Fiction that is history

Rating: 8/10 (28 April 2019)

In skimming through most of these reviews what is missed is that while this script is fiction, it is based on fact. The Damon character is clearly a portrayal of James Jesus Angleton even though his name here, is "Edward Wilson."
Characters are similarly based on real individuals. Others like the William Sullivan role that DeNiro (the director) himself played was Wild Bill Donovan the real former Medal of Honor winner who started the OSS at the request of FDR.
So was it necessary that the viewer have the historical perspective to enjoy this film? No, it's good enough to stand on its own. However it did help to be aware of the enormous factor that the Damon character had on post-WWII history in the person of the very real James Angleton.
There has been talk of a sequel and I have a script which centers on the year 1967. It would be political dynamite. I would love to see DeNiro do it but it
would be very hard to get made, believe me.
One more thing about the movie. DeNiro made a visually beautiful film. It adds a kind of dream-like quality to the stark realities of the Cold War script.
DeNiro got the job done here with "The Good Shepherd."