jesus Angleton. The cast is completed by Oscar winners Matt Damon, providing a laconic and self-contained role, whose performance also earned him an Oscar nomination, and Angelina Jolie, previously awarded for ¨Girl Interrupted¨. Along with them, other good supporting actors giving good performances, such as: Alec Baldwin, Tammy Blanchard, Billy Crudup, Keir Dullea, Michael Gambon, Martina Gedeck, William Hurt, Timothy Hutton, Gabriel Macht, Lee Pace, John Sessions, Oleg Stefan, John Turturro, the also Oscar-winning Eddie Redmayne, among others, completing the ensemble cast of this film. Special mention for Joe Pesci , De Niro's good friend, appearing in one scene as a Mafia boss, he is a fictionalized version of Sam Giancana, it's mentioned that Fidel Castro has seized three of his casinos and thrown him out of Cuba.
It displays a suspenseful and sensitive musical score by composers Bruce Fowler and Marcelo Zarvos. As well as colorful and evocative cinematography by prestigious cameraman Robert Richardson. And the film garnered an Oscar nomination for best artistic direction. The motion picture was well directed by Robert De Niro, although it gets a bit long and heavy at times. His second film, previously to a long career including a string of successes as an actor, such as : Mean Streets , Cape Fear, Raging Bull , Taxi Driver , Untouchables , Goodfellas , Casino , Midnight Run , Jacknife , Fifteen Minutes , The Score and many others . Long time after, he directed a nice movie : ¨A Bronx tale¨ (1993) with Chazz Palminteri and De Niro himself, and this¨ Good Shepherd¨ (2006). Rating : 6.5/10, acceptable and passable , better than average . The picture will appeal to Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie fans.
This is the untold and thought-provoking story of the most powerful covert agency in the world containing dramatic events, thrills, intrigue, emotion, romance and family drama. The film is quite good but it suffers from being too long, resulting in it being heavy and boring, with an hour less in its tiring development it would have been much better. Second film after ¨A Bronx Tale¨ directed by the acclaimed actor, producer, director Robert De Niro who won two Oscars for his work in ¨Godfather II¨, ¨Raging Bull¨ and who also stars in this film that spans 40 years of history of the CIA and that highlights episodes such as the landing in the Bay of Pigs (1961) or the complexities of the Cold War in which corruption, intrigue and double spies abounded. The picture is a brooding portrayal of Edward Wilson who's recruited for a career in the newly founded Office of Strategic Services (O. S. S., the predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency) and as founder and agent of the famous secret organization CIA, who sees how his morale is being eroded by the fight against the KGB. While working there, his ideals gradually turn to suspicion influenced by the Cold War paranoia present within the office. As the President named Edward the first head of counter-intelligence. Being partly based upon the founder of the C. I. A.'s counterintelligence operations, James Jesus Angleton. The cast is completed by Oscar winners Matt Damon, providing a laconic and self-contained role, whose performance also earned him an Oscar nomination, and Angelina Jolie, previously awarded for ¨Girl Interrupted¨. Along with them, other good supporting actors giving good performances, such as: Alec Baldwin, Tammy Blanchard, Billy Crudup, Keir Dullea, Michael Gambon, Martina Gedeck, William Hurt, Timothy Hutton, Gabriel Macht, Lee Pace, John Sessions, Oleg Stefan, John Turturro, the also Oscar-winning Eddie Redmayne, among others, completing the ensemble cast of this film. Special mention for Joe Pesci , De Niro's good friend, appearing in one scene as a Mafia boss, he is a fictionalized version of Sam Giancana, it's mentioned that Fidel Castro has seized three of his casinos and thrown him out of Cuba.
It displays a suspenseful and sensitive musical score by composers Bruce Fowler and Marcelo Zarvos. As well as colorful and evocative cinematography by prestigious cameraman Robert Richardson. And the film garnered an Oscar nomination for best artistic direction. The motion picture was well directed by Robert De Niro, although it gets a bit long and heavy at times. His second film, previously to a long career including a string of successes as an actor, such as : Mean Streets , Cape Fear, Raging Bull , Taxi Driver , Untouchables , Goodfellas , Casino , Midnight Run , Jacknife , Fifteen Minutes , The Score and many others . Long time after, he directed a nice movie : ¨A Bronx tale¨ (1993) with Chazz Palminteri and De Niro himself, and this¨ Good Shepherd¨ (2006). Rating : 6.5/10, acceptable and passable , better than average . The picture will appeal to Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie fans.
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