The Good Shepherd (DVD)

The Good Shepherd (2006) starring Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie. Fictionalized account of the birth of the CIA, following one agent's (Damon) career from World War II through the Bay of Pigs debacle. Thinking about the movie after watching it is more interesting than actually watching it, partly because of slow pacing, partly because of the long running time of about two and a half hours. There are moments when the movie comes alive (a particular torture scene comes to mind), but for the most part the glacial pacing and Damon's dead-fish portrayal of super spy Edward Wilson make it a chore to watch. Grade: B