Directed by Robert DeNiro, The Good Shepherd is a film like an expansive landscape painting, requiring space and time to take in. Yes, it is long, and there is not a whole lot of action. Instead, it gives you space to think. I enjoyed the experience thoroughly.
Matt Damon plays Edward Wilson, one of the few men who got in on the ground floor of the CIA. I am liking Damon more and more with each film. His career has been going in the opposite direction of Ben Affleck, his friend of many years. The reason, I believe, is that Affleck decided to appeal to girls, and Damon realized he needed to keep his fanbase mostly male. In the end, the girls grow up and realize that Affleck sucks as an actor and get over him. Anyway, back to the film. I love a movie that gives me a whole lot of information, and a great deal of time to process that information. This movie will not be for everyone (is any movie?), but for those looking for intellectual stimulation in the form of history, here you go.
One theme that struck me was one that has come up a lot lately: father-son relationships. Being a father myself, this is at the forefront of my mind. The lack of approval from the fathers in the film causes dire consequences for the sons. This could contrast my review of Blood Diamond. Wilson's father commits suicide fairly early in the film, and leaves a note. Wilson hangs on to the note, never opening it. What does it contain? If he read the letter, would his life have been different? Do the words of a father to a son have vital importance? Does he have distorted priorities because of a lack of a father? And how does this story play out in the next generation, with Edward's son, Edward Jr.? Well, watch the film to see how that story unravels.
Another point I found interesting was the scripture quoted on the wall of the CIA at the end: "And the truth shall set you free" (Jn. 8:32). The film offers an interesting interpretation of Jesus' words. If we have nothing to hide, people cannot hold something against us. How can they blackmail us, or coerce us or manipulate us? We should come clean, to everyone (confession is something we Protestants have lost the value in, sadly). Then we will be free; free of lying to ourselves and others. When we are honest, we do not need most of the fear we carry around. Wilson would not be nearly as fearful in the film if he were honest. Though this is not truly what Jesus meant, this truth is important to remember.
And now in terms of filmmaking (as I try to clean up confetti that has gotten into my keyboard, a prank by my wonderful students). The cinematography was spectacular. The acting was great, a wonderful cast: Damon, William Hurt, Angelina Jolie, DeNiro, Joe Pesci, Alec Baldwin, etc. A beautiful, expansive film that seems like it should be epic, but instead turns out to be intimate.
The Good Shepherd was being hyped up as an Oscar front-runner six months ago. Though it did not live up to that hype in many people's minds, it was an engrossing journey. Films should not tell us to turn our minds off. Rather, they should offer an atmosphere in which our minds can exercise. No, The Good Shepherd was not boring, it was quite the opposite. I love "slow" movies.
1 comment:
Cindy got this movie for Easter, so we watched it last night as Ryan napped upstairs. It was a good movie, but...it was really, really slow. I can appreciate a slow movie, but I literally felt like everyone was moving in slow motion. That being said, Matt Damon was BRILLANT, and I think he should have been nominated for something for his performance. I understood why people were drawn to quiet, steady (and somewhat creepy) Edward. He commanded your attention with his lack of seeking it. Once again Kyle, an amazing blog!
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