The Good Shepard (2006)

It was only as the credits rolled on this that I realised it was produced and directed by Robert De Niro. He also hands himself a small cameo as one of the many individuals higher up in the food chain than Matt Damon’s CIA operative Edward. Loosely based on an espionage escapade that led to the formation of the CIA, The Good Shepard was released to fairly mixed reviews, which I have to say, I disagreed with. This is a slow burn in the mold of a John Le Carre adaptation, perhaps not up to the admittedly sky high bar set by Thomas Alfredson’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) but certainly proves its worth as a cold war espionage thriller. It’s very solidly put together by De Niro; he rightly opts to show rather than tell, and even if certain things can be telegraphed ahead of their reveal, for the most part The Good Shepard in a highly enjoyable understated spy thriller. Damon is terrific as the robotic Edward, who marries the slightly underserved Angelina Jolie after she falls pregnant to do ‘the right thing’ despite being in love with another woman. Jolie is not the one who suffers; it’s such an impressive cast list that even two hours forty minutes isn’t enough to find time for them all. Michael Gambon is all too briefly exposed, and Eddie Redmayne only joins the party in the final third. These are minor quibbles however, and it’s a real shame The Good Shepard didn’t find a bigger audience, because it is a fine film, managing to juggle three main timelines whilst keeping you thoroughly engaged in all of them. 7.4/10