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The Book Thief (2013)
Director: Brian Percival
Writers: Michael Petroni(screenplay), Markus Zusak (novel)
Cast: Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson
Premise (spoiler free): An illiterate girl is adopted by a poor German family in 1938. As Liesel (Sophie Nélisse) struggles with learning how to read...her adopted family gives shelter to a young Jewish man, whom she befriends. When the Nazis become increasingly militant, Liesel risk everything by stealing books to quench her desire for reading.
Review: There's a lot to admire about this movie and a few things that I wish had been done differently. The Book Thief is set in Germany during WW II but it's not an ultra-serious film like: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008) or The Pianist (2002). The Book Thief takes a serious subject and adds sentimentality to tug at our heart strings. At times it feels like one of Spielberg's idealistic uplifting films. If you like those type of films, you will love this one.
My biggest complaint was the decision to do a voice over, omnipotent narrator...aka the Grim Reaper. I suppose this was done as it's an important part of the novel. But every time the Grim Reaper narrator spoke, it took me out of the film, it was very distracting. The film would have had a nicely done ending, if they hadn't shamelessly done product endorsement by showing a close up of an Apple computer logo.
Acting: Newcomer Sophie Nélisse who plays Leisel, makes any of the films shortcomings seem unimportant. This girl can act! She does such a wonderful job of bringing her role to life, that I'm surprised she didn't receive an Academy Award nomination. Keep your eye on Sophie, she has a bright future on the silver screen.
The actor who played Leisel's adopted father, Geoffrey Rush was excellent and added the right mix of gently emotions to the film.
I really enjoyed this film. It looks great, the cinematography, the music score, the sets, all are perfect.
Director: Brian Percival
Writers: Michael Petroni(screenplay), Markus Zusak (novel)
Cast: Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson
Premise (spoiler free): An illiterate girl is adopted by a poor German family in 1938. As Liesel (Sophie Nélisse) struggles with learning how to read...her adopted family gives shelter to a young Jewish man, whom she befriends. When the Nazis become increasingly militant, Liesel risk everything by stealing books to quench her desire for reading.
Review: There's a lot to admire about this movie and a few things that I wish had been done differently. The Book Thief is set in Germany during WW II but it's not an ultra-serious film like: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008) or The Pianist (2002). The Book Thief takes a serious subject and adds sentimentality to tug at our heart strings. At times it feels like one of Spielberg's idealistic uplifting films. If you like those type of films, you will love this one.
My biggest complaint was the decision to do a voice over, omnipotent narrator...aka the Grim Reaper. I suppose this was done as it's an important part of the novel. But every time the Grim Reaper narrator spoke, it took me out of the film, it was very distracting. The film would have had a nicely done ending, if they hadn't shamelessly done product endorsement by showing a close up of an Apple computer logo.
Acting: Newcomer Sophie Nélisse who plays Leisel, makes any of the films shortcomings seem unimportant. This girl can act! She does such a wonderful job of bringing her role to life, that I'm surprised she didn't receive an Academy Award nomination. Keep your eye on Sophie, she has a bright future on the silver screen.
The actor who played Leisel's adopted father, Geoffrey Rush was excellent and added the right mix of gently emotions to the film.
I really enjoyed this film. It looks great, the cinematography, the music score, the sets, all are perfect.