Since the only other comment on here is one of the dumbest reviews ever written, I feel obligated to chime in. This is based on one of Kurt Vonnegut's lesser-known books by the same title as the film. While it has a little of Vonnegut's unique sense of humor, most of the story is deeply serious and made to be thought-provoking. The tagline is one of the main overarching themes, "be careful what you pretend to be, because you become what you pretend to be". I'm a sucker for morally-grey philosophical works, and this is no exception. The basic premise is intriguing, and both the book and the film do a great job making the audience enter the headspace of the main character. If you're wondering if you should feel sympathy for him, good job, that's the point. While I enjoyed the book overall more than the film, this was a mostly faithful translation to the screen and very well done. If you came here for an action-heavy spy thriller...pick a different movie. This is slow and cerebral, far from a typical Hollywood blockbuster. (Minor spoiler warning) I'll conclude with the most memorable quote from the story, in the novel's wording since the movie changed it slightly. For context, the main character is forced to say something nice about the leader of a racist group, and he thinks long and hard about what to say. He can't bring himself to actually praise the guy, but it has to sound like a compliment or he'll be exposed as a faker. He comes up with the perfect line. "A true patriot thinks with their heart, not with their mind" (let that one sink in)

I watched this for one reason only: Sheryl Lee. She shows up, she's nude, [spoiler]then she is unceremoniously killed offscreen. I almost shut off the movie after that. Fortunately, I never give up on a movie, because it turns out she was still alive - what a twist! But wait, she did die, this is her twin sister. But wait, she's really a spy! My head is spinning.[/spoiler] What one should know about _Mother Night_ is that it may be a spy movie, but it is not a tense thriller taking place during world war two. While it does start in nazi Germany, this is a drama that follows the life of an elderly Howard Campbell (Nolte). While the movie is well made, I just didn't get what the point was. It felt like there was supposed to be a message or maybe there just needed to be. With this being a serious drama, there were some out-of-place funny moments, involving a group of neo-nazis who behaved like The Three Stooges. Very out of place for what is otherwise such a weighty story. Overall, the movie is pretty good. Sort of slow. Oddly cryptic... as if to keep the audience guessing as to what is true. The ending didn't sit well with me, I thought it a rather strange choice. I recommend this to fans of Sheryl Lee doing a German accent, since she is, in fact, German.