Invincible
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Movie Reviews of Invincible
Movie Review: Herzog has passion!
Summary: 5 Stars
INVINCIBLE is as important a cinematic statement as THE PIANIST or SCHINDLER'S LIST.Movie Review: Allegorical Story of One Strong, Kind-Hearted Guy in 1932
Summary: 4 Stars
"Invincible" is directed by German director Werner Herzog, who is known for his very unique films like "Aguirre" and "Fitzcarrald" all visually stunning, but not for everybody's taste (some say too slow-moving). Here he comes back with a strongly allegorical tale loosely based on truth about Hanussen and Zishe Breitbart in the time before the Nazi and WW2.In 1932, Poland. During this unstable time, there was a gentle-hearted Jewish blacksmith named Zishe, who is living with his smart young brother and family. Having a big body and incredible strength, he is invited by a travelling agent to come to Berlin to work there. He agrees, and leaves the family to meet Hanussen. self-appointed master of clairvoyance and prophet of the time. Hanussen likes Zishe's physical appearance, so hiding his identy, Hanussen dresses him up as hero Siegfried, showing him on stage before the Nazi troopers. During this unhappy period, he meets a pianist girl named Marta "employed" by Hanussen, and finds his only comfort in her.
The story, if written down like this, might sound trite and banal, but the reality is different. Herzog presents the story like a Greek myth, underlining its allegorical meanings found in the life of Zishe, whom you might find one biblical figure. As he undergoes joy and agory, he realizes what he has to do for his people back in Poland, but the tragic events are, as we know, soon to come. Though the film refuses to show the plights of Jewish people inflicted by Hitler, we sense it is coming there, and Herzog's sometimes bizarre but striking images -- see red crabs, lots of them -- are very effective in reminding us that.
As to Hanussen, played by Tim Roth, he also successfully shows the fragile and tragic aspects of humans under the mask of greedy entrepreneur. The relation beteen him and Zishe is strangely attractive, both having nothing in common except one (that will be revealed at the end). But keep this in mind; he plays rather a suporting role, not the protagonist.
Not everything is perfect, I must say. It is obvious that Jouko Ahola as Zishe and Anna Gourari as Marta are both amateurs as far as acting is concerned. Ahola is really the "strongest man" and won the contest, and Gourari is also really a concert pianist. For the director like Herzog, it is only natural that he cast the real strong man and real pianist into the roles of the strong man and the pianist. But before the professional like Tim Roth, the contrast is too much to ignore. You cannot say this, but you might really miss Klaus Kinski here.
But I was curiously involved in the story, which is not told in a sophisticated fahion, but still always remains strong. And there is an impressive cameo of character actor Udo Kier as Count Helldorf, which is too deghtful to watch.
About Hanussen and Zishe, this film is, I think, Herzog's own version, so you might try to find some books on these interesting people (I actually know another version of story, which tells that they are not partners, but rivals.) And acclaimed Hungarian director Istvan Szabo once made a film about Hanussen (the title, "Hanussen"). If you're interested in this historical person, try to find that one.
Movie Review: Different kinds of bravery
Summary: 4 Stars
What attracted me to this film is that it is made by Herzog Werner and it is based on the real character. It is 1930s and Nazis are getting politically stronger. Hitler is on his way to assume power. In remote Polish village a young Jewish blacksmith gets a chance to go to Berlin and become a stage performer. His amazing physical strength is desirable in the entertainment industry and by changing his name from Zisha to Zigfried he become Nazi image of Arian superiority. As Zisha decides to confront his audience and his employer by disclosing in public that he is in fact Jewish, things start to unfold in a manner that no one expects. His seemingly brutal, egotistic and cynical employer is himsef a Jew who perhaps hoped that thru his occult powers and hypnotic tricks could influence Hitler and members of high ranking Nazi establishment. As he gets murdered, Zisha comes to realize that he will have to use his newly found personal power to define his purpose in his own life and the life of the Jewish people. Uneducated and simple, he senses that bad times are coming and hopes to spread prophecy to his people to unite, become strong and resist to the evils of the upcoming German nationalism. But God has a different plan for him and as it happens he dies in the hospital 2 days before Hitler comes to power and German starts to become threat to the rest of the world. The most powerful part of the film forme was Zisha's talk with the Berlin rabbi who speaks of 36 "justs" that are born in every generation. Some of them know that they have a purpose on earth and some die not being aware of what their purpose is. So when they die, the go frozen to Heaven and it takes God 1,000 years to warm them up to life again. Some may even take longer and every time it happens, God turns a clock of final resurrection a few minutes ahead. Zisha's heart and mind are pure in spite of his simplicity. We know that God loves him so much that it is not surprising to see him die as a martyr to his ideas and desires to save his people. This is a Herzog movie with characters one is used to seeing in his production. But the weakness of the film is a string of non-professional or simply poor actors. Tim Roth is mesmerizing in his role and in spite of his menacing character, he gets to be loved and accepted at the end. This film is a great spiritual lesson to anyone, regardless of their religious background.Movie Review: The Return of Herzog
Summary: 4 Stars
Herzog's return has definitely made me realize how desperate I am to see a movie by a director whose main focus is to explore in films rather than simply entertain an audience. I don't think criticizing the "slowness" of the movie makes any sense, because anyone who's seen Herzog movies knows he doesn't nervously speed through his films, and personally, this is what I admire about him. Patience is something that a film can help us regain, or at least remind us that it is still possible today to be patient. If there is something to criticize, it is the dialogue in certain scenes, which the actors had trouble bringing to life (not Tim Roth). Some of the lines were a shade too sentimental and simple. To be honest, the beginning of the movie was a bit cliche-strong, but by this I mean the first thirty minutes or so. Eventually though, the imagery of the film , and the greater allegory (which wasn't calculated allegory) of Nazi Germany, make up for these minor flaws. The dream sequences are amazing, as well as the set of the clairvoyant, equipped with a tank of jellyfish. I hope that there will be more from this genuine filmmaker in the future, and soon. It is one thing to be patient while watching a movie, and another while waiting for the arrival of another film by a master. It seems patience in the latter case, today, among so many cinematic failures, is almost impossible.Movie Review: I change my mind: this film is not so bad after all.
Summary: 4 Stars
The first time I saw Invincible I wrote a snarling review of it right here at Amazon, lambasting its premise and acting with the acute mechanics of a pompous, white-glove inspection. Then I saw it again, and I can honestly say I'm now a reformed man.
PLOT:
Zishe Breitbart, a Jewish worker with incredible strength, strikes an unlikely alliance with a Nazi mystic named Hanussen (Tim Roth) who is out to climb as high up the political ladder as he can. Although at odds initially, the two become friends and find each other to be the practitioners of hypocrisy and shame. As the Nazi party grows, Zishe's ethnic identity is at a greater level of risk of discovery, and Hanussen's own fraudulence becomes more apparent.
The theme of the film is the coming tide of Jewish holocaust in Europe. Only Zishe seems aware of what is about the happen, and the wise men of his community mock and question his sincere warnings. It is in these segments that the heart of the film roars out and we can hear the whispery voice of hindsight uttering out the words, "Listen to him. Please listen to him."