A superb movie

Rating: 10/10 (2 October 2006)

I first saw this at the movies and was completely bowled over by it. The story is familiar enough to anyone who's been conscious at any time in the last 60 years. The story is sordid (about Hitler, Goebbels etc) and tragic(for Germany) with it. Junge's own contribution at the start of the film is very telling. Ganz's portrayal of an avuncular Hitler one minute and a raving delusional the next is a standout performance. The mood of the film is claustrophobic in the extreme, no doubt reflecting how oppressive that time in the bunker must have been for all concerned and the switches to what was happening above ground highlight the whole unreality of the bunker existence. I've since bought the DVD and have watched it again 3 times since. Ganz doesn't look much like Hitler(always excepting the moustache) but after a minute or two it doesn't matter. It makes me wish for an equally good film about Stalin- a subject crying out for screen work.