[8]

Robert DeNiro directs from a script by Eric Roth this taught, engaging, mysterious, and surprisingly emotional story about the birth of the CIA. Matt Damon stars, serving as our window into a world full of secrets and deception. Damon’s reserved cool gives costars Angelina Jolie and Eddie Redmayne plenty to act against, playing the wife and son who always get second fiddle to career obsession. Remarkably, the CIA plotlines are just as interesting as the homelife storyline, both of which weave around one another and come together for a pretty explosive third act that pits father against son once Redmayne’s character joins dear old dad in the family business. DeNiro sets the film soaring with a supporting cast you have to see to believe: Michael Gambon, William Hurt, Timothy Hutton, Alec Baldwin, Joe Pesci, Lee Pace, John Turturro, and Billy Crudup, anyone? If you had just told me what The Good Shepherd was about, I doubt it would ever excite me — but trust me, this movie will wrap around and absorb you in short order. It’s the product of a screenwriter and an actor-turned-director at the top of their game.

Oscar Nomination: Best Art Direction