It isn't what you think or feel; it's what you do that counts.

Rating: 9/10 (13 January 2009)

If Kate Winslet, who won a Golden Globe for this performance, does not win the Oscar for the same role, then there is no justice in the world. She was absolutely incredible in a role that had her go from predator, to victim; from seemingly oblivious to the magnitude of what she did, to someone willing to take blame that wasn't hers to avoid embarrassment.
It is extremely hard to critique this film without giving away the magnificent plot, so I will try my best to avoid anything that would do that.
Bruno Ganz played a law professor that was critical to enjoying this movie because he made us think about the role of the individual, of the collective, of society, of everyone in the horrible massacre that was the Holocaust, and also makes us think of our role in the massacres that are going on around the world in Darfur and Iraq. Are we responsible by doing nothing? Can we really say we do not know what is going on? It was pointed out that there were 1000 concentration camps. Every German knew. What was their responsibility? What of the responsibility of the 52 million Americans who voted for Bush in 2004 knowing what was happening in Iraq and Guantanamo? One cannot avoid the comparisons, although the Jews had it far worse.
Ralph Fiennes put in an incredibly good performance, but nothing compared to Winslet. She solidified her acting credentials in this amazing film.