disjointed and disappointing

Rating: 4/10 (26 December 2006)

This is the sort of movie that could only get made if it was a famous actor's pet project (which it was). The movie had a lot of potential -- intriguing subject matter, all-star cast, etc.
Unfortunately, the first two hours was difficult to watch and hard to follow. The plot was suitably intricate, but nearly impossible to understand -- look at the forum comments here where people are asking about basic plot components. Long, wandering scenes filled the first couple of hours, with frequent shifts backward and forward in time.
As many others have pointed out, the actors did not seem to change age even though the scenes spanned ~30 years. This went beyond makeup and wardrobe issues, it made the movie hard to follow, since you were never sure what time period you were in. Matt Damon's character never appeared old enough to have a son aged 20+. Budget was certainly not a concern, so it is difficult to explain.
There is a thematic thread that is interesting in the movie, which focuses on Matt Damon's character. As a hero, he is flawed, and by the end of the movie, you ask yourself if his sacrifices make him a hero or a soulless tool. The poker-faced acting does not suit him, but he does a great job. But this thread is often lost with basic questions about the plot -- what is his son doing in Congo? Were other characters agents, double agents, triple agents, or corrupt? The long, wandering scenes required a lot of editing, but of course nobody was going to tell DeNiro this. Most of the people sitting around me were checking their watches frequently, as the movie was 3 hours and could have been delivered in half the time.
If you want a great espionage flick, go back and watch "From Russia with Love". That is the movie that this one wanted to be.