Screening Log
This new site feature is a collective effort to summarize our viewing habits. Occasionally, you will find titles here that are coming to a theater near you, in addition to films viewed on television, and even films viewed in piecemeal. The screening log is archived each month; to view past entries select a month in the menu below.
December 2006 activity
Total Log Entries: 74
- Adam (10)
- Chet (0)
- Chiranjit (6)
- Cullen (0)
- David (0)
- Eva (0)
- Evan (0)
- Ian (15)
- Jenny (8)
- Katherine (0)
- Leo (15)
- Megan (0)
- Rumsey (7)
- Teddy (1)
- Thomas (0)
- Victoria (0)
Total Comments: 64
- Pan’s Labyrinth (0)
- Firewall (0)
- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (0)
- Interiors (0)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (0)
- The Kingdom (0)
- The Innocents (0)
- Les anges du peche (0)
- Night at the Museum (0)
- Children of Men (0)
- Dreamgirls (2)
- Invincible (0)
- Babel (15)
- The Good Shepherd (0)
- Scarlet Street (0)
- Little Miss Sunshine (0)
- The Illusionist (1)
- The Good Shepherd (0)
- Mon oncle d’Amerique (0)
- Flying Down To Rio (0)
- Yearning (0)
- The Good Shepherd (1)
- Little Children (4)
- Shortbus (0)
- Clerks II (3)
- Fires On The Plain (0)
- Cape Fear (0)
- Testament d’Orphée (0)
- Miami Vice (0)
- Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (0)
- Curse of the Golden Flower (0)
- Au revoir, les enfants (0)
- Freaks and Geeks (4)
- The Watermelon Woman (0)
- Wanda (0)
- The Wind That Shakes The Barley (0)
- Sayat Nova (0)
- Miami Vice (3)
- El Topo (6)
- Troilus & Cressida (0)
- Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (0)
- Deja Vu (0)
- Inland Empire (0)
- Shock Treatment (3)
- The Holiday (0)
- Inland Empire (0)
- Syndromes and a Century (0)
- The Chinese Boxer (0)
- Volver (0)
- Days of Glory (0)
- Paris, je t’aime (0)
- Frozen City (0)
- Network (0)
- Regular Lovers (0)
- The Double Life of Veronique (0)
- L’Amour fou (0)
- Lost Highway (0)
- McCabe & Mrs. Miller (0)
- Nosferatu the Vampyre (0)
- Le vent de la nuit (0)
- Fresh Air (0)
- In Smog and Thunder (0)
- Sissy Frenchfry (2)
- The Tenants (0)
- Little Children (1)
- Half Nelson (1)
- The History Boys (4)
- Inland Empire (1)
- American Movie (0)
- Hard Eight (2)
- V for Vendetta (5)
- Hearts of Darkness (1)
- Casino Royale (0)
- Borat (5)
Full Archive
The Good Shepherd / USA / 2006
At the risk of having what little critical respect I have accumulated to date immediately revoked, I have to say I wasn’t actually bored by De Niro’s CIA epic. Of course, it’s really the subject matter that held my interest more than the execution of the filmmakers. Actually, the subject matter somehow held my interest in spite of the execution by the filmmakers.
In a similar manner as any De Niro performance and probably as a reflection of the type of men De Niro seeks to profile, The Good Shepherd is fully committed to its grave tone and somber mood and there is a strange consistency to almost every aspect of the film from start to finish. The most notable instance of this unvarying, unwavering dedication is Matt Damon’s uniform performance, which rarely breaks down from conveying anything other than clinical, logical, tedious percision. Most people would be utterly bored by Damon’s acting in this instance, but I marveled at his steadfast approach to his character, considering he doesn’t break form once within the film’s monotonous pace. Damon’s performance is so bland and cold that I doubt I could recommend anyone else attempt such acting (in fact, I wouldn’t recommend anyone try this ever again), but I’m impressed with his ability nonetheless.
Having said all that, this film might be one of the worst displays of casting in the history of film. Someone really has to explain to me why Angelina Jolie was cast in this film. Jolie’s persona is pretty much the embodiment of the modern woman within our present-day cinematic landscape (whether that’s a good thing or not is an entirely different discussion), so I fail to see why we are asking her to act as an archaic housewife, other than to provide Damon with some adequate level of temptation. Add to this ridiculous decision the equally puzzling choice of Billy Crudup (one of my favorite actors) as a British intelligence officer and I’m wondering if they just cast this project based on blindly grabbing at some head-shots. It also doesn’t help that Eddie Redmayne creeps me out. As well, the cast certainly isn’t helped by the make-up department, considering Damon and Jolie look like they could be their son’s siblings.
by Chiranjit Goswami | Source: Universal Pictures 35mm Print
27 Dec 2006 1:33 PM | Submit Comment
