The Good Shepherd (2006)

Regista:

Robert De Niro

Sceneggiatore (WGA):

Eric Roth (written by)

Data di uscita:

22 dicembre 2006 (USA)

Genere:

Drama | Thriller

Slogan:

Edward Wilson believed in America, and he would sacrifice everything he loved to protect it.

Plot:

The tumultuous early history of the Central Intelligence Agency is viewed through the prism of one man's life.

Plot Keywords:

Directed By Star | Infidelity | Liar | Racial Prejudice | Cuban Missile Crisis

Premi:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 6 nominations

Recensioni degli utenti:

Finally a film that doesn't assume you're an idiot

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 30

3:35 AM

HBO

Cast

Matt Damon	...	Edward Wilson
Angelina Jolie	...	Margaret 'Clover' Russell
Alec Baldwin	...	Sam Murach
Tammy Blanchard	...	Laura
Billy Crudup	...	Arch Cummings
Robert De Niro	...	Bill Sullivan
Keir Dullea	...	Senator John Russell, Sr.
Michael Gambon	...	Dr. Fredericks
Martina Gedeck	...	Hanna Schiller
William Hurt	...	Philip Allen
Timothy Hutton	...	Thomas Wilson
Mark Ivanir	...	Valentin Mironov #2
Gabriel Macht	...	John Russell, Jr.
Lee Pace	...	Richard Hayes
Joe Pesci	...	Joseph Palmi

Alias:

Ombra del potere - The good shepherd, L' (Italy) [it]

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence, sexuality and language.

Durata:

167 min | Russia:139 min (cut version)

Nazionalità:

USA

Lingua:

Inglese | Spagnolo | Tedesco | Russian

Colore:

Colore

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sonoro:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Divieti:

Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Ireland:15A | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Argentina:13 | UK:15 | Australia:M | Netherlands:16 | USA:R (certificate #43094) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | New Zealand:M | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:14 | Malaysia:U (DVD) | Malaysia:18PL | Norway:15 | Singapore:M18 | Germany:12 | Italy:T | Finland:K-15 | Denmark:15 | Sweden:15

Luoghi delle riprese:

49-51 Chambers Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Curiosità:

Joe Pesci's first movie in 8 years.

Errori:

Continuity: When Edward and Margaret are arguing in their room (a couple hours into the movie) the light switch on the wall next to the bathroom door goes back and forth from a blank plate to a switch.

Citazioni:

[first lines]
Miriam: You are safe here with me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in De Niro: A Self Portrait (2007) (TV)

Colonna sonora:

Tribeca Bounce

Finally a film that doesn't assume you're an idiot

After enduring trailer after trailer with endless stings of explosions, ridiculous CG-assisted stunts and mindless action, I felt very rewarded with an intelligent and intriguing film that defies the status quo of bigger and louder is better.

The Good Sheperd doesn't insult your intelligence, it stimulates it, sometimes confuses it, and forces you to look several layers beneath the surface. It feels like a throwback to another era of films when the complexity of a character was of greater importance than spectacle.

De Niro took a page from his producer's best work, Francis Ford Coppola, emulating films like The Godfather, The Conversation and Apacalypse Now. The drama rises not from the usual blatant conventional devices but rather by raising questions because of what we're not told and not shown. It requires a great deal of courage to use this style as films have gravitated more and more toward assuming the average moviegoer is of substandard intelligence. The scope of the film is enormous, yet the point of view is narrowly focused to be seen through the eyes of one man. There are a dozen of subplots, but all are carefully tied into the through-line of the story to match the main character's progression.

The film may require some understanding of American history from WWII through the Kennedy administration. It starts with the later years of the story, The Bay of Pigs debacle, and traces the steps that lead to it, one of the more embarrassing moments in the history of U.S. foreign policy. I found it a bit annoying that Matt Damon's character, Edward Wilson, barely seemed to age in the film while others around him did (the best way to determine his age is whether he's wearing wire-rimmed or horn-rimmed glasses), but it didn't ruin the film for me.

Overall though, definitely one of the best films of 2006. A rare film that makes you want to think and understand, rather than forget.