As most people who went to see this movie, I ignored the reviews and went to watch this film. I figured since Clooney was in it, there would have to be some value that others were missing that I might find in this film. The beginning starts out with a couple twists outside a lakeside cabin in the dead of winter. You then have to wait, and wait and wait again for this film to pick up speed and it never does. There were sceeens of dead silence, which tended to indicate something was about to happen -- not the case. Instead NOTHING HAPPENS. You have to wonder what was going through the studio's mind when reading the script and budgeting for a film that obviously cost a lot to produce. The have numerous European locations that do in fact give a wonderful backdrop, highly skilled actors, and it appears there was no story to go along with it. I honestly (not joking at all) have home movies (PG rated) that are more entertaining than this.
3/4ths of the way into it the director did a great job with the story line and the plot as well as setting and special effects. The problem I had was the ending. And without ruining it for those of you who have not seen it, it came across as too easy of a way out for such a complex plot. I expected much more. Unlike Departed where you felt revenge was a perfect ending with the justified murder of one of the characters, or Casino when the whole enterprise came to a crashing end, such was not the case with this film, and when you see it you'll know what I am talking about. I hate scoring this film with one star but being honest with what I expected from this film I think it's appropriate.