Most people in the industry have the assumption that if you make a war movie, particularly one about the Holocaust, you will win many Oscars.
It's become quite the joke, but that's not to say that many of the past winners haven't been deserving.
'Defiance' is the new film from Edward Zwick. This is the same guy who brought us 'Blood Diamond', 'The Last Samurai', 'Courage under Fire', and the superb 'Glory'.
I'm still wondering how a guy with that kind of resume fumbled so badly with this new film.
It's not that I hate 'Defiance'…it's an amazing true story: In 1941, a group of Jewish brothers organize the largest armed rescue of Jews during the Holocaust. They manage to hide in a forest for 3 years and save over 1500 people.
My problem with the film is that the pacing is slow, and it lacks the punch needed to tell story as it needed to be told. The second act is terribly long and tough to sit through.
It's just not engaging enough, which is a real shame because it's about high time someone made a film where Jews just really kick butt and take control. Sadly this film isn't it.
Daniel Craig, Lief Schreiber, and Jaime Bell all turn in fine performances as the brothers, but for some reason their characters just didn't connect with me.
'Defiance' does defy all expectations and disappoints way more than it should. This is one of those Holocaust films that will fail to nab any award.
2 buckets.
