#49: The Pianist (2002)
Starring: Adrian Brody
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Plot: A Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.
But is it any good?
Who would’ve thought that yet another movie about the Second World War would become a classic? Why aren’t we all suffering from war-movie fatigue?
Well, there are a few possible reasons. First, The Pianist is from a Polish perspective (and a true one) instead of the usual US/Brit angle.
Second, Adrian Brody virtually cut himself off from real life to play this role (rightly winning an Oscar but planting that horrible sloppy kiss on an unsuspecting Halle Berry). His pale, lanky frame has been spotted in several big pictures since.
Third, it’s a compelling story involving a very sympathetic character - a quiet, immensely talented musician who loses everything and witnesses immense brutality. The story is focused on him which draws in the audience.
Finally, his grief at losing the ability to play the music he loves makes the story more tangilble, and the music itself, when heard, is haunting indeed.
There’s no denying that Polanski, despite (or because of?) his personal shortcomings and appalling private life, is an incredibly talented director who has created several masterpieces. This ranks among them. It’s riveting, emotional viewing - one simply too exhausting to merit repeating anytime soon.
IMDb’s rating: 8.5/10
My rating: 9/10
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Posted
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Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at 12:09 am under
