(M) The Good German (Steven Soderbergh, 2006) Grade: B
This murder mystery starring George Clooney and Cate Blanchett is Soderbergh’s tribute to filmmakers of the ’40s, particularly Michael Curtiz, whom Soderbergh referenced for such films as Casablanca and Mildred Pierce. Good German itself is entertaining, the black-and-white cinematography is gorgeous and the acting is superb, especially Blanchett, who has had a busy year with Babel and Notes on a Scandal. But this film is really nothing more than pure entertainment, good for what it is but nothing else.