Saw this over the weekend with the in-laws.  At 2h 48m, it’s partially an exercise in stamina.  The sheer length conspired with the material—the hazy beginnings of the CIA and international espionage from WWII to Bay of Pigs—to make it a daunting watch indeed.  However, it never dragged or felt overwritten.  I had a number of questions related to the plot at the end of the movie; some of that is part of the genre, of course, but too much was left with little more than a knowing look and foreboding music.

Still, it was a good watch.  A number of the supporting characters (John Turturro and Alec Baldwin) were very good.  Angelina Jolie’s acting was not as distracting as I thought it would be; I wish I could say the same for De Niro’s character, who was just bland.  Could’ve been great, but it was worth the time investment to get a good story.  Oh, and Matt Damon as someone with the expression range of a gargoyle: fabulous casting!