Review of The Good German (2006) by Axel L — 02 Aug 2008

I wish I hadn't slept through the end so I could provide a better review. But I got up really early.

The Good German is an interesting homage to films of the 1940s in style and story. But a few things remind you that this black-and-white film isn't of that era. The f-bomb, nudity and some sexual situations.

Also, while Casablanca (the model for this film) presented imperfect characters who do the right thing at the end, The Good German reveals the secret of one of the characters at the end that goes beyond anything in Casablanca. Unlike, say, Sophie's Choice, the emotional impact of the reveal isn't strong. Maybe our brains can't handle that kind of thing in a black-and-white movie.

This twenty-first century spin on Casablanca was a bit too nuanced. I like black and white morality plays in black and white movies.