The Good Shepherd (2006)
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A fictional counterintelligence officer navigates the moral compromises and personal tolls of a career in the burgeoning CIA from 1939 to 1961.
The story
The film follows Edward Wilson, a fictional counterintelligence officer, from 1939 to 1961 as the CIA develops and grows around him. Starting from his college years at Yale in 1939 and his initiation into the Skull and Bones fraternity, the narrative explores his recruitment into intelligence work during World War II. The story unfolds through a mix of sequential events and flashbacks, exploring the origins of the CIA and the personal tolls of a career in secret intelligence. Wilson's personal life is marked by a strained marriage to Margaret "Clover" Russell and a series of affairs, highlighting the sacrifices and moral compromises inherent in the world of espionage.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1939, Edward Wilson joins the Skull and Bones at Yale. After a brief stint as a student, he is recruited by FBI agent Sam Murach to investigate a suspected Nazi sympathizer, and later by General Bill Sullivan to join a new intelligence service. During WWII, he becomes an expert in counterespionage in London and later works in Berlin. In 1946, he returns to the US and helps found the CIA with Richard Hayes. His marriage to Margaret becomes strained as he prioritizes work. In 1961, following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, Wilson suspects a mole in his office. He discovers his son, Edward Jr., is involved with a Soviet operative, Miriam. After Miriam is killed, Edward faces the reality of his son's choices. Ultimately, Edward reads his father's suicide note, acknowledging a history of betrayal, and burns it as he takes over the head of counterintelligence.
- First release year
- 2006
- Runtime (minutes)
- 167
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert De Niro
- Writers
- Eric Roth · writer
- Cast and characters
- Matt Damon · Edward Wilson Sr.; Angelina Jolie · Margaret "Clover" Russell; Robert De Niro · General Bill Sullivan; Alec Baldwin · FBI Agent Sam Murach; William Hurt · CIA Director Philip Allen; Joe Pesci · Joseph Palmi; John Turturro · Ray Brocco; Billy Crudup · Archibald "Arch" Cummings
- Genres
- spy; drama
- Themes
- moral compromise; sacrifice; father-son relationships; the cost of secrets
- Premise and plot tags
- espionage; Cold War; historical fiction
- Source material / true-story basis
- Based on the history of the CIA and the life of Allen Dulles.
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising the performances and direction while criticizing the pacing and tone.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 6.14/10 · scale: 10 · review count: 172; Metacritic · score: 61 · scale: 100 · review count: 33
- Awards and nominations
- Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution · Berlin International Film Festival · 2007 · win; Best Art Direction · 79th Academy Awards · 2007 · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's set design included authentic items like Teletype machines and reel-to-reel tape recorders.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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