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Defiance (2008)

Director: Edward Zwick

Time Out rating

Average user rating

24 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

After ‘Glory’ and ‘The Last Samurai’, Zwick stays firmly in his comfort zone with another tale of plucky outsiders forced into military service. This time it’s the Bielski brothers, leaders of a group of Belorussian Jews who hid in the woods during the Nazi occupation.

Clearly relishing the opportunity to do more than smirk and shoot people, Daniel Craig frowns and shoots people as older brother Tuvia, who attempts to hold the community together while sibling Zus (Liev Schreiber) heads off to join the partisans. It’s an extraordinary tale, fully deserving of the hefty Hollywood treatment. The Bielskis sheltered anyone and everyone, even going so far as to liberate a nearby ghetto.

Which only makes Zwick’s predictable treatment of the material more frustrating. His films have always been trad Hollywood, with more old-school style than actual substance. ‘Defiance’ doesn’t even have style, hemmed in by its forest setting and photographed with an unremittingly bland colour palette. The action sequences are perfunctory and confusing, full of smoke and fury, acting to force the story forward rather than set the pulse racing. The film ties itself in knots trying to be both historical account and ripping adventure – ‘Schindler’s List’ by way of ‘The Dirty Dozen’. In the end neither aspect satisfies, resulting in a drab if diverting Sunday afternoon spectacle.

Author: Tom Huddleston 2009-01-06 10:28:24

Time Out London Issue 2003, 8 - 14 Jan, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Sam Badcock said...

Posted on Jan 14 2009 17:50 I thought this film was rubbish! very chessey and see-through! I would not recomend it.

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alby said...

Posted on Jan 13 2009 20:55 a good story plenty of action a must for any historians out there, acting was good staging of battles well done we really enjoyed every minute well done

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Ross said...

Posted on Jan 13 2009 00:16 Incredible story

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Madison said...

Posted on Jan 12 2009 18:32 if you like Daniel Craig then you'll certainly get something out of this film. MY GOD that man has sex appeal, he can be my "forest-husband" anyday :o) . The film relies a bit too much on lingering silent stares between the characters which i expect are meant to be meaningful, but begin to grate after a while, though all the acting is solid. Its not until the very end when we are reminded of the true life story its based on that it packs any emotional punch but its on the level of hollywood action/romance that it works best.

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Jaycee said...

Posted on Jan 11 2009 19:34 Reviewer has got it wrong. I agree with Roman: the cineatography is exactly right for this bleak setting. And the fight scenes are well done and not at all confusing. Forget the review and see this. It's better than Time Out says it is.

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A doctor said...

Posted on Jan 11 2009 17:17 One story line was to capture Ampicillin to treat typhus. Not formulated in 1942 and wrong antibiotic anyway. So how many other boo-boos in the plot? Artistic licence should be acurate

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Alexandra said...

Posted on Jan 10 2009 20:37 Loved it. Great acting, so inspiring!

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Alexandra said...

Posted on Jan 10 2009 20:37 I Loved it! Great acting, so inspiring!

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roman said...

Posted on Jan 07 2009 18:26 Can not quite agree with the critique by Tom Huddleston. The style of the film set in forest with a bland colour palete...well guess that illustrates that hanging out in forest in Belarus is not a weekend in Tuscany. The "action scenes" are indeed perfunctory since they are not really there to entertain or excite but just to give an impression of the conflict, the danger and moral issues that this group of people faced.
Would recommend this movie as a thought provoking and moving rendition of a historical event. I left the cinema moved by the acts of the persons described in the movie who without ever intending to ended up, not giving in and inspiring many others to resist and survive.

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