The Good Shepherd

[Chief Rum]

I just went to see this earlier tonight, and I thought it had some real brilliance to it.

Problem is, I don't know whether to recommend it or not because there is a lot of truth to what the critics are saying. It's over long, not filled with overt action, and some would say it is tedious. But if you like terrific acting performances (several of them here), a fascinating view of the intelligence society in the Cold War and just some very involving drama (both for the personal and professional life of the main character), I think I would recommend it.

If you find it hard to sit in a theater for too long, or you need endless action (not a bad thing, just a different sort of experience), don't go see it.

BTW, although it is based on real life characters to an extent and is set in the "real" world, it is a fictitious account.

Damon's chilling quiet performance was one of the better performances I have seen this year.

[Chief Rum]

P.S. cthomer, I saw your thoughts in the other thread, so don't worry about responding uness you really want to. ;)

Oh, and I agree Jolie's acting was shitty. I tried to ignore her (especially when the tops of her breasts disappeared after the first hour or so).

[cthomer5000]

I wont bother cutting and pasting my "review." I'm not a fan, clearly. I disliked it enough that it made my offical "worst of" list for the year even. Looking at rotten tomatoes, it seems im not alone. There is definitely a pretty strong difference of opinions on this movie.

I watch a ton of movies. Even with those i really like, I'm pretty careful about recommendations. I try to think about it objectively and kind of imagine how easy it would be for someone to dislike the movie. I honestly think fans of this movie would at least have to understand its quite possible others will really dislike it, for some reasons that i think they would have to admit were at least worth discussing.

Movies i love that i think almost anyone will love: The Shawshank Redemption, Star Wars

Movies i love that i can fully understand people disliking: Lost In Translation, any Wes Anderson movie, etc...

I think at the very least we can agree The Good Shepherd falls into the second class of movies. I think the reason for stuff like this is that there will be a number of elements in the movie that walk a fine line. Lets say 10 different things in the movie are in a gray area... if all 10 of those elements "pass" in your mind and "fail" in mine, even if by narrowish margins, you end up with vastly different opinions.

My biggest peeve is when someone comes in with a general sweeping rebuke of an opinion like "what? not enough bang bang for you?" or "then you didn't get it."

There's nothing wrong with thinking this movie was boring while thinking many other "bang bang"-less movies were not. There's also nothing wrong with "getting" the movie, but thinking it's basically crap still.

edit: And most of all, any movie i go to see in the theatre i am rooting very hard for. I dont go to the movies often by choice, so when i decide to plunk down 10 bucks on a ticket, its because im feeling very good about the chances of success. So it's not like i was out to rip this movie. I wanted to love it, but felt betrayed when i really, really just didnt like it.

[korme]

did you just quote me verbatim... atleast cite your source now

[korme]

anyways, the reason i probably asked you that ct, is because immediately after it was over the guy behind us said to his partner, 'that sucked. there wasn't enough guns or things blowing up.' and he was serious. my brother and i just looked at each other.

[Chief Rum]

I wont bother cutting and pasting my "review." I'm not a fan, clearly. I disliked it enough that it made my offical "worst of" list for the year even. Looking at rotten tomatoes, it seems im not alone. There is definitely a pretty strong difference of opinions on this movie.

I watch a ton of movies. Even with those i really like, I'm pretty careful about recommendations. I try to think about it objectively and kind of imagine how easy it would be for someone to dislike the movie. I honestly think fans of this movie would at least have to understand its quite possible others will really dislike it, for some reasons that i think they would have to admit were at least worth discussing.

Movies i love that i think almost anyone will love: The Shawshank Redemption, Star Wars

Movies i love that i can fully understand people disliking: Lost In Translation, any Wes Anderson movie, etc...

I think at the very least we can agree The Good Shepherd falls into the second class of movies. I think the reason for stuff like this is that there will be a number of elements in the movie that walk a fine line. Lets say 10 different things in the movie are in a gray area... if all 10 of those elements "pass" in your mind and "fail" in mine, even if by narrowish margins, you end up with vastly different opinions.

My biggest peeve is when someone comes in with a general sweeping rebuke of an opinion like "what? not enough bang bang for you?" or "then you didn't get it."

There's nothing wrong with thinking this movie was boring while thinking many other "bang bang"-less movies were not. There's also nothing wrong with "getting" the movie, but thinking it's basically crap still.

Oh, I agree completely with everything here. That is why I was very guarded with my recommendation, and tried to point out the "type" of viewer who might enjoy this.

This is definitely a love-hate movie. As you point out, rottentomatoes is very mixed on it (at about 54%), and reading the review snippets is sorta hilarious because there are some very strong opinions both ways expressed there.

I thought Shorty was a bit over the board with that comment in the other thread, too, but even if you don't fall into that category yourself, you know there are plenty here who quite simply do. It's a very cerebral film, and if you don't want to use your brain at the theater, it's definitely not for you.

It's funny you should mention LiT and Wes Anderson type movies. For the most part, I don't get those at all. I mean, I "get" them, but I don't understand the attraction. I enjoyed LiT to a point, but certainly not Movie of the Year as it was touted, I didn't really like Rushmore, and I thought that movie last year with Bill Murray (whatever it was, where the shark ate his friend) was just awful.

Different strokes, as they say...so I stick to saying why I liked it, and hope that gives everyone enough info to decide if it's a movie for them.

FWIW, I have seen a ton of movies from November until now, and have seen a lot of ones I rated pretty enjoyable and/or compelling (Borat--stupid but fun, Babel, Casino Royale, Deja Vu, Blood Diamond, Apocalypto, and now The Good Shepherd). I am looking forward to seeing Rocky Balboa and Children of Men over the next few days.

[cthomer5000]

did you just quote me verbatim... atleast cite your source now

so you want credit for that one? are you proud of it?

[cthomer5000]

Children of Men

I'll be seeing this Christmas day as well. If we bang heads again, it's time to start a TV show. :)

[Chief Rum]

I'll be seeing this Christmas day as well. If we bang heads again, it's time to start a TV show. :)

lol, tell me about it. I like Clive Owen as an actor (thought he was terrific in The Inside Man earlier this year and was of the opinion he should have gotten the Bond role before seeing Craig really do a number with it), and the story concept is fascinating to me.

But this is the type of movie that they can go way too overboard with.

[korme]

so you want credit for that one? are you proud of it?


lighten up