Defiance (2008)

"Defiance" had potential to be a truly gripping and emotional film, but its lack of depth and less than impressive technical production caused it to fall a bit flat.-Analysis of Notable Work- *Writing/Directing: The story is one of survival and selflessness. It has the workings of a masterpiece, but it felt more as if it was trying to fill all the check-boxes for cliches in a WWII/Holocaust film. The brothers are at odds half way through the film, there is an old man who says it is hopeless (he is proven wrong), there is a weak character who shows strength in the time of need, etc. This wouldn't be a problem on its own, but each of these moments feel forced, and that is why they fail. Edward Zwick delivers moments of greatness, but much of his direction seems to lead this film into areas that have already been well-explored. *Cinematography/Editing: Eduardo Serra puts in average work in this film, enough to get the point across. The camera placement and movement makes us feel like we are in the moment for most of the film, yet other times it feels out of place and as if there was no real goal for telling a certain part of the story visually. There are too many close-ups in this film, which actually takes power away from the characters because it makes the close-ups feel unimportant. The color palette works well; it appears cold and washed-out which adds to the feeling of death and hopelessness the Jews must have felt. The editing is effective and simple. It has its ups and downs. At times there are too many shots of people being hit by bullets that it loses its weight in the storytelling. But overall, the pacing is even and serves the story well. *Dialogue/Acting: There are moments of brilliance and power in some dialogue and monologue scenes. Some characters give inspiring speeches and some scenes feature dramatic face-offs. However, much of the dialogue written for the supporting cast and extras is rather clunky. The delivery of the extras and supporters does not help matters. When it is brought to the audience's attention that the people on screen are, in fact, actors then it takes away the power of the film. A great film can have the audience convinced throughout the entire film that the characters are authentic people. Liev Schreiber and Daniel Craig deliver adequate performances, but nothing more. They hold the film above water, but do not make it soar. *Music/Sound: The music is subtle for much of the film, but it delivers power to the necessary scenes. It does not try to gain the audiences attention, and it serves the film well by doing this. The sound design is one of the strengths of the film. It provides a sense of realism all the way through, apart from maybe one or two scenes. *Production Design/Special Effects: The costume design and set pieces/props feel authentic and serve the story well. It is easy to get wrapped up in the feel of the 1940s while watching this film. The practical effects are impressive and another of the film's strong points. The visual effects/CGI are less powerful and end up hurting the film. One of the most poorly done parts of the film is when the German planes come through to bomb the Jewish refugees. This scene should terrify us, but it more-so looks laughable.*Conclusion: "Defiance" delivers an impressive story, but not the best way it could have. The end result is worth watching, but not life-altering.

What was the director thinking, really? I believe he made so many fundamental errors that it is hard to accept from an apparently seasoned professional. Must say this is more the part that Daniel Craig fits into, than James Bond which requires a smooth, suave man. The rough'n'tumble and craggy old Craig indeed looks the part in this flick, though his acting is lacking, lightweight, unconvincing. The whole movie has a feeling of failure about it. One series of scenes involving violent blood & shooting action was ridiculously handled, almost in a Keystone Kops fashion. I couldn't figure out why the characters were speaking Russian, when the film is set in Poland. Who knows? Does the director? Do the actors? Really, a waste of time, but I have resisted rating lower than 3 out of respect for the events portrayed, even though they were portrayed poorly.

Defiance is a well meaning but bloated film that wants to depicts Jews more than just as passive victims in eastern Europe during World War 2.Based on true facts of the Bielski brothers, Tuvia Bielski (Daniel Craig) is almost Moses like as he leads a band of Jews in the forest of Belarus to survival. He take in fleeing Jews, builds a society with rules of fairness so they do not live like animals. Fight any advancing militia and stave off hunger and disease.His quick tempered brother Zus (Liev Schreiber) wants to take the fight to the Nazis and the collaborators and has little time to help fleeing Jews to survive. He sides with the Russians even though he knows that they too are anti semites.Director Edward Zwick has to keep this two narrative strands going but the film is too disjointed and trite. The third brother Asael (Jamie Bell) is wasted as the one who has choose between his brothers and falls in love with one of the beautiful girls in the woods which causes friction with a rival who throws a challenge to Tuvia's authority.The film is hackneyed, dreary and not even that interesting. The actors speak Russian and then shift to English with heavy accents. The film needed a lightness of touch and maybe even some humour to counterbalance the grimness.

Through the Foggy Lense of History the True Story told by Survivors and Historians vary Wildly. Accused of Their Own despicable atrocities trying to Survive deplorable conditions in the Wilderness, the Bielski Resistance is Currently in Heated Dispute about Their Actual Fighting and Activities.Depending on what Source You seek out there will be an Enormous Amount of Partisanship and Opinions. The Film takes the Positive Nuggets Uncovered in the frustrating ability to Pin-Down the Accuracy of such a Tumultuous and Tragic Era of Human Suffering.Putting Aside the Historical Truth (if there is such a thing) and Reviewing the Film as a Film, an Attempt at an Enlightening Entertainment, it is a rather Well-Made, Interesting, and Inspiring Movie.The Director Edward Zwick is not Shy about using Modern Movie Flourishes of Action, varying Film-Speed and Camera Hi-Jinx to Heighten the already Dramatic War Battles. He uses this to accelerate the pulse.Also, with the Over-Use of Violins pulling the Heartstrings, Zwick spares no amount of Hollywood Ness to make the Movie Watchable amongst the Truly Depressing Suffering.Overall, Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber, along with Jamie Bell make this a Well-Acted, Controversial Film, that is Worth a Watch. But to find out just what Really Happened might be as Frustrating as the Filmmakers Pretensions and in the Final Analysis only Guilty of what most of History is, "...a set of lies agreed upon." (Napoleon)