The Good German

MPAA Rating:

for language, violence and some sexual content

Moral Rating:

_____

E-mail this page to a friend

Moviemaking Quality:

Primary Audience:

Adults

Genre:

Thriller, Romance, Drama

Length:

1 hr. 45 min.

Year of Release:

2006

USA Release:

December 15, 2006 (limited); December 22, 2006 (expand wide)

Relevant Issues

About murder in the Bible

What are the consequences of sexual immorality? Answer

Learn how to make your love the best it can be. Christian answers to questions about sex, marriage, sexual addictions, and more. Valuable resources for Christian couples, singles and pastors.

Featuring:	George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Tobey Maguire, Robin Weigert
Director:	Steven Soderbergh (“Ocean’s Eleven”)
Producer:	Frederic Brost, Ben Cosgrove, Gregory Jacobs, Steven Soderbergh, Ben Waisbren, Lionel Wigram
Distributor:	Warner Bros.

“If war is hell then what comes after? / Every heart has its secrets, some more dangerous than others.”

Producer’s Synopsis: “Based on the novel by Joseph Kanon, ‘The Good German’ takes place in the ruins of post-WWII Berlin, where U.S. Army war correspondent Jake Geismar (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.”

ABOUT THE BOOK: “This compelling thriller is both a touching love story and a masterful portrayal of the struggle for geopolitical control of postwar Germany. Network correspondent Jake Geismar, who covered Berlin before the war, has returned to the devastated city, ostensibly to cover the Potsdam Conference but actually to find the woman he loves. Miraculously, Lena Brandt, Jake’s wartime mistress, has survived. However, her mathematician husband is missing, and both the American and Russian intelligence services are hunting him.

When the bullet-ridden body of an American soldier washes up on the shores of Potsdam in front of Jake’s eyes just as Truman, Churchill, and Stalin convene the first postwar conference, Jake is plunged into a maelstrom of intrigue, corruption, and betrayal. A brilliantly evoked portrait of a unique moment in history (the end of one war and the beginning of another), “The Good German” amply fulfills the promise shown by Joseph Kanon in his two earlier novels, Los Alamos and The Prodigal Spy.”

Volunteer reviewer needed for this movie — Request this assignment

Positive—The work of George Clooney has always amazed me! He has done tons of great work but this movie is one of his greatest. His part fits him like a glove. Cate Blanchett did a great job, too, but Toby McGuire should stick to “Spider-Man”! Go see this movie and open your eyes to history not often mentioned!
My Ratings: Offensive / 4½
—John, age 20

Negative*Film spoiler included in this review*

Although I have agreed the film is extremely offensive and give it a negative it is a film I love to hate and hate to love. Very well done BUT VERY foul language for the first half of the film, sex, some nudity, prostitution, and if you are the type (like my wife) that is really disgusted with a woman being punched/abused then don’t watch it. Its just not worth sitting through all that yuck to see a “neat” historic type movie. The film (all black and white) is mixed with original footage of aftermath Berlin—a very cool effect, and the acting is fairly good. We were happy that Tally is killed midway through the show, so we didn’t have to listen to his foul abusive character anymore!
My Ratings: Extremely Offensive / 4
—Trevor, age 40