The Good Shepherd

Spanning over twenty years, The Good Shepherd focuses on the founding of the Central Intelligence Agency, more specifically one of its main architects, Edward Wilson, played by Matt Damon. As I mentioned in my review of The Departed, Matt Damon is really turning into one of my favorite actors. He produces another really engaging performance as a loner-type, who is somewhat emotionally detached from the world. These qualities finally make him the perfect candidate for his job.
Many felt that this film went on too long, however I didn't have a sense of it dragging in any way. So much had to be set up in the film: Edward's earlier life, his marriage to Clover (Angelina Jolie), the begining of his career, and the start of the C.I.A. That was all followed with the execution of several affairs and Edward's establishment in the organization. All this was important and interesting information regarding the subject matter of the film. Another thing I think DeNiro does well with the film (or that the editor does well, rather) is he cuts back between different flashbacks. As I have said before, it is a tricky thing to make a movie with this sort of non-linear timeline and keep an audience interested and not confused. In Spy Game, something similar occurs where Robert Redford is remembering points earlier in his life, some more recent and some in the more distant past. The Good Shepherd successfully helps the audience keep things straight. Little things help with keeping track of what time period the flashback is in, specifically the props and clothing style of the characters. Edward's glasses are probably the most obvious indicator of time period. Interesting little treats like that pop up throughout this film make a really quiet, intense, information-packed film.