The Good Damon

Rating: 9/10 (21 November 2008)

This is a complex and demanding movie. The twists and turns of the plot and events are very hard to follow, making it seek your undivided attention. It succeeds in gaining that attention through high production values and excellent acting. And never slipping into anything close to Bondian glamorization of the intelligence business.
Matt Damon is first-rate as Edward Wilson, the main character, and almost all of the supporting players do wonderfully. William Hurt, Joe Pesci, Robert DeNiro, John Torturro, and Timothy Hutton are great, but without a lot of screen time. Names escape me, but the actors who play Laura, Edward, Jr.,the English spies, and all the Soviet operatives are excellent.
Like the true intelligence game, not all mini-plots are resolved and some are incomprehensible. Somehow, this adds to the appeal of the movie.
I gave the picture 9 out of 10 stars due to the miscast and flat performance of Angelina Jolie, who manages to be unattractive and barely professional in her portrayal of Margaret Wilson. Also, it is unclear as to why Edward never questions his paternity of her child, as she is clearly promiscuous and bent on entrapment.
A must-see!