Snooooozer

Rating: 4/10 (26 January 2007)

This is a very difficult film to watch. Surely the early history of the CIA is much more compelling and interesting than the plodding story told in this movie. Matt Damon is on screen for most of the movie, yet maintains the same facial expression throughout. In fact, just about every scene has two or more actors speaking calmly in a serious and emotionless manner... and that's it. There is no drama and no emotion. Just a lot of very dry dialogue, stretched over a very long nearly 3 hours. I would have to blame the screenplay mostly. There were certainly enough name actors to spark your attention and maintain interest. There's just nothing for them to do except stand around and talk. Even the couple of scenes with dramatic action (the torture/interrogation scene and the murder from the plane) were very tame, given the director's (DeNiro) film history. I know he wasn't trying for a Goodfellas, but he could have at least tried to emulate his buddy Martin Scorcese a little, to add some spice to what should have been a more interesting story.