![]() Although I have never met any of our Dutch relatives surely some of them lived through the war. Three Movie Buffs’ maternal grandfather was born in Holland. On a personal level I found one aspect of this movie interesting. Although to be fair this doesn’t diminish the sense of danger that permeates the story. Unlike so many WWII movies about Jews struggling to survive Nazi persecution, this one has a satisfying ending a fact given away by the opening scene. This last traitor gets an appropriate come-uppance that will have you cheering for van Houten. Some are rather obvious, some are slightly surprising and one, in particular, is a shock. The mystery of just who is and who isn’t a traitor is sublimely revealed. This poor woman can’t catch a break, yet her spirit is never broken. She puts herself in constant danger as a spy and comes close to losing her life on several occasions. Once she joins the resistance she gives her all to the cause, including her body. As Eric wrote, she witnesses her family being gunned down in cold blood and that’s just for starters. This poor woman suffers more than Scarlett O’Hara during the first act of GWTW. At different times she evokes innocence, seduction, anger, hurt, defiance, shock, disappointment etc. ![]() She runs the gamut of emotions from A to Z and then finds several more there aren’t letters for. But this is a minor complaint about a superb movie.Ĭarice van Houten gives an award worthy performance as Rachel/Ellis. It gives away a key element of the story and adds to the movies’ length, which is about 145 minutes. If I had to find fault with it, the only thing I could come up with is the opening scene that takes place many years later. The cast, lead by the brilliant van Houten, does a remarkable job, the direction by Verhoeven is excellent and the cinematography beautiful. It has sympathetic characters to root for, plenty of action, intrigue, betrayal and heroics. It has all of the necessary ingredients in just the right amounts. Scene for scene this is probably the best WWII thriller I have ever seen as well. ![]() As it turns out you didn’t over praise it at all. Thom Hoffman and Carice van Houten in Black Book.Įric, upon first reading your review I assumed you were guilty of over praising this movie. Black Book is the best World War II thriller I have ever seen. It shows in the details of the story line of patriotism, betrayal and love. No doubt this movie has some personal significance to him. Paul Verhoeven, who also wrote the screenplay with Gerard Soeteman, lived through World War II as a child in the Netherlands. They had their heads shaved as a sign of their shame and betrayal. To fear the liberation.” How can they explain that an SS Officer and a Jew love each other and get any amount of pity from anyone? After the war, German officers were put on trial for war crimes and women of occupied countries were branded traitors if they slept with Nazis. ![]() Van Houten has an ironic line near the end when she says, “I never knew this would happen. You root for them as their is absolutely no one on their side. It is because of the relationship between Ellis and Muntze that this movie really becomes more than just an action/historical thriller. Koch, coincidentally played the same role Cruise played in Valkrie in a German television movie, Stauffenberg (2004), which was re-titled Operation Valkrie when released on DVD. You will know it when you see it, and not soon forget it.Ĭarice van Houtens real life boyfriend is German actor Sebastian Koch, who plays Muntze. Although she is very attractive and has a really nice body, she has one particular nude scene while in prison that is anything but erotic. She is good whether singing in German, seducing Muntze or running for her life. She does a remarkable job and is in most scenes. Carice van Houten played Tom Cruises wife in Valkrie. The cast is great, if not fully recognizable here in the United States. There is plenty of action and fighting, and true to Verhoeven’s reputation, just enough nudity. You, as well as the characters in the movie, are never sure who the bad guys and traitors really are. She agrees, but surprises herself when she falls in love with him.īlack Book is a thriller with many twists and turns. She is given the assignment of having an affair with a German SS officer, she met earlier on a train, in order to help rescue some fellow resistance members. The result is one amazing World War II thriller.Īfter witnessing the slaughter of her family, a young Jewish girl finds herself joining the Dutch resistance. It features a European cast and is loosely based on true events. He filmed Black Book in his home land of Holland. Paul Verhoeven is best known in the United States as the director of Basic Instinct and Showgirls. Sebastian Koch and Carice van Houten in Black Book.
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