A fascinating thriller that in its plot pitches good
(Israel’s Mossed Secret Service) against evil (a notorious Nazi War Criminal) and in its telling, which flashes back between the past and the future, and
pitches 3 excellent older actors against young ‘un’s playing the younger
versions of their characters.
The Debt is a great story with really neat twists and
turns and full of suspense that focuses on a daring raid back in 1965 where the young Agents
captured the notorious Surgeon of Birkenau who had conducted unspeakable procedures
on prisoners. They return to Israel as
national heroes and are feted by all until 1991 when it is suddenly discovered
they may have been living a lie after all, and they are faced with either being exposed
or dealing with the situation.
turns and full of suspense that focuses on a daring raid back in 1965 where the young Agents
captured the notorious Surgeon of Birkenau who had conducted unspeakable procedures
on prisoners. They return to Israel as
national heroes and are feted by all until 1991 when it is suddenly discovered
they may have been living a lie after all, and they are faced with either being exposed
or dealing with the situation.
The acting plays a great part in its success. Young Rachel, one of the Agents, is stunningly played
by Jessica Chastain, who with equally powerful performances in ‘The Help’ and
in Terrence Malik’s ‘Tree of Life’ both out right now is in serious danger of
being THE actress of the year, and deservedly so in my book. Sam Worthington on the other hand as another
of the ‘young’ Agents is just as wooden as he was recently in ‘Late Night’, and frankly I think he’d
be better off keep playing disabled soldiers chasing tall Blue People
(Avatar). And the wonderful Dame Helen
Mirren as Old Rachel teaches Ms Chasten a thing or two about wearing a rather dramatic face scar whilst doing her usual gold-standard turn as a devious spy, albeit she occasionally forgets her heavy Israeli
accent (Meryl Streep she aint).
by Jessica Chastain, who with equally powerful performances in ‘The Help’ and
in Terrence Malik’s ‘Tree of Life’ both out right now is in serious danger of
being THE actress of the year, and deservedly so in my book. Sam Worthington on the other hand as another
of the ‘young’ Agents is just as wooden as he was recently in ‘Late Night’, and frankly I think he’d
be better off keep playing disabled soldiers chasing tall Blue People
(Avatar). And the wonderful Dame Helen
Mirren as Old Rachel teaches Ms Chasten a thing or two about wearing a rather dramatic face scar whilst doing her usual gold-standard turn as a devious spy, albeit she occasionally forgets her heavy Israeli
accent (Meryl Streep she aint).
What intrigued me too was that this was directed by
Brit filmmaker John Madden who’s magnificent ‘Shakespeare in Love’ netted
7 Oscars, and who also steered the equally wonderful ‘Her Majesty Mrs Brown’. but likewise also was responsible the appalling mess that was ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’. This latest film of his is neither that good, and but it also certainly not
that bad. A respectable and eminently enjoyable
movie, and the Debt gets paid. Sort of.
Brit filmmaker John Madden who’s magnificent ‘Shakespeare in Love’ netted
7 Oscars, and who also steered the equally wonderful ‘Her Majesty Mrs Brown’. but likewise also was responsible the appalling mess that was ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’. This latest film of his is neither that good, and but it also certainly not
that bad. A respectable and eminently enjoyable
movie, and the Debt gets paid. Sort of.
★★★★★★★★
Click for Trailer
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