Invincible
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Movie Reviews of Invincible
Movie Review: Well-made, at times slow
Summary: 4 Stars
Invincible is the story of a Jewish blacksmith in Poland who is so strong he is invited to Berlin to participate in an occultist's show. Since this is 1932 Germany, the idea of a Samson-like Jew is unappealing to those in power, so he adopts the identity of an Aryan gladiator. Eventually, however, he comes to terms with his identity and poses a challenge to his boss.This boss, the occultist played by Tim Roth (the only "name" in the movie) is a supposed clairvoyant out to become Hitler's minister of the occult. It is a role of rich villainy, one that works well with Roth.
Since this movie deals with Jews in 1930s Poland and Germany, it is hardly a feel-good flick, although the movie takes place prior to Hitler's chancellorship, when Nazi anti-semitism was still years from its violent peak. Nonetheless, the spectre of the Holocaust looms over everything.
Although the movie has a lot to recommend it, it is not very well-paced and every time you think it's about over, it goes on. After a while, you begin to feel the length of the film. Nonetheless, this is a good film and worth watching.
Movie Review: WHENCE SPRINGS HEROISM?
Summary: 4 Stars
Is evil embedded in the human condition? Are some people born evil? Or is it always a matter of free will? And from whence springs selfless heroism? Werner Herzog's INVINCIBLE is about Samson-like Zishe Breitbart (Jouka Ahola), a simple country blacksmith who is recruited to play the part of a strongman in fake clairvoyant Erik Jan Hanussen's (Tim Roth) popular Berlin nightclub act during the 1930s. Hitler's on the brink of power, and Hanussen caters to the Nazi's who frequent his performances. When Zishe -- on stage -- unexpectedly reveals himself to be a Polish Jew, he begins attracting a Jewish crowd that penetrates the Nazi audience. This affront to the Nazi's is great for the club's business but brings unexpected consequences to both Zishe and Hanussen. Detailing any more of the surprises in this hero's journey would dilute the movie experience. "Invincible," Herzog's first non-documentary in over a decade, displays his signature artistry, eccentricity and passion. And underlying everything is a powerful moral imperative about the contagion of resistance. I was riveted.
Movie Review: Zishe, Siegfried or Samson?
Summary: 4 Stars
Poland : 1932. Zishe Breibart is the son of a humble Jew blacksmith who causes sensation in the Berlin of Weimar as lusty of mythological times. His employer Hanussen (Tim Roth) dreams with becoming an almighty Ministry of the Hidden in Hitler's government.
Meanwhile, he is powerfully attracted by a female Czech pianist whose great illusion is to play the second movement of Beethoven's third Piano concerto Op. 37.
But the effervescence of those times begins to grow and so, the complex web of dissimilar interests will make its appearance becoming for all of them a true twist of fate.
Werner Herzog, the great German director, is one of the last survivors of the Post War generation, builds a brilliant portrait of these three different characters gathered by these weird destiny's tricks.
A colossal, absorbing drama, based on a true story. Don't miss it.
Movie Review: Herzog does it again.
Summary: 4 Stars
Invincible (Werner Herzog, 2001)
Tim Roth may be an incredible actor, but it's Jouko Ahola who steals the show in Werner Herzog's fantastic Invincible. Ahola, as Jewish strongman Zische Breibart, turns in a fantastic performance.
Herzog's fascination with folklore continues. Here, he gives us the story of Breibart, a Polish blacksmith who rises to fame and fortune in deux-la-guerres Germany as a strongman performing in a nightclub owned by Hanussen (Roth).In order to placate his largely Nazi audience, Hanussen bills Breibart as "Siegfried the Iron King" and puts him in a blond wig. Breibart goes along with it until a visit from his younger brother, Benjamin (Jacob Wein), who raises questions in Breibart's mind about his identity as a Jew.
It's a Werner Herzog movie, so quality is to be expected, but this is his best effort since Fitzcarraldo. A wonderful film. ****
Movie Review: The state of cinema today
Summary: 4 Stars
Compared to the standard fare in American (or any English language) cinema, this is superlative; however, for those who are looking for a valedictory work or magnum opus from Werner Herzog after so many years between feature films, this is not it. While there are a few flickers of the old fire, this comes very close to being a Hollywood movie. This, I suppose, punctuates the difference between the art of cinema of the 1970s when I first became familiar with Herzog's work and the film industry today.