Rating of
3.5/4
Holocaust
Owtkast - wrote on 08/26/08
Decades after the Beatles broke up, Paul McCartney was asked how he felt about some of the criticisms directed toward their 1968 album, since known as "The White Album." With a slight wave of the hand, McCartney dismissed the critics. "C'mon," he said. "It's the Beatles' White Album. Enough said." This is how I feel about the poor reviews here about Schindler's List. If a miraculous story of salvation during the Holocaust is boring to you, then stick to your Adam Sandler movies. Spielberg has crafted one of the great movies of our time. The pacing, photography, pathos and acting are all superb. Any attempt to capture the entire Holocaust would have been futile, and I don't know of any non-documentaries that have tried to. This story is based on Thomas Keneally's well-researched book, and Spielberg keeps fairly faithful to it. Ultimately, it is a story of redemption, perseverence, and the overwhelming power of the human spirit against unspeakable horrors. There isn't a weak performance in the film, and several are outstanding. Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley are magnificent in the lead roles. And the music is absolutely haunting. If you're jealous of Steven Spielberg because of his talent and success, or you're a closet anti-Semite who complains about "all the holocaust movies," then stay away. But if you're simply interested in experiencing how powerful filmmaking can be, by all means see this important film.
