The Good German (2006)
Beau Bridges, Boris Kievsky, Cate Blanchett
"The Good German" takes place in the ruins of post-WWII Berlin, where U.S. Army war correspondent Jake Geismar becomes embroiled with Lena Brandt, a former lover who is trying to escape her past in the aftermath of the war. Intrigue mounts as Jake tries to uncover the secrets Lena may be hiding in h... (read more) "The Good German" takes place in the ruins of post-WWII Berlin, where U.S. Army war correspondent Jake Geismar becomes embroiled with Lena Brandt, a former lover who is trying to escape her past in the aftermath of the war. Intrigue mounts as Jake tries to uncover the secrets Lena may be hiding in her desperation to get out of Berlin. Tully, a soldier in the American army motor pool assigned to drive Jake around the city, has black market connections that may be Lena's way out--or lead them all into even darker territory.
Flixster Users
Critics
R, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed by:
Steven Soderbergh
Release Date: Dec 15, 2006
DVD Release Date: May 22, 2007
Your Rating
Your Friends' Ratings
No recent reviews.
Flixster User Reviews
The film is too reliant on style and doesn't concentrate on anything else. The plot is weak and the story is dry and boring. Beside the gorgeous black & white cinematography, the only other good thing was Cate Blanchett who as usual gives an outstand... (read more) The film is too reliant on style and doesn't concentrate on anything else. The plot is weak and the story is dry and boring. Beside the gorgeous black & white cinematography, the only other good thing was Cate Blanchett who as usual gives an outstanding performance and a credible portrayal of character.
I like the style that Soderbergh has here with the noir black and white look and feel of a 1940's film but most of the rest of it just doesn't work. It's long, sometimes boring, and a little confusing. Great performances by Clooney, Blanchett, and Ma... (read more) I like the style that Soderbergh has here with the noir black and white look and feel of a 1940's film but most of the rest of it just doesn't work. It's long, sometimes boring, and a little confusing. Great performances by Clooney, Blanchett, and Maguire in a supporting role but that's about it. Decent movie.
I am quite surprised about this film as it was made as imitating everything as it was actually filmed in 1930s to 1950s. The angel of the lighting falling on actors' faces, the setting, the music even the storyline, the ending are all similar as thos... (read more) I am quite surprised about this film as it was made as imitating everything as it was actually filmed in 1930s to 1950s. The angel of the lighting falling on actors' faces, the setting, the music even the storyline, the ending are all similar as those we would see in films of 1930s to 1950s. This film makes me want to pick up my textbook studied in university for film history. I almost forget everything that I learned, but now thanks to this film, I would take the director's effort and desire to make this film as to admire and respect the out-dated film-makers.
George Clooney, a 21st century actor, playing a part in the 1940s, in a film done in the style like the 1950s. An interesting combonation, but does not seem to live up to his best works.
Wonderful use of the black and white cinematography, and the u... (read more) George Clooney, a 21st century actor, playing a part in the 1940s, in a film done in the style like the 1950s. An interesting combonation, but does not seem to live up to his best works.
Wonderful use of the black and white cinematography, and the use of light and shadows. It is a shame that many films are no longer done this way. Yet again, the style has out lived itâs use, and is hard to go back to a style that many film lovers do not respect or understand itâs true meaning.
For their 5th film together, director Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney made a war film based upon Joseph Kanon's novel, but it would be a throwback to the war films of old, made under the old Hollywood studio system in the 1940's, in black and wh... (read more) For their 5th film together, director Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney made a war film based upon Joseph Kanon's novel, but it would be a throwback to the war films of old, made under the old Hollywood studio system in the 1940's, in black and white as well. It's a bold idea, and it looks as if it might work at one point, but it could have benefitted from a better plot. Set in the days after the end of World War II in Berlin during the Potsdam negotiations between Churchill, Truman and Stalin, American war correspondent Jake Geismar (Clooney) finds himself investigating the sudden murder of his driver Patrick Tully (Tobey Maguire), who was involved with the black market and was in posession of 100,000 German reichsmarks. Plus, he was in league with Geismar's old flame Lena Brandt (Cate Blanchett), a German Jew whose husband Emil Brandt (Christian Oliver) is being searched for by Soviet and Allied forces in Berlin. It's a complex film, and it differed from the book alot, when it didn't really need to. The cast are all top-notch, and the decision to film it on equipment used in the 1940's and on Hollywood studio backlots was a brave idea. But, it could have been alot better, the plot is confused and the characters aren't really identifiable straight away. Better luck next time Steven... :P
Nice attempt at a modern noir based on the same sort of tempalte as the third man. Good performances all round but it dosen't quite catch the tone and as a result comes across a someone playing at making a noir on occasions.
Black and wihite, now that's different; reminiscent of the old black and white mystery movies of the 30's and 40's. Well acted by Clooney, althoug the story itself I found a little dry.
A decent stylistic attempt (throw back to 40's & 50's black & white films) by Soderbergh about an American journalist's attempt to win safe passage for his former German "the good german" lover and the secrets of her past life. Toby McGuire does a gr... (read more) A decent stylistic attempt (throw back to 40's & 50's black & white films) by Soderbergh about an American journalist's attempt to win safe passage for his former German "the good german" lover and the secrets of her past life. Toby McGuire does a great job being a super bad ass.
I liked it. I think Cate Blanchett is the best part of the movie. Fantastic acting on her part. Love that it's Casablanca-ish in style. Love the actual post WWII footage and I love the 'darkness' & the use of shadows. Very mysterious that way. It's a... (read more) I liked it. I think Cate Blanchett is the best part of the movie. Fantastic acting on her part. Love that it's Casablanca-ish in style. Love the actual post WWII footage and I love the 'darkness' & the use of shadows. Very mysterious that way. It's an interesting plot and Clooney's not bad to look at either. Poor guy is always getting his ass kicked though! Oh and I still HATE Tobey Macguire. Yep, there's a "here's looking at you kid" moment -- sorta! Great little twist there....
I disliked this movie from the outset. I made it through only about 30 minutes. All style, no substance. And the characters' performances were excruciatingly remote. The script was no help.
Critic Reviews
There's a line between homage and mimicry, and Soderbergh has crossed it.full review
The crucial key elements that every vintage Warners film had as a matter of course are lacking here. The story isn't gripping or even coherent. There is no real romance. There's mystery, but only in a plot sense -- i.e., what's going on?full review
The Good German cannibalizes the cool, cynical look of those great old movies, but it's too spiritually vacant to duplicate their soul.full review
With The Good German, Soderbergh -- generally a terrific and creative filmmaker -- apes a style, and a way of seeing, that he clearly doesn't understand. It feels like a hit to the stomach.full review
Technically stunning but narratively and thematically hollow.full review
Steven Soderbergh is usually an inspired chameleon, perfectly suiting his style to his content. But The Good German is an ambitious miss.full review
[Soderbergh] has such a gusto for movie history that he all but forgets that the films to which he pays homage were not themselves exercises in pure style.full review
This is Soderbergh's show, and a haunting and hypnotic show it is.full review
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
All Rotten Tomatoes content is used under license from Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes, Certified Fresh, and the Tomatometer are the trademarks of Incfusion Corporation, d/b/a Rotten Tomatoes, a subsidiary of IGN Entertainment, Inc.
Cast
Bookmark This App
Make it easy to check out new movies! Click +Bookmark Movies at the bottom of your screen.
- Get Flixster
- iPhone (free!)
- Myspace
- Flixster.com
- iGoogle
- Settings
- Profile Settings
- My Account
- Help















