This film is, at least, 30 minutes too long and suffers from a Writer/Director who is in love with his project so he can't bear to get out the pinking shears. But, unfortunately, a shorter film could not save this one. Structurally it is a mess, with its flashback, within flashbacks, within flashbacks, like a Russian Matryoshka doll!
The most interesting aspect was the films' throwback to those films of the 1960's that had huge casts of top British, German and American actors. In that regard, let's take a look at the cast: Cillian Murphy is outstanding and perfectly suited to the role. I kept thinking that, if this were a different era, this role would be played Montgomery Clift, of whom Murphy reminded me. Matt Damon: ever since Damon became a 'star,' I have found him to be highly overrated. His early work was much better. It was good to see Robert Downey, Jr. Out of those silly Super Hero movies and doing interesting work again. It was good to see Josh Hartnett back in a big movie. Kenneth Branagh is always good and always interesting. Casey Affleck is a good actor who is always better when he is playing sarcastic, or slightly sinister. Also, good to see James Remar ('Dexter'), Tom Conti, Greg Jbara (away from 'Blue Bloods'), Trond Fausa (who was so good in 'Lilyhammer') and Gary Oldman, who nailed Winston Churchill, and now nails Harry Truman.
Someday, someone, may have the courage to make a film that doesn't toe the tired, thread-bare, diktat that the post-war Communist threat was just the fantasy of some right-wing kooks. The post-war Communist threat was very real indeed. Ask Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany. It remains sheer folly to think the USA was not also endangered.
The most interesting aspect was the films' throwback to those films of the 1960's that had huge casts of top British, German and American actors. In that regard, let's take a look at the cast: Cillian Murphy is outstanding and perfectly suited to the role. I kept thinking that, if this were a different era, this role would be played Montgomery Clift, of whom Murphy reminded me. Matt Damon: ever since Damon became a 'star,' I have found him to be highly overrated. His early work was much better. It was good to see Robert Downey, Jr. Out of those silly Super Hero movies and doing interesting work again. It was good to see Josh Hartnett back in a big movie. Kenneth Branagh is always good and always interesting. Casey Affleck is a good actor who is always better when he is playing sarcastic, or slightly sinister. Also, good to see James Remar ('Dexter'), Tom Conti, Greg Jbara (away from 'Blue Bloods'), Trond Fausa (who was so good in 'Lilyhammer') and Gary Oldman, who nailed Winston Churchill, and now nails Harry Truman.
Someday, someone, may have the courage to make a film that doesn't toe the tired, thread-bare, diktat that the post-war Communist threat was just the fantasy of some right-wing kooks. The post-war Communist threat was very real indeed. Ask Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany. It remains sheer folly to think the USA was not also endangered.