Celluloid Heroes

What are you going to do, Edward? Save the world?

The Good Shepherd uses the classic form of the espionage thriller to tell the story of the birth of the Central Intelligence Agency through the eyes of one character, Edward Wilson, himself a composite of several real figures in the early days of the American intelligence community. Despite its length, deliberate pacing and a central character that is not particularly sympathetic, this film is a compelling account of a crucial, little known part of American history.

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Your name is Clerk and my name is Sir or Boss if you can manage. And if I ever catch you in my office again, you’ll be pissing purple.

Spy movies basically come in two flavors. There are the action movies with the espionage background, like the Bond and Bourne movies, and then there are the movies that focus on the more mundane aspects of spy craft. These can be just as exciting, in their own way, as the high-octane actioner, if done correctly. Breach was done correctly.

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