The Good German
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Movie Reviews of The Good German
Movie Review: Don't mention the war. I mentioned it once but I think that I got away with it.
Summary: 3 Stars
I found the portrayal of Cate Blanchett to be the high point of this movie. Well shot in black and white with superb support from Toby Maguire, this was a consumate performance in an otherwise dull film. I am not a fan of George Clooney and his performance here left a lot to be desired. The movie raises a lot of questions of the morality of war and those who are involved in it from whatever perspective. It gives the lie to the black and white sides of a wartime experience and allows the viewer to examine the multitudeinous shades of grey.
Survival of the fittest is also a central concern and highlights some of the difficulties arriving at an ethical judgemt whenever our own survival is threatened. The backdrop to this whole story is the dirty business of politics and the dividing of the spoils as exemplified by the biblical story of the roman soldiers dividing up Jesus' gaments after his crucifixion.
Cate Blanchette reminds me of Jody Foster in some of her exceptional performances where one is drawn in to the story though that where the rest of the film is below par.
Movie Review: A fake 40's movie in black and white?
Summary: 3 Stars
This movie kind of struck me as an anti-Casablanca:Casablanca
Instead of everybody being good and noble, we have the American
behaving at times like Nazis in this film.
This story is about a 1946 Berlin where the people are living in the ruins
and the GI's are kings.
The jeep driver thinks he has hit real pay dirt
when it turns out his German girl friend -prostitute
is married to someone both the Russians and Americans want.
But the newspaper reporter he is driving also remembers her
from before the war. Lena is a case of survival at any cost
and pretty much hates herself worse than anyone else could,
yet men makes fools of themselves over her.
The acting is pretty good and the movie almost convinces you
that this was the 40's again.
Even the end is the same as Casablanca with an airplane leaving,
but what is between sort makes you wonder who really won that war?
Movie Review: worthy and entertaining homage
Summary: 3 Stars
THE GOOD GERMAN isn't bad. C'mom, comparing it to the classics it is inspired by and ripping off isn't fair. Enjoy it for what's it's worth, which isn't a whole, whole lot, but is still better than most junk coming out of Hollywoodland. The acting is good as is, in my opinion, the script. I found the story involving American efforts to snatch up Nazi rocket scientists, a quintessential American jack ***, a murderous lying prostitute, the cool well intended George Clooney trapped in a film noir plot, the score, the black and white picture, and war ravaged setting add up to a something worth the price of a rental fee. Guess I like the films THE GOOD GERMAN copies and don't mind that Steven Soderbergh didn't make a new classic on their level. Kind of a tall order there folks. I give him props for his efforts. Film snobs, just stick to your library of Criterion Collection films and your expensive wine and cheeses.
Movie Review: Offbeat thriller experiment is worth a look
Summary: 3 Stars
The story in "The Good German" is a little dry and long, but if you have any predisposition to enjoy a layered tale of wartime intrigue, you'll make it through okay. The real selling point, though, is the wonderful production design and gorgeous black & white photography, the latter seen in generous widescreen glory (after the opening credits, which tease you into thinking you'll be forced to watch the movie in the boxy aspect ratio of actual 1940's movies). Ultimately, what's, well... good about "The Good German" is that it doesn't settle for being a well-produced pastiche of old wartime movies, but says a few compelling things about the ways otherwise decent people are willing to behave in situations when they feel their backs are against the wall. Problematic in some ways, "The Good German" is absolutely recommended at least as a rental. The DVD looks and sounds great, though there are no extra features.Movie Review: Coulda been good.......but
Summary: 3 Stars
Film Noir this is not. The B&W "newsreel" effect, with extreme highlighting and no middle tones, is annoying. Same thing with the sound or audio mix which is hollow and again, annoying to the viewer.
Actually, a terrific storyline. Post WW2 trauma in Berlin. The good, bad, and ugly, re-visited during Potsdam.
The plot is not so much weak as it is mis-directed with a final that screams for additional footage.
Jack Thompson, who stole the show in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", is totally wasted. George Clooney does not do well playing it weak. However, Cate Blanchett does a pretty good Ingrid Bergman.
Production Design by Phillip Messina is excellent. You really get the feel.
Worth a watch.