Shocking, sometimes brutal, but beautifully put together.

Rating: 10/10 (27 March 2007)

Just watched this on DVD and it's an outstanding film. The time line changes throw you off a bit at the beginning, but after about 20 minutes you get completely drawn in and suddenly everything fits like a glove. Quite often in films switching from one time line to another is badly done with weird visual effects and bad editing, jumping from one bit to another, with The Good Shepard this was done with finesse and complexity that match the films intricate story line so well.
It captured a perfect balance for me in the film, the story of the CIA how it all began, along side that was Edward Wilsons character and how he became what he was and the moral and intelligence based decisions he had to make through out the film; not just for his county but also for his family. Mixed into that was suspense, mystery and good measure of hard truths about what has to be done to protect the freedom that most of us take for granted in out countries.
The acting was very good through out, De Niro only played small parts in the film but directed it too the same standard as he is an actor. Matt Damon as usual just dropped right into his character as if it was made for him and I was really pleased to see Angelina Jolie doing a serious role which I think she portrayed very well.
10 out of 10 for this film. If you find it hard to follow... just watch it again and let the film carry you.