Garbo Got it in the End

Rating: 8/10 (28 April 2007)

Greetings again from the darkness. Just a wonderful film with enormous amounts of energy, suspense and intrigue. Director Paul Verhoeven has had his career ups and downs - "Basic Instinct", "RoboCop", "Showgirls" - but here he is at his absolute best in creating tension in so many scenes.
The script is brilliant (supposedly based on actual events) and takes us on a wild ride and proof again that power is dangerous, causes strange bedfellows and most of all, breeds distrust ... even amongst those on the same side.
Set at the end of WWII, the film feels real and the sets and props are outstanding. Even the violence and scenes of torture are painful to watch. Carice van Houten is brilliant as Rachel/Ellis, the Dutch lady who joins the resistance in order to seek revenge on those responsible for her family's brutal massacre. Ms. van Houten has a real spirit and fully captures the intricacies of the role. Sebastian Koch (Muntze) and Thom Hoffman (Akkermans) are both excellent ... the latter reminds of the intensity of the "old" Russell Crowe.
It is a rare film that combines an emotional roller coaster with a spy thriller. "Black Book" succeeds on many levels and is truly superb film-making.