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The Good Shepherd
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The Good Shepherd

2006
Romance
Drama
2h 47m
The tumultuous early history of the Central Intelligence Agency is viewed through the prism of one man's life in this espionage drama. (Universal Pictures)
Directed by:
Robert De Niro Robert De Niro
Written by:
Eric Roth Eric Roth
Starring:
William Hurt William Hurt Robert De Niro Robert De Niro Angelina Jolie Angelina Jolie Matt Damon Matt Damon Billy Crudup Billy Crudup Alec Baldwin Alec Baldwin John Turturro John Turturro Michael Gambon Michael Gambon Joe Pesci Joe Pesci Timothy Hutton Timothy Hutton Eddie Redmayne Eddie Redmayne Lee Pace Lee Pace
More
Genres:
Romance, Drama, Suspense/Thriller, History
Country:
USA
Languages:
English, Spanish, German, Russian, Lingala
imdb More information at IMDb
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The Good Shepherd

2006
Romance
Drama
2h 47m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 43.31% from 2324 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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jeffvjeff_v
Rated 03 Mar 2010
83
94th
Critics complained that it wasn't enough like a spy thriller, that Matt Damon is too opaque, and that the film has too many ideas. They're wrong all counts. It isn't meant to be a spy thriller, but a reconstruction of how the modern spy game came to be, and why its genesis sowed the seeds of its own demise. Superficial thrills are replaced by a complex web of motives; this is a psychological history of an organization, seen through the eyes of a man who came to represent its essential qualities.
Rated 03 Mar 2010
djrossdjross
Rated 29 Jul 2022
50
44th
A quiet man marries a painful woman, who bears him an idiot son, causing him problems at work. When all I knew about this film was that it concerned the early days of the OSS and CIA, I wondered if it had a connection with Mailer's novel: turns out adapting that was too hard (well Mailer never finished the book either), so something simpler was concocted. Suggesting the Bay of Pigs failed due to a leak is unfortunate. Some scenes seem to have been left on the cutting room floor (as they say).
Rated 29 Jul 2022
maartenmaarten
Rated 07 Nov 2008
60
52nd
Excellent guess from the PSI! I hoped I had liked it far better, but it wasn't to be... While Damon's acting is still superb, but the storytelling and the point of view were less appealing. A missed chance, it was...
Rated 07 Nov 2008
teddedonTedDedon
Rated 12 Apr 2007
82
65th
I wouldn't recommend The Good Shepherd overall. It's long, drawn-out, hard to follow, and in all honesty, could easily be perceived as a boring film. In my personal opinion, however, I found the setting of the plot and the characters involved absolutely fascinating. To me it was certainly one of the best movies of the year but it just isn't for everyone.
Rated 12 Apr 2007
lupisterlupister
Rated 22 Jul 2009
47
48th
pointless. A movie about the life of one of the 'creators' of the CIA... focused on his family life. Also, the lead character has no real depth.
Rated 22 Jul 2009
ozymandius10ozymandius10
Rated 26 Dec 2006
71
57th
If this is indeed the "Godfather of CIA movies", then there is a clear distinction in interesting subject matter between the mafia and the government. A good 3 hour movie shouldn't FEEL like it's 3 hours long.
Rated 26 Dec 2006
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 23 Dec 2006
7
68th
Reminded me of The Godfather. But not nearly as good.
Rated 23 Dec 2006
johnshaftjohnshaft
Rated 04 Jul 2009
67
37th
Some of it is fascinating, but some of it is just dull and drawn out.
Rated 04 Jul 2009
zerialZerial
Rated 15 Jan 2007
80
77th
A slow paced yet ultimately captivating film.
Rated 15 Jan 2007
fudgiebfudgieb
Rated 31 Jan 2009
70
27th
Too slow...and I'm sorry...but I just can't take Matt Damon seriously in any role outside of Bourne. Maybe it was Team U.S.A. World Police that did that to me.
Rated 31 Jan 2009
luthar15luthar15
Rated 18 Dec 2008
84
90th
stuie299stuie299
Rated 16 Oct 2012
60
15th
The Good Shepherd has some enjoyable parts like the amazing casting, the interesting premise, and the beautiful cinematography. Those elements however mean nothing, as the plot moves as quick as a snail trapped in quicksand. Because of its blatant pacing issues everything becomes mind numbingly boring, with an equally dull score to match. The supporting cast felt as deep as a kiddie pool. More time should have been devoted to character development instead of needlessly drawing out each scene.
Rated 16 Oct 2012
icybrianIcyBrian
Rated 28 Dec 2013
63
23rd
Not as captivating as I was expecting, and it was without a strong cohesive story. The slow pace really made the movie drag, and at nearly three hours that makes for a loooooong drag.
Rated 28 Dec 2013
pigletPiglet
Rated 27 Jul 2009
70
59th
Too slow-paced and a boring protagonist whome I never want to root for.
Rated 27 Jul 2009
overratedoverrated
Rated 10 Jan 2010
28
19th
Sooooo boooooooooring
Rated 10 Jan 2010
capodelnullacapodelnulla
Rated 02 Apr 2017
69
52nd
ne kadar uzun olsa da mevzusuna ruh olarak hakim. öyle ki, sanki daha oturaklı bir kurguyla klasik bir filme dönüşebilirmiş. tempo problemi olduğu doğru, ama bu adi seyircinin şikayeti olan *çok yavaş* anlamında değil; filmin hızlanma ve yavaşlamaları hayli dengesiz. jolie ve -o dönemde şimdiki gibi tanınmasa da- redmayne tercihleri biraz problemli geliyor. prodüksiyon tasarımı başarılı. ama damon niye yaşlanmıyor, ben de anlamadım.
Rated 02 Apr 2017
cestmoicestmoi
Rated 18 May 2008
75
48th
Long and slow, it was hard for me to connect with these characters.
Rated 18 May 2008
battletoadBattleToad
Rated 21 May 2007
85
76th
Contrary to popular belief, the length of the film is not that hard to bear. It's about two hours and forty minutes of film before credits, and for the most part, it's very interesting, yet low key spy goodness. Just don't go into it expecting Bond-like action, because it won't deliver. You can, however, expect a complex and intricate story that, if you can keep up in your mind, will not disappoint. Really good!
Rated 21 May 2007
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 25 Sep 2010
66
51st
Tough to get past the slow slow pacing. I liked the acting and even the story, but man something was off.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
adamj1982adamj1982
Rated 19 Nov 2012
65
43rd
This was either marketed entirely wrong or I had just assumed it was something different than what it is. I don't want Hollywood action, but at the same time I didn't expect to be falling asleep during a movie about espionage and the beginning of the CIA.
Rated 19 Nov 2012
mansbridgeMansbridge
Rated 02 Mar 2011
76
57th
Nice movie. Matt Damon's character is very well played and the story is interesting. But the director failed to present the long time span of the movie. I didn't get the impression of aging and life passing by. Even the atmosphere seemed modern.
Rated 02 Mar 2011
reyRey
Rated 17 Dec 2008
50
1st
The movie is too long. Besides it's boring and I still don't believe I've watched it for three long hours!! Not even Angelina Jolie saves it...
Rated 17 Dec 2008
tedted
Rated 28 Jul 2008
81
74th
A rainy day kind of movie. It's long and understated, and you may need to watch it twice or rewind some scenes in order to fully understand the plot.
Rated 28 Jul 2008
braddad68braddad68
Rated 11 Dec 2020
90
52nd
My main criticism here is the unnecessary long running time. Also, though Matt Damon did a great job, his character lacks any personality, so much so that it makes it hard to root for him. Otherwise, very well done and nice directing job for DeNiro.
Rated 11 Dec 2020
acyberexileacyberexile
Rated 12 Jul 2011
76
36th
some movies come with their own speed to the creator. they have to be fast, or they have to be slow. de niro's debut falls to the latter category; it's a tale that had to be told slowly, and so it was. brilliant acting throughout the cast and deliberately slow pace turns this into a very rare movie: an undeniably adult spy film. if you're jonesing for your 007 fix but too mature to actually enjoy 007, the good shepherd's there for you.
Rated 12 Jul 2011
kingjohnbbqKingjohnbbq
Rated 08 Mar 2014
64
14th
I'd have to watch it again, I just remember being bored.
Rated 08 Mar 2014
zoranZoran
Rated 02 Aug 2020
71
36th
Very good, very tough, very true I guess.
Rated 02 Aug 2020
tma1tma1
Rated 12 Mar 2007
60
41st
Couldn't get drawn into the characters or their troubles. It's a shame with the talent involved.
Rated 12 Mar 2007
hahaHaha
Rated 23 Mar 2009
62
29th
Interesting story and a great perf from Damon.
Rated 23 Mar 2009
therealj_roTheRealJ-Ro
Rated 28 Jul 2008
80
70th
Angie pushes this just to the 80 mark for me. Good movie, didn't really jump off the screen at me but it didn't have to, y'know, just a strong flick that's definitely worth the rental.
Rated 28 Jul 2008
rthornhillrthornhill
Rated 20 Apr 2009
82
29th
Interesting movie on an interesting topic, but a bit longwinded....
Rated 20 Apr 2009
filliganFilligan
Rated 24 Feb 2007
78
37th
I entered this film expecting "The Godfather of spy movies". While that was an overstatement, I was reminded of The Godfather's style with this movie. Like the Godfather, it has some tedious overlong parts but is overall intellectually stimulating. And I have no doubt that, like the Godfather, multiple viewings are beneficial. For the first time, I'm actually impressed by Damon. I liked De Niro's direction, too; it's certainly well-crafted. Sidenote: I wish Pesci was given more screen time
Rated 24 Feb 2007
dmbbearcatdmbbearcat
Rated 07 Jun 2011
63
29th
Good idea, way too long and poorly executed.
Rated 07 Jun 2011
lrampartllrampartl
Rated 15 Jan 2007
44
21st
Kind of a mess. Maybe if they'd done a better job aging Damon, it'd be easier to tell when it was present-day and when it was a flashback. Also, if there was better acting. Also, if most of the minor players didn't look so freaking similar. Also, if they edited out things like awkward sex scenes, parties and speeches, it wouldn't have been 3 hours long.
Rated 15 Jan 2007
vahidartvahidart
Rated 13 Jan 2011
0
1st
very bad!
Rated 13 Jan 2011
monstergearMonsterGear
Rated 26 Apr 2007
59
18th
Fascinating and yet rather dreary and grim. Could possibly have been better with a shorter runtime, but it might be one of the most realistic spy movies out there.
Rated 26 Apr 2007
kellyKelly
Rated 15 Nov 2008
20
5th
Boooorrrrrriiiiinnngggggg.
Rated 15 Nov 2008
daniellanDaniellaN
Rated 13 Oct 2008
60
14th
Boring.
Rated 13 Oct 2008
duckkingDuck_King
Rated 03 Jul 2007
45
14th
God damn this movie was a test of endurance. The film could have been half as long if they had trimmed out a few scenes that felt fored and shoe-horned into the movie. It also felt like the entire movie was broken up by it's scenes, rather than a flowing, cohesive story. I was honestly more entertained by the newly made floor of the theater I was watching it in.
Rated 03 Jul 2007
brando814brando814
Rated 02 May 2007
40
25th
It wants to be good and has the pedigree to do so but it's too damn long and someone (read: everyone) seems to think showing up is good enough to get the job done.
Rated 02 May 2007
courtjesterCourtJester
Rated 26 Dec 2006
59
29th
Realy well directed and acted- WHAT THE SCRIPT WAS ABOUT I DON'T KNOW!
Rated 26 Dec 2006
apm2091apm2091
Rated 16 Jul 2009
71
49th
long, drawn-out, slow paced spy "thriller" which sadly, dampens sizzling performances from matt damon and angelina jolie.
Rated 16 Jul 2009
squareheadSquarehead
Rated 25 Oct 2009
60
42nd
A real slog, but ultimately a satisfying experience. Not totally convinced by Damon, as it seemed to me that the uber-taciturn and emotionally repressed characterisation was just too one dimensional. Everyone else does a ggod job though, and it just goes to show what kind of stellar casts can be assembled if the man in the chair is a big enough name. Might get better with subsequent viewings, but I'm not sure if I've got the time!
Rated 25 Oct 2009
martrynmartryn
Rated 11 Jan 2010
68
45th
Suffers from just being so fucking slow. It's a long slow grind. Really great film if you can sit through it and fully appreciate what's happening in it, but it's certainly not for everyone and your viewing experience might be tempered by who you watch it with.
Rated 11 Jan 2010
doctor7doctor7
Rated 24 Feb 2007
69
50th
Too long for the quality it delivers. It's a good film but for 3 hours long it should be great. So little time is spent learning about Edward's wife and son, obviously to show how little he spent with them, that when they suffer you just don't care about them. This renders all of that subplot, which is probably about an hour in total, pointless. It's sad because everything else in the film is great.
Rated 24 Feb 2007
lucky7lucky7
Rated 03 Jun 2008
89
68th
good movie. kind of boring but it has matt damon and the other actors are good too. slow paced but very captivating.
Rated 03 Jun 2008
naurunauru
Rated 19 Apr 2009
15
10th
I wonder if being a spy is actually as boring as this film. Damon seems to just shift his eyes from side to side for two hours, Angelina Jolie cries a bit and then it's over. What a waste. Go watch The Company instead if you're looking for a cerebral yet intense chronicle of the CIA.
Rated 19 Apr 2009
glm01glm01
Rated 18 Sep 2013
61
24th
60.500
Rated 18 Sep 2013
draven88draven88
Rated 05 Jul 2009
70
4th
snooze fest till the chick gets thrown out of the plane
Rated 05 Jul 2009
jherman89Jherman89
Rated 05 Jul 2007
73
62nd
Doesn't keep you immersed in the story; The Good Shepard drags a good twenty minutes too much...
Rated 05 Jul 2007
tathieltathiel
Rated 02 Sep 2008
79
60th
Interesting story, unfortunately boringly adapted. Especially Matt Damon's performance is a little bit disappointing.
Rated 02 Sep 2008
eric_janeric-jan
Rated 26 Jan 2009
65
30th
CIA story. Great actors, and better than expected (as the ratings aren't very good). Somehow doesn't stick though.
Rated 26 Jan 2009
ytadelYtadel
Rated 28 Dec 2006
3
28th
It's an interesting story but it's incredibly dry and thus just a little bit boring. Also, Matt Damon was directed into wooden oblivion. John Turturro rocks though.
Rated 28 Dec 2006
tracx1007tracx1007
Rated 08 Sep 2007
30
37th
most boring movie.....ever
Rated 08 Sep 2007
silencersilencer
Rated 12 Jul 2007
54
18th
Quite boring and long, but not as much.
Rated 12 Jul 2007
paxtenebraepaxtenebrae
Rated 25 Jan 2007
72
13th
Watching Matt Damon's character degenerate from a bright young poet into a souless spook was facinating if somewhat sickening. Many of the performances struck me as lukewarm, though the movie certainly proved to me once again that Matt Damon is one of the better people working in Hollywood today.
Rated 25 Jan 2007
sharpSharp
Rated 27 Jun 2012
90
63rd
Unfairly maligned at the time of its release. Not perfect but entirely worthwhile.
Rated 27 Jun 2012
mfidler1mfidler1
Rated 28 Jul 2009
72
37th
Long and drawn out, this movie was sorta interesting. Had it been shorter, this could have been pretty good. Im giving it props though cause I know the kid who was waiter #2 or w/e.
Rated 28 Jul 2009
djfntstquedjfntstque
Rated 08 Mar 2007
60
27th
Quality production across the board, but the movie sorely needs more espionage, less family turmoil (who cares?) and a new resolution. I'm holding out for the longer version.
Rated 08 Mar 2007
realmacgyverRealMacgyver
Rated 01 Jan 2009
70
54th
Interesting film that has its moments, but its REALLY slow so if you can't sit for nearly 3 hours give it a miss. The first chunk is especially tedious.
Rated 01 Jan 2009
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 21 Nov 2010
20
41st
"Ostensibly the untold story of the birth of the C.I.A., Robert De Niro's film is really the most mundane psychological profile of the year." - Ed Gonzalez
Rated 21 Nov 2010
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 25 Feb 2007
65
73rd
Very good.
Rated 25 Feb 2007
itsatrippitsatripp
Rated 19 Jul 2011
0
3rd
the absolute most boring movie going experience I've ever had
Rated 19 Jul 2011
walkenrollWalkenRoll
Rated 29 Apr 2012
70
43rd
Decent. Probably won't watch it again though. Joe Pesci had a good scene. Eddie Redmayne, who played his son, was miscast. I hated him, simply because he was 20 years old and acted as though he was 9 or 10. And after a decent revelation towards the end, they ruined it with a hilarious 'assassination' sequence.
Rated 29 Apr 2012
big_lemonsBig Lemons
Rated 04 May 2008
78
32nd
Intriguing and relevant at points, yet ultimately crippled by it's shambling pace and constantly depressing tone. Damon gives a pretty good performance.
Rated 04 May 2008
coltmcncoltmcn
Rated 17 Mar 2008
76
70th
Grabbed by it being about the CIA but not all stylish and spy stuff. Jolie meow.
Rated 17 Mar 2008
glmglm
Rated 01 Jan 2011
58
25th
57.500
Rated 01 Jan 2011
inelukiineluki
Rated 07 Jan 2007
72
45th
Solid movie that really outlines the involvement and commitment necessary for the CIA. A little sentimental at times, but Damon is fantastic.
Rated 07 Jan 2007
jarmannJarmann
Rated 05 Oct 2008
78
61st
A great case-study, and Damon does a good job as the boring man in a grey suit.
Rated 05 Oct 2008
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 27 Nov 2008
62
65th
okay movie
Rated 27 Nov 2008
markkermodemarkkermode
Rated 09 Jan 2009
1
0th
"It's well built but the Matt Damon character remains blank and too young to be convincing."
Rated 09 Jan 2009
achayanAchayan
Rated 25 Mar 2012
77
53rd
The film takes on the daunting task of exploring an interesting dimension of history. A little more discipline in the direction of the story could have improved the film. The characters give the film a Robert Ludlum feel. I wished at the ending that the film was made in two or three parts. Alas! its only the dumber movies that are made into trilogies. Generally, the filmmaking does not feel crass but not offering much out of the ordinary. History and conspiracy buffs don't miss it.
Rated 25 Mar 2012
sockmanSockman
Rated 12 Feb 2007
32
17th
The parts of this movie I enjoyed most involved the cryptic tape recording and the mystery of who was speaking on it. Since this occurs near the beginning, I assumed the rest of the film would follow suit. But this is not an espionage thriller, it's a character study, which is fine, but Damon's stoic performance made the character uninteresting for me. It's certainly a well made film, I actually wish I had enjoyed it more, but it just wasn't there for me.
Rated 12 Feb 2007
bakcheiabakcheia
Rated 06 Jan 2013
50
38th
boring
Rated 06 Jan 2013
thewolf913TheWolf913
Rated 14 Jan 2007
77
52nd
Not as bad as some reviews. (but for someone out there) It is no 65...
Rated 14 Jan 2007
uniquenameUniqueName
Rated 17 Jan 2009
81
65th
A bot too slow but not bad at all.
Rated 17 Jan 2009
kgbelliveaukgbelliveau
Rated 17 Dec 2009
70
26th
Weird, long and boring, still gets a 70 because of Matt Damon.
Rated 17 Dec 2009
joelwatchesmoviesjoelwatchesmovies
Rated 25 Mar 2015
4
12th
The slow and brooding nature of the movie is in itself attractive, but it drags down the film when paired with a plot that is consistently difficult to latch onto. Damon is excellent, and his character's uncomfortable family drama provides some engaging moments, but the central CIA birth-story fails to connect on a character level (despite a good cast) or a story level (despite an intriguing premise), making the film a chore to get through, especially considering its lengthy run time.
Rated 25 Mar 2015
chakravochakravo
Rated 24 Jul 2008
50
6th
Pretty damn boring. Matt Damon was pretty wooden...makes me long for the Matt Damon of The Talented Mr. Ripley. Now that's some good shit.
Rated 24 Jul 2008
paulofilmopaulofilmo
Rated 07 Apr 2008
64
20th
I've just stumbled back onto this page for some reason. I can't remember a single thing about this film.
Rated 07 Apr 2008

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