Jon Monsarrat review: too confusing to be truly great

Rating: 4/10 (18 January 2007)

I'm an intelligent guy and I do like my films to tickle my brain. There's nothing better than a film like Memento which leaves me reeling, but ultimately, I figure it all out.
The Good Shepherd isn't like that. Who are the men with the guns? Who's passing which notes to whom? What's going on? The film jumps around to various timeframes, and right from the beginning it's unclear just what is happening. Something involving the Bay of Pigs, and betrayal.
So despite all the great acting, great scenery, etc. I just found it boring. The opposite of 13 Days, which is a fantastic film about the Cuban Missile Crisis and in which it's impossible to get lost because every scene explains in depth what they're trying to do, why it's important, and where the conflict comes from.
These flaws would be enough for a 5 out of 10 rating, but then... who's idea was it to have the protagonist of The Good Shepherd be a silent unemoting person we can't identify with, or hate? This reminds me of The Piano, which had great art to it but whose protagonist was unlovable.
Who should see this film:
-- Nobody, I think it is highly overrated. But I can't stop you.
I'll give The Good Shepherd a very disappointed 4 out of 10.