Good story, good director, good actor - good shepherding

Rating: 8/10 (19 September 2012)

A fictionalised retelling of the chaotic creative forces behind the emergence of the CIA told from the perspective of Edward Wilson alias Mother (Matt Damon) beginning from before the II World War and ending at the Bay of Pigs fiasco. Although all characters are fictional, they are all heavily inspired by actual people, while the attention to detail is striking. That said the main character, a poetry student turned into a secret agent, is mostly presented through a personal tale about dreams, love and life wasted in a tireless, but vivid pursuit of victory for his country and the ideals it carries with it. Or as Wilson states - in attempts to prevent big wars by engaging in small ones. Collateral damage is the loss of personal happiness: friends, family, morality, peace of mind. When Wilson's life closes a full circle the revelation comes that his biggest foe - the Soviet super-spy Ulysses - is actually his truest friend due to a mutual understanding of losses carried due to the line of work they have chosen.
Miles away from Bourne territory, "The Good Shepherd" takes a realistic turn, much in the manner of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", recounting a sombre, but bleak version of secret service. One deeply entrenched in paranoia of enemies hiding behind shadows and ever-growing distrust. This grim reality so strikingly portrayed in Robert de Niro's film never falters, Matt Damon playing a detached and emotionally reclusive person, rarely sharing warmth with anyone (apart from his lost love and only son), who increasingly falls into himself losing the last vestiges of humanity slowly dropping into self-loathing - by the end utterly despising himself for his deeds and life.
Nonetheless "The Good Shepherd" is a movie of epic scale and ambition, but one that fails to reach the heights, occasionally plodding, but despite almost never having a scene worth cutting (each movement, shot meaningful and expanding the world portrayed). Deposing of conventional gimmicks the movie is strongly character based with strong entries by Robert de Niro, Alec Baldwin, Tammy Blanchard, Billy Crudup, William Hurt, Angelina Jolie and John Turturro. However at almost three hours the somewhat melodramatic undertow coupled with the almost total lack of action or suspense does tend to drag, making it a tough watch in one take. All in all "The Good Shephered" requires a good amount of focus, as a thought-provoking period piece worthy of wider acclaim.