Greetings again from the darkness. Always the cameraman first, director Steven Soderbergh plays homage to the films of the 30's and 40's (especially "Casablanca") with this black and white telling of Joseph Kanon's novel.
Soderbergh is really the star here as his use of fixed camera and boom mic's combined with stunning lighting provide some insight into what film-making of that era and this era combined would be. As in the past, the B&W does more for some actors than others. George Clooney looks good (big surprise there) and Tobey Maguire looks impish and goofy. As a matter of fact, as fun as it is to see Batman and Spider-Man on camera together, Maguire played his character so over the top, that I was actually relieved at his road traveled.
Proving to be a near reincarnation of Marlene Dietrich or Greta Garbo, Cate Blanchett really shines here as the misguided heroine. Although she has few actual lines of dialogue, her "look" is so wonderful, it matters little. I kept waiting for her to break out in a song while in the tavern.
Decent support work provided the rarely seen Beau Bridges and veteran Jack Thompson are a nice touch and the actual news footage of the war parade and the summit with Truman, Stalin and Churchill is more than a bit creepy.
The only thing preventing the film from a higher rating is the almost lame, near boring story. We never connect with Clooney or Blanchett and feel like cheering when Maguire's lines mercifully end. A bit more of the Bridges character and an earlier explanation of Blanchett's motivation would have gone a long way in drawing the audience in.
Soderbergh is really the star here as his use of fixed camera and boom mic's combined with stunning lighting provide some insight into what film-making of that era and this era combined would be. As in the past, the B&W does more for some actors than others. George Clooney looks good (big surprise there) and Tobey Maguire looks impish and goofy. As a matter of fact, as fun as it is to see Batman and Spider-Man on camera together, Maguire played his character so over the top, that I was actually relieved at his road traveled.
Proving to be a near reincarnation of Marlene Dietrich or Greta Garbo, Cate Blanchett really shines here as the misguided heroine. Although she has few actual lines of dialogue, her "look" is so wonderful, it matters little. I kept waiting for her to break out in a song while in the tavern.
Decent support work provided the rarely seen Beau Bridges and veteran Jack Thompson are a nice touch and the actual news footage of the war parade and the summit with Truman, Stalin and Churchill is more than a bit creepy.
The only thing preventing the film from a higher rating is the almost lame, near boring story. We never connect with Clooney or Blanchett and feel like cheering when Maguire's lines mercifully end. A bit more of the Bridges character and an earlier explanation of Blanchett's motivation would have gone a long way in drawing the audience in.