Film Review: Black Book
When I was first told about this film I was pretty dubious over whether I would like it or not; romantic spy films aren’t normally my cup of tea. But I can safely say that this film totally blew all my expectations out of the water.
Director Paul Verhoeven does a terrific and often unrelenting job keeping the audience immersed in the film, whether it be in the pomp and splendour of a Nazi party or in the brutal murder of Jews fleeing for the border, Verhoeven pulls no punches and offers the audience no opportunity to distance themselves comfortably from all that goes happens on screen. From the horrific injuries of someone being shot in the head to the heroine giving herself to the head of the Gestapo in the name of the Resistance, the audience is right there with the characters, totally involved in it all. Normally seeing a film 145 minutes in length, by the end of the second hour I’d be hoping for the ending, but Black Book held me riveted throughout, and I was still wanting more as I left the cinema.
This is never a comfortable or easy watch, but the cast throw themselves wholeheartedly into their roles, with Carice van Houten as Rachel and Thom Hoffman as Hans Akkermans in particular shining in a more than able cast. Carice deserves a special mention as the captivating Rachel/Ellis, her performance surely launching her into more big mainstream films in the future.
This film is highly recommended.
The Lone - Peace out
