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 Germany accent, since she is, in fact, German.