Edward Wilson, the only witness to his father's suicide and member of the Skull and Bones Society while a student at Yale, is a morally upright young man who values honor and discretion, qualities that help him to be recruited for a career in the newly founded OSS. His dedication to his work does not come without a price though, leading him to sacrifice his ideals and eventually his family.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 2 wins & 13 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
The mesmerizing espionage thriller chronicles the inception and ascendancy of the CIA.
– Claudia Puig,
USA Today,
22 Dec 2006
rotten:
De Niro seems to be good with actors but less successful at stringing a movie together, and keeping it together, scene by scene.
– Stephanie Zacharek,
Salon.com,
30 Dec 2006
fresh:
No previous American film has ventured into this still largely unknown territory with such authority and emotional detachment. For this reason alone, The Good Shepherd is must-see viewing.
– Andrew Sarris,
New York Observer,
3 Jan 2007
rotten:
De Niro juggles the myriad big-picture parts with reserved professionalism; it's the central character, ironically, that's the movie's Achilles' heel.
– Joshua Rothkopf,
Time Out New York,
3 Feb 2007
rotten:
The film's watchable enough if you're indulgent of its flaws but at 167 minutes it does tax the patience.