The Pianist (Widescreen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: An Oustanding film based on humanity's darkest hour
Review: THE PIANIST is a powerful film by famed Jewish director Roman Polanski, who won a Best director Oscar, as well as star Adrien Brody, who won Best Actor playing Wlady Szphilman, a real-life world-renown pianist

The movie is set in World War II Nazi-occupied Poland. Szpilman is a Jewish pianist, and survived miraculously in the ghettos hiding from the Germans and eluding Nazi death camps. Unlike many unfortunate Jews, Szpilman is lucky to have survived.

THE PIANIST is an absolutely great piece of work; Polanski does a startling job at building such an epic war film at such a grand scale, and also a builds a sad and emontional tone as well. Brody also did a magnificent job potraying Szpilman, and I think he richly deserved that Oscar.

One of the greatest Holocaust films ever made!

Rating:
Summary: Tedious drama, unremarkable perspective.
Review: Before purchasing this DVD, I didn't know the particulars about statutory rape charges and Roman Polanski. My vote today is not on that legal and moral issue.
As a patron, I purchased what I hoped to be a fresh view regarding an terrible period in human history. I was looking for a new Shindler's List. But this story failed to meet expectations. If I wanted to spend hours listening to fine piano, maybe. But I wanted what lacked here: uniqueness, a tight story, excellent entertainment, and the sensation proclaimed. It just didn't do it for me.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible!!!
Review: I am from a family of artists; my mother, who was Welsh, was a professional pianist. My father was a professional drummer. An uncle was a professional artist. (Another uncle raised horses.) So from an early age, the arts and horses and ballet and figure skating were all included in my life.
So I can say, from experence, that "The Pianist" is fantastic!! Anyone who loves music of any-kind; this DVD is wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding Emotional Film
Review: Adrian Brody is in the role of a lifetime. He certainly deserved the Oscar for his acting performance in The Pianist.
Very moving and touching. This historical film will go down as one of the greatest films in history.

Rating:
Summary: Just WONDERFUL
Review: I really loved this movie. I could not even leave the room while it was on. YOU have to see this. A++++++++++++++++

Rating:
Summary: Intense Life Story During the Holocaust
Review: "The Pianist" is one of the top 10 best films of 2002. It was rightfully nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, going on to win three: Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Its true story of world-famous pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman, who struggles for his life during the Holocaust is very powerful, yet brilliant. The hardcore drama begins the moment his passionate music career becomes threatened by Hitler. Its material is close to as graphic as the actual conditions, which is how it should be displayed. Such intensity, which is never lost for a second, guarantees an emotional reaction. All the emotions in the scenery and through the characters are heartpounding through Szpilman's entire unfortunate journey. The immense research of these events is present. The writer's own heart and soul was written in every word. This project was wonderfully led by Roman Polanski's brilliant vision. His directing talents answer why he deserves his legendary status.

The set scenery is as accurate to the actual buildings and living conditions of Europe in 1939-1945. The hard work through the construction paid off, adding extra living intensity. The clothing worn in the movie adds the necessary emotional value that keeps audiences watching. All other physical details in this film are also flawless, namely the make-up and the dirty scenery (dirt, burns, blood, etc.). The musical score was composed beautifully, blending perfectly with every scenes' particular mood.

The performances from all the actors are beyond words. Adrien Brody beautifully portrays Szpilman in his career-launching role. His every drop of heart and soul are obviously presented through his character. This is one of the best Holocaust movie roles in cinema history. His talents prove that he'll be around for many more years. A few other actors could have received Oscar nominations for their supporting roles without critic complaints.

"The Pianist" is a great movie for entertainment and education. This future classic is sure to please many audiences. Those looking for more perspectives on the Holocaust should also watch "Schindler's List", which offers a more graphic look.

Rating:
Summary: For Gods Eyes Only
Review: Iam almost speechless to explain just how horrifying a motion picture this really is!That in fact much of what we are asked to view is actually based on true events is equally as disturbing.I would find that there was much personal information that was placed in context of the Third Reich occupation of Poland and the creeping calculation of annilation that placed any efforts to survive as a premium that was virtually fruitless.That the garden was virtually barren and the green of spring was dried to a crisp is to suggest that what was attempted by the forces of the Third Reich brought the end of the world in sight.This is not a picture for the faint of heart for there is such a terrifying calculation to certain death that the only greater shame would of been when the victorious Russian Army was searching thru the occupied communites and almost shot to death the pianist who in order not to freeze to death wore a german coat to keep warm.To me that would of been a defeat to knock you out of your chair,however,thank God,that defeat was not to be.It is an un-nerving event that this individual survived and even more so why we couldnt get to that monster sooner.Though this dear reader is not to place controversy at those that perished during the occupation,the victorious Russian Forces were to be required to surrender the lives of some ten million before they entered into Berlin.Even today with such devastation just a crisis away there may never be a time when such would be the case as was told of in this motion picture.I dont like a whole lot of politics however a concept of eternal vigilance may seem more appropiate than a recommendation to see this picture.I viewed this on DVD,it was a rental from a local library.I do not recommend this film to be viewed by anyone under the age 18 or even perhaps 21.If the adult wants to view this film they should be forewarned,again this is not for the faint of heart!

Rating:
Summary: Is There More to Say? To This I Answer Affirmatively
Review: There are so many ways to review a film. So many angles, perspectives. Criticisms are as easy to find (Brody's long hair toward the end is not that convincing) as laurels (Polanski's brilliant use of original black and white footage (much viewable on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial website) of pre-war Warsaw integrated into the scenes of film--reconstructions, if you will.

In all respects a brilliant film.

I will therefore focus on only one aspect. This is the encounter between Szpilman, the Pianist, and Wehrmacht Hauptmann des Reserves Wilm Hosenfeld (pulled from the Reserves out of wartime necessity), the man who provided the means for him to survive the few weeks left before the Red Army enters Warsaw, which, using Computer Graphic Imaging, is in color as startlingly real as the actual black and white photographs of the period--near total destruction and decimation of a great city.

That encounter, which of course one must live through the film to appreciate, is acted to perfection by Brody and Thomas Kretschmer, the German actor. I have before me an actual photograph of Captain Hosenfeld in 1940, having what appears to be a pleasant conversation with a Jew, on the street, in the snow, in Wegrow.

Hosenfeld was an unusual man, leaving behind many letters to home. He died in ingnominity in some Soviet prison camp--only 5,000 of some 90,000 Prisoners of War returned to Germany--a Holocaust unto itself about which we know little.

Hosenfeld was a Captain of Reserves, if anything, a rather stunning man in contrast to what we normally think of when we see the Wehrmacht officer in uniform, the Reichsadler (Reich Eagle holding the Swastika, or Hackenkreuz in German), prominently over the right upper breast pocket of the Waffenrock (four pocket tunic).

Even in the winter of 1939/1940 (the photo is in a recent German book, "Retter in Uniform"--Rescuers in Uniform--showing Hosenfeld and Schindler to be hardly unique. Schindler a war profiteer who seemingly regains, or assumes, his humanity in Schindler's list....Hosenfeld, a busy leader organizing retreat who can take the time to listen to Szpilman play, and to say ironically, with a smile--good name for a Pianist. In German, it would be Spielman--one who plays. These contrasts--the emaciated Szpilman, the robust, dutiful if resigned Hosenfeld, make the film unforgettable--you will not have to worry about placing it in a "favorite's" place. You can never forget the moment when Kretschmer, as Hosenfeld, says. "Speil was"--play something.

This film lasted, possibly, four weeks in Austin, Texas, at one, two, maybe three theaters, often nearly empty. I recommend it most highly, for its tragic and ecstatic moments, one of the most dramatic being Szpilman's ultimately failed search for Hosenfeld. Mr. Polanski has not lost his filmmaking touch.

Rating:
Summary: Melodiously deserving great praise
Review: A very powerful drama!
If you like the movie, "Schindler's List," you will like this movie as well.

It's about World War II and the holocaust; about a pianist and his family; and about the minuscule goodness from a German soldier towards him while having to deal with the running over of their homeland. [...]

Rating:
Summary: Intense and thoughtful without being offensive or overdone
Review: --This film recreates the survival of a brilliant concert pianist who is subjected to the terrors of Nazi occupation. That survival depended on his own wits, a great deal of luck, the kindness of many benefactors, and even the compassion of an enemy officer. The director indicates survival is tenuous, and depends on the attitude of the survivor -- one moment's lapse of concentration or effort, and all could be over -- and on the environment -- one false or unlucky step, and all could be over.
--Unlike many Holocaust films, this one moves quickly from one scene to another without overdwelling -- Polanski shoots, makes his point, and then moves on quickly, which allows the movie to avoid being emotionally mawkish and overdone (although it also makes it harder to develop depth of character).
--I saw this film with a person who normally despises and avoids violent documentaries, and neither of us felt Polanski tried to glorify violence for the sake of gaining an audience. Therefore, we felt far less offended by the violence than in a typical Hollywood film. It also made us count our blessings!
--I would recommend it to anyone interested in the phenomenon of survivorship or who just wants to see a positive, thoughtful, and decent movie.