Absorbing, but overrated

Rating: 7/10 (12 January 2009)

I was expecting a lot more from this film, and I don't think my impression of it was degraded by the high claims made of it. While it was an atmospheric, impious piece I didn't think it was as good as people are saying here. Brody's performance did what the role required, he displayed fear and so on quite effectively, but felt his character lacked any subtlety. One moment he's a panicked but handsome man, then he suddenly falls ill, grows a beard, and becomes a stumbling wreck. And then everything goes back to normal.
Furthermore, the portrayal of the brutality going on around Szpilman, I felt, was nothing special. Of course the wanton disregard for life, the lining of of people to be shot and so on are all very moving topics, and the camera angles through broken windows and so on worked very well, but I can't see how people think this film's portrayal is so superior.
It's definitely worth watching, but it's pretty straight-forward.