Customer Reviews

Black Book

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just when you think filmmakers cannot milk anymore out of the WWII genre along comes Paul Verhoeven. Those who only know his English language popcorn movies (Basic Instinct, Total Recall, Showgirls) will be in for a surprise.

This is one of the most intelligent and clever scripts ever filmed. Literally there are numerous times when the surprises in the film you truly never see coming. That's what makes this flick a total thrill ride as well as an amazing work in capturing the "look" of the latter days of WWII in German-occupied, and later liberated, Holland.

In the end this film does not work at all without Carice Van Houten who as the fulcrum around which all the mystery and thrills revolves pulls off this role of a lifetime.

Of course, no Verhoeven flick can be shot without the requisite babes showing their assets so fans of that aspect of the randy old Dutchman will also not be disappointed but unlike Showgirls, the choices seem to actually work within the context of the script.

The extras are just a director's commentary track and a making of where we get to know some good bits about the Dutch and German actors esp. the real-life friendship between the two main female actors and also this tidbit--the entire film cost just 16 million euros.

Black book is a thriller mystery that is excellent.Its 2 1/2 hours fits nicely into just the right amount of intrigue and excitement too keep you on the edge of your seat.Based on a true story, director Paul Verhoenen has once again out done his earlier works. It has a interesting plot and you just dont know what is going on until the end. The beautiful actress Carise van Houten is a believable character and the rest of the cast is fabulous with no holes or letdowns throughout the entire movie. Their are characters that you love and ones that you hate.The extras on the dvd are interesting and alot of knowledge of the real story of the Black Book is told on the commentary by the director and also a great,the making of featurette.All in all Black Book is one of the best war movies that is available.Only the Black Book knows what its secret is.Totally an irresistible rush !!!!!

Black Book is the kind of movie you want to have in your collection. Interesting, intelligent and exciting, it is another fine production out of Europe. Carice van Houten gives a star performance as Rachel Stein, a Jewish woman of courage, willing to do what she must in order to survive the Nazi occupation. Black Book is not as good as The Lives of Others (what could be?) but it is in the same league.

Why can't Hollywood make movies as good as this one?

The black book for which the film is named does not turn up until the last quarter of the film. When I purchased this DVD I thought the black book would turn up early on and sort of "lead" the film's direction and plot. It didn't. That aside, we were not in any way disappointed. I'm not a big fan of WW II films, mainly because so many of them are so unrealistic and take artistic liberties. Black Book is not one of those films.

We begin by "meeting" a young woman who is living in hiding in Holland during the war. Unlike most people in hiding, she lives a fairly free life on a farm, coming and going in the house, out buildings, and yard. She has to "sing for her supper" in that she is expected by the head of the household (a Dutch man) to recite christian bible verses before she's allowed to eat meals.

At breakfast one day, he praises her recital and says matter-of-factly that 'If you Jews knew your new testament, you wouldn't be in this (predicament).' Very politically incorrect by today's standards, but according to family friends who lived in Holland at that time, very accurate. The food (or lack thereof), the desperation felt by all towards what most felt had to be the end times or at least the beginning of the end for the nazis's hold on Holland, the mix of love and hate most people in Holland experienced during those dark days is also apparently extremely accurate.

Through a series of "so weird and so heartbreaking they have to be true" incidents, this young woman ends up alone in the world, doing whatever she has to do to survive. This leads to seducing an SS officer (while leaving the audience wondering if she really wants to or not), dying her hair in an unforgettable scene, and then, most unexpectedly for the audience and the character, she feels a kinship with and later falls deeply in love with a character you wouldn't expect her to. This character also turns out to be a real person, who really lived, breathed, and died.

In the end, when she (along with so many others) have been so completely betrayed so many times by an unknown person or persons, it becomes almost an obsession with some to find out WHO betrayed her (and others). The list of suspects grows shorter, and when you, the viewer, finds out who (could it be someone else or has she herself done this?) you'll be sitting there like we were, mouth hanging open.

Amazing cast, amazing direction, filmed at many actual historic locations in Holland, amazing script, heartbreaking moments that linger, some gorgeous scenery. One of the best films we've ever watched. Add to that it's a true story. Wow!

This film had me telling everyone I knew to watch it, all with the same results: simply amazing! The acting is fantastic, especially from the lead actress, Carice van Houten. Yes, I fell in love with her in this film, she looks absolutely beautiful in those 1940's style clothes and hair. But her acting can stand by itself. The supporting cast is just as good and everything ticks over at a perfect pace until the very end.

You cannot takes your eyes off the screen with this one. It's rare to watch a film that pulls everything together so perfectly - acting, writing and design racing along with a plot that never takes a breath. One of the best films I've ever seen.

I have recommended this movie, and lent it out to more people than any other movie I own.

Carice Van Houten gives a compelling performance in one of the best ever female lead roles, reminding me of Scarlett O Hara in Gone With the Wind. What this character goes though in this movie kept me gripped to my seat throughout. The stakes are so high, and the crap she has to put up with, smirk!

My hope is that we will see her starring in many more movies, and my regards to her boyfriend, Luke E Bastaard.

Seriously, though this movie has action, drama, heartstopping moments, heartbreaking moments, and even tender moments.

Directed by Verhoeven, of Basic Instinct, Total Recall, and Starship Trooper fame, Black Book is set in Holland near the end of the Second World War.

A former singer now a Jew in hiding, our heroine has to flee when her house is bombed, treachery and deceit lurks at every turn, and she ends up playing a Mata Hari type character, who has to insinuate herself into the affections of the local Gestapo chief, not difficult considering how attractive she is. Her discovery could mean instant death, and he seems to suspect her from the very beginning.

Ultimately, Verhoeven has created one of the greatest strong female characters in the history of cinema, gifted with tremendous survival skills. If you like the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo movies, I think you will love this movie. I hope this was helpful.

I have many WW11 movies and books on the subject and this movie even with sub-titles is an excellent account of a Jewish woman fighting the enemy,and for her life.

I just love this movie so much that I watched it three times already and I only have it about three month's now. there is some twist at the end that's sort of similar to [the girl with the dragon tattoo] don't want to give anything away so i better stop..Black Book [Blu-ray]

This is a wonderful film with action, emotions and an ending you will not be prepared for!
The actress who plays the main character is great and because all the cast is dutch we don't know any of them and it makes the story even more believable.