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Description
Daniel Craig (James Bond: Quantum of Solace) stars as Tuvia Bielski, an ordinary citizen turned hero, in this action-packed epic of family, honor, vengeance and salvation. Defiance is a riveting adventure that showcases the extraordinary true story of the Bielski brothers, simple farmers –outnumbered and outgunned- who turned a group of war refugees into powerful freedom fighters. Tuvia, along with his unyielding brother, Zus (Liev Schreiber, X-Men Origins: Wolverine), motivate hundreds of civilians to join their ranks against the Nazi regime. Their “Inspirational story”* is a true testament to the human spirit. - David Densby, The New Yorker
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Excellent acting pulls off a movie that is about a half an hour too long... Aug 30, 2010 Jewish brothers hide out in the forests of Eastern Russia after their parents are killed by the Nazis during the Second World War. While hiding out they become reluctant saviors for a group of displaced Jews, becoming unwitting resistors to the german war machine that rampaged the world in 1941.
Daniel Craig is magnificent as Tuvia, the eldest brother and natural leader of the village they create in the woods, displaying a character who is both fiercely compassionate as well as morally questionable at times. (One can't help comparing this role to his more famous role as James Bond when you see immediately how unBondlike Tuvia is from the get go- in a good way! Warmer and so much more human in some of his hesitant decision making, Tuvia is so much easier to empathize with.) Liv Schreiber plays Zus, the warrior second eldest brother who battles the love he holds for his eldest brother and the tendency to want to wrest control from the more diplomatic Tuvia. Its also amazing to watch the change in the peacemaking Asael and youngest Aron, who end up being the spirit and moral backbone of the group and gel that holds them all together respectively.
Unfortunately, the movie is about a half an hour to forty-five minutes too long- some consistent editing and, I have to say it, more depth to some of the female characters and their relationships to the men, would have made this movie a truly excellent film. As is, 4 out of 5 from me.
Solid portrayal of partisan life and warfare. Aug 12, 2010 I saw this film recently and I enjoyed it. I'm not in a position to comment on its accuracy regarding the actual events but it was a solid representation of the persecution of the Jews, the colaborators, difficult living conditions in the forest, and in particular partisans. The battle scenes included ambushes, raids and a confrontation with a tank (I don't know what it started as but it was a creditable reconstruction of a Mk IV). The battle scenes were fine - appropriately savage and when the German army proper entered the fray, they were clearly the 'A' team. There were a few Stukas too! I liked Daniel Craig's work in it all. Sure there were cliches and relationship sidetracks but it's hard to avoid these. There was some interesting material on some of the complexities of the time, like dealing with the Communist partisans and the impact of the Holocaust. There were also some slow patches but I enjoyed some of the 'blokey' humour. We don't get too many war films and while not fantastic, it was a solid piece of work and I think most fans of military dramas will be generally entertained by it.
A Solid WW2 Tale From A New Perspective Jul 10, 2010 When I think of World War 2 films, I usually think of graphic war scenes, Holocaust themes, or military strategy. This film takes a completely different approach to the WW2 era, showing it from the point of view of a group of Jewish citizens trying to avoid capture and survive out in the woods.
For a basic plot summary, this film focuses on the two eldest Bielski brothers (Tuvia & Zus), who lead a band of fleeing Jews into the woods when the Germans begin to invade Eastern Europe. While out in the Belarussian forest, the Bielski boys must not only feed hungry mouths and keep away from the Germans, but also navigate through different political/military strategies and the shady Russian army (in which you never know who to trust).
This movie may not be an all-time classic, but it is a very solid WW2 tale told from a perspective I'm not accustomed to (and thus rather fresh). Being based on a true story, it is remarkable to consider the odds that the vagrant Jews faced just to survive each day, nonetheless maintain their freedom.
The two acting leads (Daniel Craig & Liev Schreiber) are very compelling, while none of the auxiliary cast are exceptionally bad. Though it is a bit slow in the beginning, by the end the plot/characters will really have you rooting for success.
Thus, I recommend this film to WW2 enthusiasts of all kind. If you don't expect a masterpiece, and are content with a good story from a new angle, you will enjoy this film very much.
Excellent, excellent movie Jun 21, 2010 Although violent, a very good movie for all to see. Some great lessons both on what to do and what NOT to do. Parts of the movie are sad but it ends on a very uplifting note. Highly recommended!
Please, God, do not choose Us anymore Jun 13, 2010 Written and directed by Edward Zwick (director of THE LAST SAMURAI and BLOOD DIAMOND), this interesting, moving film was a fascinating watch. It is the story of the fabulous Bielski brothers, Tuviya a/k/a Tuvya a/k/a Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber) and young Asael (a great turn from Jamie Bell).
These Russian Jewish brothers escaped the NAZIs into the depths of the forest in 1941 or thereabouts. They took with them everyone they could, eventually evacuating an entire ghetto, and at certain moments working with the Russian resistance (as one elder pointed out, the same Russians whose ancestors had committed the pogrom).
These people, more than 1,000, survived in the woods for nearly four years. The Bielski brothers rallied them and Tuvia Bielski was the 'commandant'--but it was the power of the people to the nth degree that makes this true story an incredibly moving, inspiring tale. Coming to be known as "The Bielski Partisans", this group of Jews, poor and once-rich, laborer and educated professional, fought a little-known great resistance in WWII Russia.
In the end, all these Jews would be forced to cross a marsh that made the Pontine look like a kiddie-pool; they would all learn to be warriors as were their ancient ancestors; and would eventually take on the NAZIs in a fierce hand-to-hand battle...which the Jews won.
I imagine there are poetic licenses taken in DEFIANCE, which is as it should be. I was deeply moved by Daniel Craig's solid, reliable performance. His Russian is fantastic, and there was no want in his acting at all (I've been hearing complaints since he played James Bond). Liev Schreiber is haunting and powerful as he always is; naturally his Russian is fluent and easy also. Jamie Bell, though somewhat shoved into the back seat, performs capably and I'm sorry he didn't get all he deserved from this film.
The other performers are spectacular, with natural, frightened and really emotionally charged work that you don't get everyday. While you may not recognize most of these excellent performers, you will see members of your own families in their faces. Especially the girls. They are strong, powerful, they do not whine as you might expect anyone would do; they accept their life, a harsh truth in exchange for a future. As one significant character prays, "God, do not choose us anymore."
I will stop the synopsis because I'm sure it's easy to guess. However, a few more words about the film as film: it is a bit slow and saggy in places I'd expect some brilliance. Kurosawa was unmatched at making silence and stillness count for much. This film doesn't do that, and lacks a lot of subtlety. As I say Jamie Bell is ill-used here, considering his talents. It shows a bit of lack of directorial experience.
The cinematography is wonderful, the soundtrack a good, unintrusive complement. My wife and I were very impressed by the way this film uses color and monochrome. Watch for it, I won't try to describe it. One thing that really made it for me was the parallel between my people fleeing Egypt so long ago, and these people in the forests of Russia. You'll see this too, so I'll not spoil it. It is one of the things the director nailed perfectly.
One thing else I must address, and that is accents. It struck me as natural that the characters should speak with accents, in spite of them all speaking Russian at certain times. They are Russian, so they use Russian accents. Yet this is a contrivance I cannot comprehend, and do not usually approve. We had the same issue with VALKYRIE--the public asked why the characters didn't affect German accents, as if it were "Hogan's Heroes".
Generally characters do not need silly accents. It detracts from drama and story; it sounds silly and as I said, very contrived. We do not need accents to tell one set of characters from another, especially in DEFIANCE. Yet it works and I had no qualm with it. That means I am missing something. I wish I knew what it was I was missing; I can tell you that each actor in DEFIANCE mysteriously loses his accent at one time or another. It happens a lot. Perhaps there is a cinematic lesson here about giving actors unnecessary accents.
We must never forget, and this film in spite of all technical flaws gets the full tamale for teaching us something we didn't really know. This is stuff that cannot be forgotten once learned, and these heroes should go into the future well known and beloved. Like the film itself, warts and all, it is a glorious, miraculous and heroic thing.
based on 153 reviews
Solid portrayal of partisan life and warfare. Aug 12, 2010
Excellent, excellent movie Jun 21, 2010
