The Book Thief (B+ or 3/4 stars)
Hankering for your annual prestige film about Nazis, then look no further than 'The Book Thief' (directed by Downton Abbey's Brian Percival). From the gorgeous opening scene, depicting a smoke-billowing train cutting through a canvas of white snow, to the beautiful compositions of legendary music scorer John Williams, Death, our narrator (voiced with an otherworldly calm by Roger Allam), begins his aural journey through wartime Germany in the late 1930s-early 40s. Director Percival chooses a breathtaking moment to usher in such unspeakable atrocities. In this aforementioned opening sequence, Liesel (Sophie Nelisse) is traveling on said train with her mother & beloved little brother, who dies in his mother's arms.
Upon arrival at their small town destination in rural Germany, the boy is buried & a weepy Liesel commits her first act of 'thievery' by finding a book in the snow & keeping it. Liesel is then delivered to her new foster family after it is explained that her mother - a suspected communist - can no longer care for her. Her new parents, Hans & Rosa Hubermann (the wonderful coupling of Geoffrey Rush & Emily Watson) are initially distraught to learn that they only have Liesel, as they were also expecting her brother (2 children would have meant more $$, & the Hubermanns sure need it). But Hans, "Papa", adores Liesel, & starts to teach her how to read & write, which becomes a driving passion in her life. Rosa, much stricter than Hans, is a local laundress & is actually the breadwinner for the family for now.
As the Nazis begin their roundup of Jews, the Hubermanns hide a young man, Max (Ben Schnetzer), who takes refuge in their cramped basement. Liesel forms an incredible bond with Max, who encourages her reading & love of words; and she also becomes great friends with (and has a crush on) her adorable next-door neighbor Rudy (Nico Liersch). Sophie Nelisse & Nico Liersch are perfectly matched. His protection of her throughout their friendship is disarmingly poignant (fending off bullies who poke fun at her early illiteracy, keeping secrets for her). Unfortunately, drama ensues as WWII hits close to home ... and tragedy strikes. But the emotional journey that Liesel, her Mama, & her Papa go on provides a cinematic experience well worth your time.
OK, folks. 'The Book Thief' made me cry. The 2 minute trailer for the movie made me cry! So lord knows that the resulting 127 minute feature-length movie would really get to me. The relationships that are forged, the tragedy that ensues, the poignant final 5 minutes ... waterworks. contains some cinematic flourishes that pleasantly surprised me. i.e., during an air raid, Max steps out from the Hubermann's basement and onto the street for the 1st time in months. He knows that all the townsfolk are in the local bomb shelter, & he just wants to look up in the sky to see the stars again -- it's a lovely moment. I also loved an impromptu snowball fight indoors. And I was riveted when young Liesel tells stories to calm her terrified neighbors as they hide in their bomb shelter.
Geoffrey Rush is the beating heart of the movie. Rush tends to play cold, quirky, or cantankerous. But "Papa" is, by far, his warmest portrayal. He is ... the perfect father. And though Rosa 'seems' harsh & unloving, Emily Watson allows her inner-warmth to peek through that hard exterior as the film nears its end. Rosa's true feelings for her Hans & Liesel become apparent as the Nazis reign of terror unfolds. The film, however, belongs to Liesel & Sophie Nelisse's charming/spunky portrayal. We can only imagine what it must have been like to be in her shoes. She imbues clear, but subtle touches to her heartbreaking character. Her eyes contain a wellspring of emotion. The camera loves her. And I expect to hear great things from her; and she was already so good in 2011's Monsieur Lazhar.
You know, cynics may take jabs at this film. There are some slow parts. And yes, the general Nazi storyline feels initially familiar. But Brian Percival lends a perspective that we don't normally see in Nazi films. We normally think of Hitler's mad rants or men with swastikas committing unspeakable acts. But in this movie, the angle is that of non-Jewish German families in quaint towns; people struggling to put food on the table; mothers who secretly hate Hitler for tearing families apart. Because of Hitler, there is an undertone of anxiety; an awareness that one can't speak about Nazi Germany openly. So I'm glad that I sprung out of my house on this frigid Sunday to take this movie in ... tears & all. It is a stirring, heart-wrenching look at the atrocities of war and Death, as experienced by a determined young girl.
Upon arrival at their small town destination in rural Germany, the boy is buried & a weepy Liesel commits her first act of 'thievery' by finding a book in the snow & keeping it. Liesel is then delivered to her new foster family after it is explained that her mother - a suspected communist - can no longer care for her. Her new parents, Hans & Rosa Hubermann (the wonderful coupling of Geoffrey Rush & Emily Watson) are initially distraught to learn that they only have Liesel, as they were also expecting her brother (2 children would have meant more $$, & the Hubermanns sure need it). But Hans, "Papa", adores Liesel, & starts to teach her how to read & write, which becomes a driving passion in her life. Rosa, much stricter than Hans, is a local laundress & is actually the breadwinner for the family for now.
As the Nazis begin their roundup of Jews, the Hubermanns hide a young man, Max (Ben Schnetzer), who takes refuge in their cramped basement. Liesel forms an incredible bond with Max, who encourages her reading & love of words; and she also becomes great friends with (and has a crush on) her adorable next-door neighbor Rudy (Nico Liersch). Sophie Nelisse & Nico Liersch are perfectly matched. His protection of her throughout their friendship is disarmingly poignant (fending off bullies who poke fun at her early illiteracy, keeping secrets for her). Unfortunately, drama ensues as WWII hits close to home ... and tragedy strikes. But the emotional journey that Liesel, her Mama, & her Papa go on provides a cinematic experience well worth your time.
OK, folks. 'The Book Thief' made me cry. The 2 minute trailer for the movie made me cry! So lord knows that the resulting 127 minute feature-length movie would really get to me. The relationships that are forged, the tragedy that ensues, the poignant final 5 minutes ... waterworks. contains some cinematic flourishes that pleasantly surprised me. i.e., during an air raid, Max steps out from the Hubermann's basement and onto the street for the 1st time in months. He knows that all the townsfolk are in the local bomb shelter, & he just wants to look up in the sky to see the stars again -- it's a lovely moment. I also loved an impromptu snowball fight indoors. And I was riveted when young Liesel tells stories to calm her terrified neighbors as they hide in their bomb shelter.
Geoffrey Rush is the beating heart of the movie. Rush tends to play cold, quirky, or cantankerous. But "Papa" is, by far, his warmest portrayal. He is ... the perfect father. And though Rosa 'seems' harsh & unloving, Emily Watson allows her inner-warmth to peek through that hard exterior as the film nears its end. Rosa's true feelings for her Hans & Liesel become apparent as the Nazis reign of terror unfolds. The film, however, belongs to Liesel & Sophie Nelisse's charming/spunky portrayal. We can only imagine what it must have been like to be in her shoes. She imbues clear, but subtle touches to her heartbreaking character. Her eyes contain a wellspring of emotion. The camera loves her. And I expect to hear great things from her; and she was already so good in 2011's Monsieur Lazhar.
You know, cynics may take jabs at this film. There are some slow parts. And yes, the general Nazi storyline feels initially familiar. But Brian Percival lends a perspective that we don't normally see in Nazi films. We normally think of Hitler's mad rants or men with swastikas committing unspeakable acts. But in this movie, the angle is that of non-Jewish German families in quaint towns; people struggling to put food on the table; mothers who secretly hate Hitler for tearing families apart. Because of Hitler, there is an undertone of anxiety; an awareness that one can't speak about Nazi Germany openly. So I'm glad that I sprung out of my house on this frigid Sunday to take this movie in ... tears & all. It is a stirring, heart-wrenching look at the atrocities of war and Death, as experienced by a determined young girl.