Downfall (2005)

I am just from watching this film, and I must say the realism, the acting, the portrayal of those imagined last days of Hitler in his bunker just before the Red Army overrun Berlin is remarkable.I was especially moved by the fact that this movie has been critically hailed for staying as true to the "facts" as possible. Off course all movies will have key details changed for dramatic purposes, but the director and writer tried as much as possible to remain factual in all portrayals here.The performance by Bruno Gantz playing as Adolf Hitler was remarkable down to even his looks. I am surprised this movie did not get a nod from the Oscar people or perhaps it did and I am not aware. I only learned of this film just last week as it was reviewed on someone's list and being the history buff I am, wanted to verify for myself.The performances from the supporting cast is also impeccable, the actors that play Goebbels, his wife, Himmler, Eva Braun, several of the generals and even the main character that plays Jungl is spectacular and nothing short of award winning (IMHO). It is amazing how such a gem can be missed by mainstream movie buffs like me.Bottom line, watch this movie, you wont regret it. If you dont mind reading subtitles when watching (as it all in German), then this is a must watch on your list. For me, this film is certainly at the same level as Schindler's List, A Beautiful Life and other such noteworthy World War II Dramas.

I doubt it would be possible to make a grittier, more compelling account of the last few days in the bunker. The cast perform their roles with excellence, perfectly depicting the intensity and gravity of their situation. A masterpiece of a drama interspersed with action scenes which keep me glued to the screen each time I watch the movie.

Movie Review: "Der Untergang - Downfall" (2004)The entire picture on one actor's shoulders, here in Bruno Ganz, who portrays the infamous historical figure of Adolf Hitler too such extent that this internationally-acclaimed motion picture directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, who gets over-powered by producer Bernd Eichinger (1949-2011) to fulfill an honest attempt to recreate the final days of "World-War-2" Berlin-bunker-isolations of leading members of the National-socialist party."Downfall" begins with Hitler personally-recruiting the aftermath-book-writing real-life Traudl Junge (1920-2002), portrayed by innocent convictions-spreading, yet full-collaboration exposingly up-playing actress Alexandra Maria Lara, when emotionally-deep-striving demon confrontation seeking picture means to deliver accurate facts to dramatizing revelations in high peaking ultra-thrilling as devastating conclusions in propaganda ministry family of married with six children get drugged to death in a mid-night cyanide-raid by trauma-given performances ignited by match-making Corinna Harfouch & Ulrich Matthes as Magda & Joseph Goebbels, convincing even Hollywood's Finest that this motion picture prevails as being an important one to be revisited in any cinematic historical event on failing dictatorships.Producer Bernd Eichinger makes sure that in the end every film-making department looks toward utmost excellence in peaks of contemporary German cinema, which just faded since producer's heart-stroking death in Los Angeles, California at age 61 in this clearly-Hollywood-embracing audiovisual striking efforts through the producer's thirty years lasting career in now more globalizing motion picture event movie industries. © 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

What makes this film so compelling to me was that it showed the Nazi's not just as some one dimensional evil force but rather depicts how some people were just caught up in it through naivety, fear or both. Yes those at the top were completely losing it, but some people just wanted a job as a typist.