Many critics have praised him for extracting strong performances from his cast. There is Alec Baldwin who first approaches Edward in the shadows of the Yale campus; Michael Gambon who plays Edward's English professor accused of being a closet Nazi sympathiser; and William Hurt as a top agency official whose integrity is under fire. But the most solid performance in the film comes from Matt Damon.
'It's a testament to Damon's abilities and his ever-expanding range that he's able to convey any presence at all in the role,' wrote Hollywood Reporter. 'Buttoned-down with his glasses and his proper little hat, he blends in and reveals nothing. That's why he has such an exceptional career, which ranges from World War II through the Bay of Pigs.'
Damon has cited his primary reason for taking up the film was the opportunity to work with De Niro, as a director and as an actor. 'As an actor, Bob (De Niro) is the guy everyone worships,' he confesses. 'To have him with you and to have him direct you, you feel like you are in great hands.'
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