The Pianist
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Movie Reviews of The Pianist
Movie Review: Subtle, mesmerizing, great movie
Summary: 5 Stars
"The pianist" is Roman Polanski's movie about the Second World War and, specifically, the Holocaust in Poland. The movie tells the story of Wladislaw Spillman, excellent pianist of Radio Warsaw. Being a jew, and polish, Spillman had to fight for survival during the six years of the war, from the early days during german invasion and outbreak of the war, through the life inside the jewish ghetos, the threat of the concentration camps, and the constant hunger and hiding from nazi troops. From what I've heard, the movie script follows Spillman's autobiography to the letter. But, more than that, "The pianist" has Polanski's insights and memories from his personal struggle during the war. Even so, the movie manages to be very emotive without being corny. Aside from that, Polanski was able to make "The pianist" not a movie about religion, which is important if he intended to make a complete movie, not focusing the audience's attention in religious matters, or even not trying to understand and find motives for the war. If you pay attention, not once during the movie we see a jew character praying or invoking God's name.
The sets are remarkably authentic (at least for me, born 40 years after the conclusion of the war). There are some strong scenes (alleatory executions mostly), made stronger because of the subtle tension Polanski was able to put in his direction. The whole movie is "strong", to say the least. The second half is a lesson in acting provided by Adrien Brody, an actor whose performances were very criticised until now, but whose sad face, deep voice, and thin body were able to pass an enormous sense of will to live in the screen (woth some funny scenes too, if you think that is possible in a movie about the Holocaust).
I will never forget the scene when Spillman plays the piano for the german officer; Spillman was madly hungry, and even so he was able to forget his can of food and, with his perfect music, feed the spiritualy poor german (I know, it's cliche, but it's an excellent scene anyway).
Since the Academy will never give an Oscar to "Lord of the Rings", "The pianist" is, in my opinion, the favourite among this year's Best Movie nominees.
Grade 9.1/10
Movie Review: Intense Life Story During the Holocaust
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Pianist" is one of the top 10 best films of 2002. It was rightfully nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, going on to win three: Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Its true story of world-famous pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman, who struggles for his life during the Holocaust is very powerful, yet brilliant. The hardcore drama begins the moment his passionate music career becomes threatened by Hitler. Its material is close to as graphic as the actual conditions, which is how it should be displayed. Such intensity, which is never lost for a second, guarantees an emotional reaction. All the emotions in the scenery and through the characters are heartpounding through Szpilman's entire unfortunate journey. The immense research of these events is present. The writer's own heart and soul was written in every word. This project was wonderfully led by Roman Polanski's brilliant vision. His directing talents answer why he deserves his legendary status.The set scenery is as accurate to the actual buildings and living conditions of Europe in 1939-1945. The hard work through the construction paid off, adding extra living intensity. The clothing worn in the movie adds the necessary emotional value that keeps audiences watching. All other physical details in this film are also flawless, namely the make-up and the dirty scenery (dirt, burns, blood, etc.). The musical score was composed beautifully, blending perfectly with every scenes' particular mood.
The performances from all the actors are beyond words. Adrien Brody beautifully portrays Szpilman in his career-launching role. His every drop of heart and soul are obviously presented through his character. This is one of the best Holocaust movie roles in cinema history. His talents prove that he'll be around for many more years. A few other actors could have received Oscar nominations for their supporting roles without critic complaints.
"The Pianist" is a great movie for entertainment and education. This future classic is sure to please many audiences. Those looking for more perspectives on the Holocaust should also watch "Schindler's List", which offers a more graphic look.
Movie Review: One of the best films ever about the Holocaust.
Summary: 5 Stars
In an earlier review, I proclaimed "Chicago" the best film of 2002. Now I realize my judgment was hasty: "The Pianist" is really the year's best film. Roman Polanski has fashioned a horrifying, deeply moving film based on the life of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Jewish pianist who manages through the kindness of friends and strangers and the sheerest strokes of luck to survive in Warsaw during the six years of World War II. Polanski's understated style makes the horrors he records all the more powerful, as Nazis matter-of-factly murder Jews in the street for no other reason than that they can. Polanski actually lived through these atrocities, and makes them absolutely real on the screen. Polanski also had the enormous luck to find the perfect actor to play Szpilman, the young American actor Adrien Brody. With his soulful eyes and aquiline, otherworldly face, Brody was born to play Szpilman; in a performance that is nearly wordless through long stretches of the film, he moves us to tears. Brody brings Szpilman to breathtaking life, a decent, reasonable, exceptionally talented man in a world where decency, reason and talent count for less than nothing. In the early portions of the film, Brody bears more than a passing resemblance to portraits of Chopin; toward the end, long-haired and scraggly-bearded after years of hiding in bombed-out buildings, he looks like Jesus on the road to Calvary. There is one scene in which, ordered by a German officer to play, Szpiilman plays a Chopin ballade--the first time he has touched a piano in years. The performance, technically choppy but impassioned, reaches heights of emotion the cinema rarely achieves. This moment, and many others in the film, are magnificent testaments to the artistry of Polanski and Brody. At the end, it's not that you shouldn't leave before the credits are finished rolling, as Szpilman returns to his old life at the end of the war, playing Chopin's Grande Polonaise with the Warsaw Philharmonic, the beauty of the performance and the human triumph it represents leave you transfixed in your seat. No other non-documentary film about the Holocaust--not even "Schindler's List"--has moved me as deeply as "The Pianist."Movie Review: The Real Thing
Summary: 5 Stars
Almost a documentary.This movie is true to the life story of Szpilman, the pianist, and almost to the letter follows the book Szpilman wrote. The only major licencia poetica I noticed is the placement of Szpilman's hideout in the routinely destroyed and totally deserted city - a result of the two uprisings: in 1943 and most definitely that of 1944 - at the very same building that the good natured German officer selected for army offices.
Polanski wanted the true and most dramatic story to speak for itself and on purpose gave up on these well known movie tricks that make less powerful stories squeeze our tears so generously in the movie theaters. To be honest - this is a pity. A real story AND a popular touch make for the most effective works. But perhaps I understand Polanski's reasons for this and I certainly respect them. You just do not want any semblance between depiction of tragedy of such proportions and the regular every year productions. And also - Polanski was part of the drama of 1939-1945, living not further than two hundred miles from the place where the Pianist lived and survived, too.
"The Pianist" has a feel of a documentary. The movie structure - a series of glimpses of Szpilman's life, each of them grabing your total attention, because each of them is almost more than an average human being experience in a whole life, at least as most of us know life today. A word said, the timing of entering a staircase, a positioning taken in a row of forced laborers is a decision - or - a circumstance of life and death consequences.
Being from that country I will not dodge the sensitive issue. There are many bad people and some good people in this true story. There are many good Jews, and some bad Jews. There are many good Poles, and many bad Poles. There are many bad Germans and one good German. The last one stands out. Courtesy of that "national background" his decent acts - not killing Szpilman (a heroism in pure form it is not), and giving him food and a coat stand out.
I watched this movie at 9:15 a.m. in a cinema filled with youngsters sent by the schools. The silence in the room, all over those 130 minutes or so, was stunning.
Movie Review: In the same league with "Schindler's List"
Summary: 5 Stars
Director Roman Polanski has contributed to film history some of its darker classics ("Chinatown," et al), and "The Pianist" may well be his best work in a generally magnificent body of work. For whatever reason, though, the film generated little box office excitement until it pulled off a couple of major upsets in the 2003 Oscar race, winning best director for Polanski and best actor for Adrien Brody, neither of whom was even cited in most "favored" lists. But the film is destined to be a likely classic in the same class as "Schindler's List." Polanski's film is distinquished from its predecessor in that it recounts a single man's fight to survive the Holocaust of Hitler's Third Reich in the six years between 1939 and 1945, whereas "Schindler ..." gave us the triumphant account of another single man's fight to save as many condemned Jews as he can. "The Pianist" is Wladislaw Spillman, a piano virtuoso for Radio Warsaw and a Polish Jew marked for consignment to one of the concentration camps for Jews condemend in the "final solution." But Spillman's spirit to survive inspires him to evade his intended captors literally under their noses by remaining in the escalating ruins of his beloved city. But by war's end, Spillman has disintegrated physically from hunger, emotional devastation and a challenge to his faith in humankind while nonetheless maintaining his will to live as a servant to his people and as a witness to the horrors of the darkest chapter in human history. Supposedly a biographic treatment of the real Spillman's experiences, the film may well also be autobiographical for Polanski, himself a survivor of the Holocaust. As Spillman, Brody is simply overwhelming in projecting both the terror of his life and in refusing to surrender to it. His performance is magnificently framed by Polanski's miraculous eye for visual ruin and devastation. Overall, the film is paralyzing, and its realism may be a bit too much to endure without getting up for a breath of air. Brody and Polanski clearly paid their dues in earning their worthy Oscars, and their collective energies qualify their film as an important contribution to the study of the Holocaust.