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IMDbPro

The Good German

  • 20062006
  • RR
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
25K
YOUR RATING
The Good German (2006)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Bros. Pictures
Play trailer0:32
9 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Mystery
  • Romance
While in post-war Berlin to cover the Potsdam Conference, an American military journalist is drawn into a murder investigation that involves his former mistress and his driver.While in post-war Berlin to cover the Potsdam Conference, an American military journalist is drawn into a murder investigation that involves his former mistress and his driver.While in post-war Berlin to cover the Potsdam Conference, an American military journalist is drawn into a murder investigation that involves his former mistress and his driver.
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
25K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Steven Soderbergh
  • Writers
    • Paul Attanasio(screenplay)
    • Joseph Kanon(novel)
  • Stars
    • George Clooney
    • Cate Blanchett
    • Tobey Maguire
Top credits
  • Director
    • Steven Soderbergh
  • Writers
    • Paul Attanasio(screenplay)
    • Joseph Kanon(novel)
  • Stars
    • George Clooney
    • Cate Blanchett
    • Tobey Maguire
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 187User reviews
    • 186Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos9

    The Good German
    Trailer 0:32
    The Good German
    The Good German
    Trailer 0:32
    The Good German
    The Good German
    Clip 0:50
    The Good German
    The Good German
    Clip 1:14
    The Good German
    The Good German
    Clip 0:57
    The Good German
    The Good German
    Clip 1:07
    The Good German
    The Good German
    Interview 0:33
    The Good German
    The Good German
    Interview 0:31
    The Good German
    The Good German
    Interview 0:34
    The Good German

    Photos132

    George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, and Tobey Maguire in The Good German (2006)
    George Clooney in The Good German (2006)
    Tobey Maguire in The Good German (2006)
    Cate Blanchett in The Good German (2006)
    George Clooney in The Good German (2006)
    Cate Blanchett in The Good German (2006)
    George Clooney and Dave Power in The Good German (2006)
    George Clooney in The Good German (2006)
    Cate Blanchett in The Good German (2006)
    Cate Blanchett in The Good German (2006)
    Tobey Maguire in The Good German (2006)
    George Clooney and Cate Blanchett in The Good German (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    George Clooney
    George Clooney
    • Jake Geismeras Jake Geismer
    Cate Blanchett
    Cate Blanchett
    • Lena Brandtas Lena Brandt
    Tobey Maguire
    Tobey Maguire
    • Tullyas Tully
    Beau Bridges
    Beau Bridges
    • Colonel Mulleras Colonel Muller
    Tony Curran
    Tony Curran
    • Dannyas Danny
    Leland Orser
    Leland Orser
    • Bernieas Bernie
    Jack Thompson
    Jack Thompson
    • Congressman Breimeras Congressman Breimer
    Robin Weigert
    Robin Weigert
    • Hanneloreas Hannelore
    Ravil Isyanov
    Ravil Isyanov
    • General Sikorskyas General Sikorsky
    Christian Oliver
    Christian Oliver
    • Emil Brandtas Emil Brandt
    Dave Power
    Dave Power
    • Lieutenant Schaefferas Lieutenant Schaeffer
    Don Pugsley
    Don Pugsley
    • Guntheras Gunther
    Dominic Comperatore
    Dominic Comperatore
    • Levias Levi
    John Roeder
    John Roeder
    • Generalas General
    J. Paul Boehmer
    J. Paul Boehmer
    • British Press Aideas British Press Aide
    Igor Korosec
    • Russian Soldieras Russian Soldier
    Boris Kievsky
    Boris Kievsky
    • Russian Soldieras Russian Soldier
    Vladimir Kulikov
    • Russian Soldieras Russian Soldier
    • Director
      • Steven Soderbergh
    • Writers
      • Paul Attanasio(screenplay)
      • Joseph Kanon(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was shot as if it had been made in 1945. Only studio back lots, sets and local Los Angeles locations were used. No radio microphones were used, the film was lit with only incandescent lights and period lenses were used on the cameras. The actors were directed to perform in a presentational, stage style. The only allowance was the inclusion of nudity, violence and cursing which would have been forbidden by the Production Code.
    • Goofs
      Tully wears a hat with a silver border trim. This is an officer's hat, but Tully is clearly enlisted.
    • Quotes

      Lena Brandt: An affair has more rules than a marriage.

    • Crazy credits
      All the logos appear in black and white, while the Warner Brothers logo appears in the forties old style
    • Connections
      Edited from A Foreign Affair (1948)
    • Soundtracks
      Somebody Else Is Taking My Place
      Written by Bob Ellsworth, Dick Howard and Russ Morgan

      Performed by William Marsh, Chris Ross, Johnny Britt and Gary Stockdale

    User reviews187

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Not-so-good German
    A clever look: imitation vintage B-movie in black and white; Steven Soderbergh's appropriate, artful gimmick for this film set in Berlin in the immediate aftermath of WWII.

    Cate Blanchett turns in an apt theatrical performance given "The Bad German's" archly retro conceit. As the film's mother/whore femme fatale, Cate is sphinx-like, world-weary and made up like a drag queen at Mardi Gras. George Clooney, meanwhile, turns in his routine performance that is altogether too modern and casual. Put him in scrubs and he's ready again for the ER. Together, they create no chemistry nor any other natural science. Toby McGuire, as a sleazy, black-marketing GI, is so painfully hammy you'll find yourself begging for him to stop.

    The storyline is awkwardly developed and unnecessarily opaque, its characters cold and remote. There's really nobody to cheer for or identify with; no emotions to hook us into this world. When was the last time that international intrigue, on-screen, was so unintriguing? It's too bad we've been served such an exciting cinematic look -- an overly lit, noir-like one -- only as window dressing on a story as bleak and dreary as the blitzkrieged landscapes on view.
    helpful•121
    50
    • char treuse
    • Jan 24, 2007

    FAQ1

    • Is this movie based on a true story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 19, 2007 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site (Germany)
      • Warner Bros. (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • El buen alemán
    • Filming locations
      • California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Sunset Gower Studios
      • Warner Bros.
      • Section Eight
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $32,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,308,696
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $76,817
      • Dec 17, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,914,908
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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