Review of The Good German (2006) by Jamie C — 26 Nov 2011

Toby McGuire can't act. George Clooney's character starts walking around in circles, showing up literally EVERYWHERE. Certain moments feel forced in their attempt to emulate Casablanca and The Third Man...but I can't say I didn't enjoy this film. It's stylish, beautifully shot, most of the acting is tolerable, and the use of archival footage fits in almost seamlessly lending the atmosphere a convincing enough weight.

Mostly this film is an example of miscalculation, aiming for a very narrow mark that resides between very obvious influences. Sometimes hitting in a satisfying way, often not, making much of it feel like a sideways remake.