The Good Shepherd

Source: Official Site
CanMag Review Score:

Plot / Synopsis

The tumultuous early history of the Central Intelligence Agency is viewed through the prism of one man's life in The Good Shepherd, an espionage drama starring Academy Award® winners Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie and Robert De Niro and directed by Robert De Niro.

Edward Wilson (Matt Damon) understands the value of secrecy-discretion and commitment to honor have been embedded in him since childhood. As an eager, optimistic student at Yale, he is recruited to join the secret society Skull and Bones, a brotherhood and breeding ground for future world leaders. Wilson's acute mind, spotless reputation and sincere belief in American values render him a prime candidate for a career in intelligence, and he is soon recruited to work for the OSS (the precursor to the CIA) during WWII.

As one of the covert founders of the CIA, working in the heart of an organization where duplicity is required and nothing is taken at face value, Edward's' idealism is steadily eroded by a growing suspicious nature, reflective of a world settling into the long paranoia of the Cold War. As his methods are adopted as standard operating procedure, Wilson develops into one of the Agency's veteran operatives, all the while combating his KGB counterpart. However, his steely dedication to his country comes at an ever-increasing price. Not even his wife Clover (Angelina Jolie) or his beloved son can divert Wilson from a path that will force him to sacrifice everything in pursuit of this job.

The Good Shepherd is directed by Robert De Niro, written by Eric Roth and produced by Morgan Creek's James G. Robinson and Tribeca Productions' Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro. Universal Pictures distributes domestically, with Morgan Creek handling foreign distribution.

Images: View Images

De Niro on The Good Shepherd
Discusses what it takes to direct this CIA tale.
December 24, 2006

Matt Damon on The Good Shepherd
Damon takes an alternate route that doesn't include Mr. Charming.
December 23, 2006

The Good Shepherd
Not horrible, but it's length demands something much more interesting.
December 21, 2006

Angelina Jolie on The Good Shepherd
Jolie takes an emotional beating in this drama.
December 18, 2006

The Good Shepherd Reviewed
A fascinating subject that gets overly long and slow.
December 11, 2006

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Up Two
Recent trailer boosted film's popularity.
November 22, 2006

The Good Shepherd Poster
Matt Damon makes an impression.
October 5, 2006

The Good Shepherd Trailer Online
Looks pretty solid and the cast is ginormous.
September 22, 2006

Follow The Good Shepherd
Pictures of Jolie and Damon with an updated synopsis.
January 17, 2006