How can they take such talented actors, such potentially exciting material, and turn it into such a boring movie?

Despite an all star cast of actors (including, but not limited to Matt Damon as Edward Wilson, Angelina Jolie as his wife Clover AKA Margaret, Alec Baldwin, Robert De Niro, and William Hurt) there is a serious lack of acting. Most of the stars might have as well faxed their lines in and have them read while a cardboard cut out was being filmed. We have seen Matt Damon provide outstanding action and adventure as Jason Bourne, but none of his abilities are seen in this film.

The film covers snippets of Edward’s life, from a young boy, through Yale and the Skull & Bones society, his time in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in WW II, and on into the Central Intelligence Agency. Edward may have been patterned after J Edgar Hoover, whose private files on politicians and others gave him unprecedented influence.

There is a subplot about who caused the Bay of Pigs debacle in Cuba. It could not have been an institutional failure of the CIA, so the search for the source of the single leak that caused the failure consumes much of the film.

Edward does provide an excellent example of how not to be a husband and father.

Edward is advised to “Get out, while you still have a soul”, but it is too late. He never exhibits any human feelings such as compassion, love, honor, or loyalty to anyone.

For a film that lasts 2 and ¾ hours, it is about 2 hours too long.

Recommended: No

Movie Mood: Die-hard Fans Only
Viewing Method: Sneak Preview at My Local Theater
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Everything