The Lives of Others
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Movie Reviews of The Lives of Others
Movie Review: Slow and low-budget but interesting twist on the biological impact of politics
Summary: 4 Stars
This film is about the problem of socialism and the impact that it has on the human condition. Although the film starts off in the direction of a drama involving communist surveillance of a screenwriter to combat the power of art in the form of suggestive revolution, it quickly becomes a damning investigation into the biological implications of big brother. The actors are sure to move onto bigger things and so is the director although the depressing nature of its themes may be a bit much for some. Still this is as good as it gets since Orwell wrote 1984. It is hard to shake off the impact, but maybe the hype might not meet expectations. Worth seeing if you can put yourself through it.Movie Review: Thought provoking, but somewhat unbelievable
Summary: 4 Stars
This film was good, but I don't know that I would award it an Oscar. I found the portrayed vengefulness and vast resources of the Stasi unbelievable. I might be wrong about that, so if I am add another star to the rating. Despite this suspected flaw, the film is great. It highlights in my mind the key flaw of totalitarian regimes that respect for the individual is lost in the paranoid endeavor to enforce the public good.Movie Review: Falling into the Lives of Others...
Summary: 5 Stars
From the first frame to the last incredibly moving moment, "The Lives of Others" tells a delicate, suspenseful and beautifully moving story about an East German officer before the fall of the Berlin Wall, and how his surveillance of a playwright and his wife changes his life (and theirs) forever. The title is as much about envy as it is about discovery -- the main character is a painfully solitary man -- one who has always done his duty -- but this small surveillance changes him in ways he could never have anticipated. He grows to care for the lives he witnesses -- and to (perhaps) envy them.
For instance, there's a small incidental scene where a little boy passes on his father's insult about the Stazi (the DDR police) and the man turns to snap at the boy and to reflexively ask what his father's name is (as he is used to doing -- everyone is supposed to be 'turned in' for the slightest infraction). And yet he has changed. He can't finish the sentence. It's a very small moment but it stayed with me.
For those who may be a bit skittish about foreign films or 'art' films, I strongly recommend giving this movie a shot. It's easy to follow, incredibly well acted, and has a powerful ending. As a snapshot of a particularly grim time and place, it's terrifying. The suspense is a constant presence because of the "everyone's watching" premise -- every word overheard, every action seen, every thought anticipated. The tension is constant.
And Ulrich M?he simply owns the film. I was so sorry to hear of his death after filming, as the man has an incredible screen presence -- he's absolutely riveting, and despite his character's quietness, your eye is always drawn to him. His face is so expressive that its very stillness is powerful (and never more so than in the film's final and very satisfying moment).
Note: The main Amazon review talks about "too many epilogues" and I can't disagree with this enough. The ending, for me, is perfect -- heartlifting, powerful, and beautiful.
Movie Review: The Lives of Others - great movie
Summary: 5 Stars
My girlfriend is German and i speak some German so we heard about this movie and decided to buy it. Great movie and it earned an Oscar us.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/awards . the movie shows how controlling the East Germans were over their people and how they achieved that control. might be too artsy a movie for some that may prefer Jim Carey/Adam Sandler movies which i ABSOLUTELY LOVE. my favorite genre is Comedy, funny enough. still this movie is thought provoking and shows you how much bureaucracy it takes for a government to keep their people down. everything can be stifled especially the arts, music and movies specifically.
Bottom line, good movie whether you speak (or are) German, but resonates more if you do or are.
Movie Review: Exceptional film about how a corrupt system can pervert people's lives
Summary: 5 Stars
Superb German film about how people operate within the corrupt and perverted German Democratic Republic 4 years before the fall of the Berlin Wall; some people are just bad like the odious Minister Hempf, others face the fear of a visit from the dreaded Stasi for their activities, while others are forced to inform on their friends, and still others like Oberstleutnant Anton Grubitz just make do within a system they don't even believe in.
"The Lives of Others" features a brilliant script from Writer/Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck and equally brilliant direction - every scene contains telling little moments as he draws great performances out of a wonderful cast. Excellent music and production design add to the impact.
An altogether exceptional film.