14-03-2009, 04:05 PM
The mood of chill paranoia, the Matt Damon character distrusting everyone because everyone is suspect, is well executed. Some of the acting is excellent. However, I find Angelina Jolie totally miscast and the scenes involving her almost unwatchable.
On the history, the Bay of Pigs narrative is rubbish. As a way of examining the personal morality of intelligence agents, and their family loyalty, it's a decent - if tortuous - parable. But the Bay of Pigs is a real and very important historical event, and it's used as mere plot scenery in the movie.
Also, as a matter of history, I refuse to accept this portrayal of Angleton with a bit of Bissell - as played out in the Matt Damon character.
Le Carre's material works because its characters are largely fictional creations. For me, the achilles heel weakness of The Good Shepherd is that its characters are historically identifiable, as are its key events -such as the Bay of Pigs.
On the history, the Bay of Pigs narrative is rubbish. As a way of examining the personal morality of intelligence agents, and their family loyalty, it's a decent - if tortuous - parable. But the Bay of Pigs is a real and very important historical event, and it's used as mere plot scenery in the movie.
Also, as a matter of history, I refuse to accept this portrayal of Angleton with a bit of Bissell - as played out in the Matt Damon character.
Le Carre's material works because its characters are largely fictional creations. For me, the achilles heel weakness of The Good Shepherd is that its characters are historically identifiable, as are its key events -such as the Bay of Pigs.
"It means this War was never political at all, the politics was all theatre, all just to keep the people distracted...."
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war