Black Book
Director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct, Total Recall) brings his war drama based on long-forgotten true events surrounding the end of World War II. Rachel Stein (Carice van Houten) is a beautiful Jewish woman hiding out in Holland from the Nazis. When her plan to escape goes terribly wrong, she manages to take on a new identity and infiltrate the enemy. But working for both sides takes its toll -- especially when they both turn against her.
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» Reviewed by 7 people
This is a terrific film: part romance, part mystery, part war movie, and much more. Paul Verhoeven goes for authenticity in the mood, costumes, & set design. Additionally, the acting is flawless. This is a movie that holds your interest from start to finish. Highly recommend!- GreenVixen
Film is very formulaic...very Hollywood. Not what I was expecting. The reason why I am saying that this film was very Hollywood was by the fact that it was too glossy, too flashy, little substance, no story, and all about looks. I have a feeling that the writers were confused about what they wanted to write about and how the story would progress. The film doesn't know if it wants to be a spy drama, a romantic story, a holocaust story, or a who-don-it story. Too much was going on during the last 30 mins of the film. The writers also didn't know how it would developed the characters. We are meant to fill sorry for carice about her situation but at times I feel like she didn't even know about her situation from the way the actress was acting.
- grayeyes043
This is one of those movies that sat in my cabinet for several weeks. The reviews were excellent but I don't speak Dutch or German and it is about 2.5 hours long. Moreover, a movie about resistance fighters conspiring against the German army in World War II inevitably involves war scenes that will not be pleasant to watch. The movie is excellent. The action is riveting. The acting is excellent and the character development shows good and bad guys regardless of their nationality or uniform. Dutch actress Carice van Houten is the leading actress playing a more believable version of a female 007 character (Rachel Stein). She sings, has a strong survival instinct, and becomes involved in intrigues for the Nazis and the Dutch resistance to the extent that both sides question her allegiance. German actor Sebastian Koch plays the role of Ludwig Müntze--the head of the local SS unit. He adds a different dimension to the role of a Nazi officer by displaying a much softer side than might be expected. While he quickly uncovers the fact that the woman taking considerable risk to meet with him is Jewish, their relationship takes an unexpected turn as the end of the war quickly leads to chaos in the immediate aftermath of the Allied victory. The movie is long and some of the scenes are potentially upsetting for some viewers. But the plot is complex, the background is intriguing and exciting and the result is a first-rate drama.
- AtTheBeach
I was really impressed with this film. I was captivated from beginning to end. The acting superb and the story well I was NEVER bored with it at all. Story follows a young jewish women, Rachel through the later half of World War II. After trying to escape with her family, and watching her family being gunned down by the Nazis; Rachel joins a of spy's and eventually infiltrates the enemy by catching the eye of one of the higher ranking officers. After man close encounters & many many deaths the story finally comes to a close on post World War II. I found this film over all to be very very enjoyable and interesting. I think that this is a film everyone should take the time to see, although if you have a problem with subtitles then you might wanna skip it. Also if you have kids there is nudity in this movie so be careful with that. Now go get this one.
- *~*Sullivans*~*
This Dutch film is set during the final days of World War II in Holland, and follows a female Jewish singerâs attempts to avoid the Nazis. Circumstances throw her into the resistance movement and consequently into a love affair with a German general. The story is told with such expertise that one sits on the edge of the chair wondering what could possibly happen next. It is hard to catch your breath during this movie as there are unbelievable twist and turns and many characters from whom to consider enemy or friend. Just when one thinks he has figured everything out, something is disclosed that convincingly proves the speculation is incorrect. This is one of those movies that at the end you wonder if you should watch it all over again, just to get things into proper perspective. Frontal nudity, violence, brutality and language. Subtitles required. Highly recommended if you enjoy this genre. 10-16-08
- Southern Belle 1
Europeans do war movies, and particularly WWII movies, so much better than America does. Why? Authenticity and realism. No flashy special effects, no dumbed down enemies, and no clear cut black and white/right and wrong. In war there are always shades of grey, even in this war, and that's precisely what's portrayed in this story. It's an intriguing story that's very nicely performed, most noteably by Carice van Houten (who is gorgeous, by the way), as well as the entire supporting cast. Now, that is not to say it's a perfect picture. There are moments when the viewer must accept that certain situations could take place, even though the likelihood of those situations playing out as portrayed is highly questionable. I also feel as though the desperation that the Nazis would have undoubtedly felt at such a late point in the war was not at all taken into account. Indeed, at virtually no point did I get the sense that the Nazis were panicked about their impending defeat. But that's a nagging issue that would only irritate the most fickle of history aficianados. In the end, I most highly recommend this to anyone interested in a very strong WWII movie.
- Photo Heathen
Don't miss the fact that this movie is in Dutch and German. Other than that, a good movie.
- tgv 117467