The Good Shephard showcases De Niro's directing talent

Robert de Niro’s second directorial feature, The Good Shepherd (Universal, €24.99), takes a look (an exhausting one for the viewer) at the OSS (the CIA’s predecessor) with Matt Damon playing Edward Wilson, an idealised Yale student recruited to help his country.

Slowly Wilson changes as his dedication to the agency becomes paramount.

Damon is very convincing in the title role, and de Niro conveys the coldness of an agency where loyalty sometimes means you wouldn’t hesitate to kill your fellow agent.

Unfortunately, there are too many characters, the flashback technique is a trifle off-putting and the film could have benefited from some editing.

A good effort though.

Thriller

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