Oscar-winning actor Waltz makes his feature directorial debut with this tense crime drama based loosely on real-life events. Not only is Waltz behind the camera, but he also takes center stage, with Georgetown quickly becoming his own show. Indeed Annette Bening and even Redgrave are swept to the side to make space for his familiar brand of maniacal charm. While his is undoubtedly the most intriguing character, the movie never quite gets to grips with the whys, allowing itself to be bogged down in confusing details of the hows that only serve to push viewers further from the answers.

Redgrave's Elsa holds just enough power, her sharp eye seeing but not always comprehending in a role that's impact could easily have been bolstered in the screenplay. Bening, though her screen presence can never be denied, is given very little to work with. What the film does do well is recreate the world of Washington's political elite; the desperation simmering just beneath the surface of the games, the arrogance, and the social extravagance. At the heart is Ulrich's cuckoo in the nest, having flown in just under the radar, it's a waiting game for him to make his push.