The Good Shepherd

Rating: 7/10 (17 March 2007)

The Good Shepherd I had read the movie is long and that was one of the factors that I could not see it even after 4 weeks of its release in Amsterdam. This week no good movies were released and thus the stage was set for me to go and enjoy this Robert De Niro's third directorial movie.
The story is about Edward Bell Wilson's life  from being a poetry student to being a civil servant in World War II, and later called to be part of the CIA (in the second half of the movie). It is a story about being torn between love, family and duty to the country. The movie runs in two parallel tracks one of 1961 and the other of 1940s - with a bit of third track about the childhood of Edward Bell.
It movie starts in 1961 with a love-scene recorded by CIA and they trying to trace the origins and unrevealing the secrets behind it. In doing so the story of Edward Bell is told to us  his childhood, his family, his love-life, his marriage, his wife, his son, and most importantly his job. I would not disclose the mystery of the love-scene and spoil your show, yet I would tell you that after the mystery of love-scene is revealed, there is a final note that captures the essence of the movie. I won't tell you that too.
I liked the movie. It is technically very well made; it has strong script, tight screenplay, good editing, cinematography, sound-track, production details, art direction, direction and good performance by Matt Damon as Edward Bell who is the central protagonist of the movie.
The mood of the movie is somber. I think it was intentional. It is slow paced  but interesting. Once the audiences agree with the aspects of the movie, the movie is enjoyable. Otherwise critically looking  it is laughable at times, and I will tell you why. I have four comments.
First, the character of Edward Bell is unreal (I know it is based on true real life character). It is one dimensional and stony.
Second, the way the period and people are captured is also unacceptable. Everyone talking in the same tone and mood  does not reflect the periodic richness of emotions it had. One scene stands out as a sore thumb is when our actors are walking on the bombarded side of East Berlin. The scene, music, the people  everything looked staged and characters devoid of anything going on around them talking of Swiss chocolate. That was funny.
Third, even though the story and the main character are depicted for a 20-25 year period, the character remains the same in looks. Robert De Niro forgot that by graying a few strands of hair and making the person walk and talk a bit slowing does not depict age. I think he fails miserably in this aspect.
Fourth, is Angelina Jolie suffering from some disease? She looked so bony and emancipated due demands of modern beauty that she looks shockingly unbeautiful.
The intention of Robert De Niro would be to make a movie for Oscar run, it is a good movie  but not for Oscars this time.
(Stars 7 out of 10)