Crowe got second billing and they gave the limelight to DiCaprio instead...that's a great idea. that means that, as usual, DiCaprio is going to shine doing his "this is how you become a different person" thing and Crowe is going to actually act and not just try to hog the limelight.
The result is a tense and very well acted film.
It should have been a Masterpiece but...it was released in 2008 and America wanted pure escapism then, not tense spy thrillers that reflect the reality of two long endless wars...and it was released a little too close to The Good Shepard.
In fact, it felt a lot like the Good Shepard set in the modern era.
It was the Good Shepard with more action.
It was The Good Shepard with better acting, but only just.
So, if it waited another 2 years, we would have had a great film in a time when we were slowly starting to relax a little again.
If it waited 4 years, The Good Shepard would have been a distant memory and the shady CIA boss character would have seemed fresher.
Don't misunderstand, Crowe actually acts again and DiCaprio shines as usual, you will totally enjoy this movie.
The flaws are not its own, but rather a result of bad timing, pure and simple.
It should have been more, but the zietgiest wasn't there yet.