Paul Verhoeven's Zwartboek, or Black Book, is excellent

Rating: 10/10 (7 June 2007)

Paul Verhoeven's Zwartboek, or its English title Black Book, was the second movie (the first was Year of the Dog) I saw at the about-to-close Regal Entertainment Group's (previously United Artists') Siegen Village 10 Theatre in Baton Rouge, La., on its last day of operations of June 7, 2007. I picked its final showing of 6:30pm which had an attendance of maybe about 15 or so. Verhoeven co-wrote and directed a very compelling film about a woman named Rachel (Carice van Houten) who survives the Nazis during World War II in Holland by her connections, personality, and, most of all, her sexuality. van Houten's performance brings such a variety of emotions and intellect to her character that I cried and cheered with her all the way for her safety as well as those of other characters she cared about. Verhoeven brings such great drama and action in every scene that one never gets bored. If you know the director mainly for his American movies like RoboCop, Starship Troopers, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, or, most notoriously, Showgirls, Black Book will be a total revelation to you. It certainly was for me!