Review of The Good German (2006) by Shannon N — 01 Jan 2008

Those who rent this movie in the expectation that it will be a plot driven thriller are sure to be disappointed! It was not Soderbergh's intent to come off as a second rate Hitchcock (like DePalma for example).

Instead this movie is a visual stunner that recreates the look and feel of Post-War Berlin very faithfully. It also delves gently into the murky philosophical waters about who bears responsibility for the crimes of the Third Reich.

Cate Blanchett turns in her usual solid performance, but for me the standout was Tobey Maguire in his limited screentime losing his "boy next door" image of Peter Parker and playing against type. Clooney is okay, but my sense of his character is that he is really there solely to drive the plot.

Overall, this film is a visual treat with some interesting and subtle questions to ask, albeit a little slow.