Reviews

The Good German

3

Since popping back onto Hollywood’s radar with his Out Of Sight/Erin Brockovich/ Traffic triple-whammy, Steven Soderbergh has enforced a “one for them, one for me” policy, interspersing three Ocean’s with such experimental fare as Full Frontal, Bubble and this maverick, monochromatic post- WW2 rom-thriller. Paying painstaking homage to period style (stock footage, blatant rear projection, even vintage cameras and lenses), the director aims for Casablanca with contemporary relevance and added swearing. George Clooney’s journo Jake returns to war-blitzed Berlin to track down married former flame Lena (Cate Blanchett), finding himself entangled in the hunt for her missing scientist spouse. Though the acting’s mannered, both leads ooze old-school matinee glamour. Meanwhile, the winks at The Third Man are slyly enjoyable enough for readers of Joseph Kanon’s engaging source novel to forgive the identity-switch of the eponymous German. Extras unavailable at press time.

Film Details

Try This...

Watch the trailer

Leave a comment or submit your review and rating