Robert De Niro’s 2006 espionage film The Good Shepherd left him feeling anxious throughout production. Directing and starring in the film was considerably more demanding than his 1993 debut A Bronx Tale, with a much larger budget and greater expectations.

The Good Shepherd cost approximately $80 million, compared with A Bronx Tale’s $10 million, and co-starred Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie. Critics were divided, with some praising it as an important spy film while others found it slow, and it remains De Niro’s most recent directing project.