Lives up to the hype

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2019)

You can't do a Holocaust movie unless it's going to be great. If it's not great, then it's terrible. No in between.
The Pianist is great. Challenges and triumphs. And not just your typical Holocuast film. It has something to offer. It's its own thing.
Polanski doesn't just lazily try to pull at your heartstrings and hope you'll hand him an Oscar (which he couldn't accept in person). This is very much story-driven.
It's not just tragic. There's more to it than that.
If you haven't seen it, trust me. Watch it. And keep watching. It gets better and better.