..the tagline says it all...

Rating: 10/10 (9 May 2006)

"The Pianist" is a movie which plays upon all of your emotions, as it should. Unless you had seen rushes at the theater or on TV (I hadn't), one would expect it to be primarily about classical music. It did get my attention because of its director, Roman Polanski; I've always enjoyed his films. Of course, that he can't come to this country to collect awards he wins also heightened expectations for the film. I was not familiar with a single member of the movie's cast. That bothered only because I didn't know who was doing what - I recognized Adrien Brody (Szpilman)from the ads in THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. He was in every scene; after all, it was his story. Not being familiar with the other actors-actresses certainly didn't effect my total enjoyment of it.
The first view of Adrien Brody at the piano kinda bothered me. I have never seen such emotionless piano-playing; I was a piano-student, concert-grade pianist. Even in those days - when it was REALLY difficult to break-into the classical music-field because there was no competitive programs to give you a boost - I don't buy all those stone-faced guys, great ones all, who played without the tiniest smile or pained expression. Were they robots? Neither do I think the overly-impassioned banging of today's pianists is natural, arms flailing and hair flying. Of course, unless a pianist doesn't do some of that, it's difficult for the audience in the last row of the balcony to determine if the pianist is just earning his breakfast, or really enjoying his music. It's kinda ludicrous for a pianist to get all worked-up over most Polish music, even Chopin's. BUT, I defy a pianist to play the really difficult music of Rachmaninov and not show one emotion over the energy it takes to keep pain-racked arms and hands working together or independently of one another - plus, the absolute fear you are not going to remember what comes next.
"The Pianist" was Roman Polansky's very best directing. Every scene was perfect and every actor/actress gave wonderful performances. The development of characters, to show the repressive torture all endured, even BEFORE the death-camps, looked absolutely real. The degradation they suffered just to survive was graphically clear. Also graphic were the roles of indifference - perhaps out of fear for themselves ? - most of the "Polish" citizens projected. No different from "The Diary of Anne Frank." Also in this movie, the compassion of the few whom this movie depicted to put themselves in harm's way to help others, was a powerful message.
Let's face it - today's people, especially Americans - would not have made it through the years of hiding and deprivation the citizens of all European countries were forced to endure. Every descent from one degradation to the next was heart-wrenching, and we were only following the misery of one family. We could watch, just across the street, helpless people thrown into them, shot-dead and then run-over by trucks?....set on fire?...shot for no reason at all? We could be locked-up in a couple of rooms for months-on-end without going stir-crazy? Not on your life -
After all of his misfortune, the pianist gave his greatest performance for the Nazi officer; it was brilliant - not only for the pianist, but for the untold truth (read guilt) and ecstasy on the officer's face. In that scene, Mr. Brody was a pianist; it saved his life - in his concert, post-war, to show him at the piano, then watching a totally different pair of hands blithely doing the work, was simply contrived. The artist may have been a prominent Polish pianist, but I don't think Szpilman would have approved.
You want drama - this movie gives it. We end-up where we began, in the radio-station. You should own it to be reminded that being extraordinary does not necessarily mean you will be treated that way - Bravo to all !
10/20/06 - Came back to this great movie tonight. I noticed two "goofs": when the family is selling the piano, the brother slams the lid to the keyboard shut. Two seconds later when the buyer is looking at it, it's open. When "the pianist" is playing for the German officer, there is nothing on the piano but "the can"; the very next shot has the officer's coat and hat on the piano. He had none when he stood in the door of the kitchen........