The Good German
Based on the novel by Joseph Kanon, "The Good German" takes place in the ruins of post-World War II Berlin, where U.S. Army war correspondent Jake Geismer (George Clooney) becomes embroiled with Lena Brandt (Cate Blanchett), a former lover whose missing husband is the object of a manhunt by both the American and Russian armies. Intrigue mounts as Jake tries to uncover the secrets Lena may be hiding in her desperation to get herself and her husband out of Berlin. Tully (Tobey Maguire), a soldier in the American army motor pool assigned to drive Jake around Berlin, has black market connections that may be Lena's way out - or lead them all into even darker territory. Jake soon discovers that it is nearly impossible to unearth the truth in a time and place where people are still reeling from the horrors of the war, desperate to salvage their humanity in the shadow of the often unbearable knowledge of what they did to survive.
a respectable attempt to travel back in time... @NRG2BRN
...but doesn't quite pull it off. Shot on backlots with classic equipment and theatrical acting, Soderbergh makes a film noir for the "they don't make them like they used to crowd" and succeeded in that respect. Because, unlike "Casablanca", this film's obvious inspiration, it isn't as good as they used to make them. The plot is overly complex and remains on the same note throughout. It pace is what makes this film hard to watch, as it's single speed is difficult to handle when the story should be accelerating. Great to look at, but a tragicly failed experiment in recapturing a lost era of filmmaking.
A good period piece that fizzles in the end @rob6816
It has great cinematography and is convincing enough to make you believe that it was made in the 1940's, but too many twists and turns over does the film. In the end there is a Casablanca rip off of a goodbye. I still give it three stars though because it kept me glued until the end.
<3 @FuzzyPorcupine
love this movie. amazingly awesome ;)
The Good German @j 9
A well constructed period piece, with solid performances, and a tight story. I disagree that the film had to many twists and turns, the complicated plot was a pleasure. I'm quite tired of stories that have either major inconsistencies or are so simplistic that you can predict the ending after 10 minutes in. The ending was more hat tip to Casablanca, than rip off. The final scene contrasted sharply, with the hopeful yet bittersweet tone of Casablanca.
Horrible waste of Money and Time! @poetsanddreamers
Though it appeared to be an ideal journey back to film noir, black and white and World War II, Good German was a plot-less waste of time unsalveagable by the acting of Blanchett, Clooney, or anyone on the crew. Don't buy it--you'll regret it!