a very intellectual movie for adults - finally!

Rating: 10/10 (25 December 2006)

contrary to the above "review", this is an excellent movie, but - only for thinking adults. true, this is a relatively slow-moving rendition of the origins of the CIA shown through the eyes of its central character, "Edward Wilson" (Matt Damon), loosely based on James Angleton, the infamous head of counter-ops in the CIA.
at DeNiro's direction, this beautifully played movie shows the audience the gray, somewhat dull world of REAL counter espionage, NOT the James Bond version. obviously, a movie is only a snapshot of real life, & the main goal is to attempt to provide a broad outline of the subject, which this movie does brilliantly. it captures the view of the elitist, who honestly believe they knew what was best for America, & this too, is displayed somewhat scarily via OSS recruitment from the very elistist Skull & Bones fraternity, which exists even today at Yale.
the movie takes place at a time when the U.S. is controlled by the "Wise Men", and as personified in David Halberstam's book: "The Best & the Brightest". Matt Damon gives an Oscar performance as an introverted, same as any Washington DC middle manager taking the bus to work except he is going to the CIA, instead of an accounting job. he takes us into HIS world, showing us what it may have been like to be working in an organization that most Americans didn't even know existed at the time!
to say this was boring is to express a total misunderstanding of what the subject matter is attempting to convey. the whole point was that most of the CIA's work WAS boring, everyday analytical work, not the phony crap we are subjected to in most spy movies. and, if it is sex scenes that make a spy movie, one should go see a less intelligent movie. even the most recent, and fabulous James Bond movie, has very little sex!
DeNiro, as earlier pointed out as playing the "godfather" of the OSS & the CIA is a very uneducated comment. DeNiro is playing William "wild bill" Donavan, who was given the task of setting up the OSS, by Roosevelt, during WWII, which subsequently evolved into the CIA after the war. he (Donavan)populated both, with members of his own background, i.e., from the elitist eastern establishment. he was never thought of as a "godfather"! however, the only quibble i do have with the movie is DeNiro's miscasting of himself which i can only attribute to his huge misguided ego. Donavan does comes off as a "godfather", & DeNiro's Italian-take makes the character more cartoonish than serious.
the previous reviewer also totally misses the point of the Joe Pesci character, which was very central in CIA history, when the CIA unfortunately recruited the "Mafia" to aid them in the Bay of Pigs fiasco, the anchor period in which the movie takes place.
it's a shame when so much rich detail is included, only to be derided, due to misunderstanding why it's there in the first place. if its any consolation, many of our moronic TV reviewers also miss the point of the movie with their mass-media dumbed-down reviews.
and lastly, of course - DUH, there is very little action!! the CIA was NOT the Delta Special Forces, but a covert, deeply-hidden, analytical organization, much which involved infiltrating, passing along disinformation, & decoding - not exactly action-like as most think of when looking at a "spy" movie - think John Le Carre, not Jason Bourne! CIA agents don't smile, tell funny stories, are colorless, blend in sorts.
unfortunately, the incredible brilliance of this movie is wasted on those who simply do not understand the nuance this movie is showing. there was no "cool spy craft" in those days. however, one of the COOLEST scenes does take place when CIA operatives are able to pinpoint where a liaison takes place through very hard dull work, which i won't describe due to spoiler reasons.
this is a story about the CIA & its history, good & bad & gray; & where characters (as in real CIA life) whisper to each other, don't trust anyone as per the total fear of double agents which was the order of the day!
if one wants a "godfather" moment - go see "The Godfather"! if one wants to see a very well made intelligent adult movie, brilliantly acted, except for DeNiro (oddly) - go see "The Good Shepherd"