Downfall

Rating: 9/10 (10 March 2016)

(Warning: There Will Be Spoilers)
The Hitler in Downfall is not exactly the same Hitler we've seen before. He's just as hostile and hateful as we know, but here he is only a deeply insecure man masquerading as a powerful and strong one. "Downfall" shows how unbelievably single- minded Hitler and his followers were, and how the few humane people were far too outnumbered to make a difference. Consider for instance a scene in which Hitler is going to kill himself and Magda Goebbels comes knocking at his door sobbing and falls to her knees hugging his legs, begging him not to do it. Then consider a later scene in which she murders her children because she doesn't want them to live in a world without Hitler. As she kills her children her face is completely emotionless. Then she walks out, sits down for a couple seconds, stands up and goes to play cards, like nothing ever happened.
The most terrifying thing in this movie is how Hitler simply has no regard for human life. Hitler's world begins crumbling down on him and he brings everyone else down with him, and I mean EVERYONE. His country, his people, and even the few people truly close to him. Even after he basically announces to everyone that they're screwed, he continues to defend Berlin against Russia, knowing Berlin's fate, but convincing himself that he can withstand against it. He manages to convince himself that he is the courageous one and that all of the soldiers are being cowards, but ironically decides to kill himself.
But the most important part of all of this is about the people he influences. As I describe him most people probably think "how could anyone possibly follow this man?" and were given a glimpse to the first impression most people at the time would get with Traudl Junge. He would seem like a kind, powerful man to some, but his true personality was already hidden by the reputation he had built up, and in order to understand what kind of man he really was, we need to see him from a new perspective.
While I believe the movie does make points like this through the actions of the characters, but none of its points are ever forced or hamfisted. It simply shows the facts and leaves the viewer up to decide what the point is. Also, while they are one-sided, it never shows Hitler or the Nazis as inhuman monsters, it shows them as scared, confused human beings that cling to an insecure, scared man that has unrealistically high expectations for Berlin.
In short, I think "Downfall" is a masterpiece and its greatest strength comes in how it gets it's point across through the actors' performances and the characters' actions, and I could go on explaining many incredible scenes and the point that each scene communicates, but that would be pointless. Just go watch the movie if you haven't seen it yet.