Review of The Pianist (2002) by Christopher S — 09 Jun 2011

"Safest place to be....right in the lions den.".

A timeless masterpiece from Director Roman Polanski. (The Ninth Gate.) A spectacularly powerful emotional experience that rivals Shindler's List. Polankski's masterpiece landed him multiple Academy Awards, and deservedly so, this film is truly moving. A deeply personal vendetta for Polanski as he was witness to the sickening and atrocious events that were all too common during the Holocaust. An all-too-realistic recreation of 1940's Poland and the German invasion of the country, the segregation of the Jewish population and the ambush and slaughter of innocent lives. A beautiful story of the power of hope and the euphoric beauty of triumph over evil. The Pianist is very unflinching when it comes to the brutal violence that was used at the time, it's quite disturbing, awfully bloody, and spine-tinglingly stomach-churning in some parts. The faint of heart be warned, but it is a film that should be experienced by everyone at least once. A visionary powerhouse of epic cinematic poetry, both ends of the emotional spectrum are hit in this one. It's packed with many euphoric and many dysphoric concepts and elements throughout. One of the best wartime films ever made, and easily one of the best Holocaust films out there. Polanski was at his very best, the overall tone of the film radiates with deep power, as I watched this film, I could tell that this subject was very near-and-dear to the Polanski's heart. The film is flawless. Flawless in execution, flawless in direction, flawless in it's power to induce raw emotion, flawless from an acting standpoint, flawless cinematography and flawless in portraying an infamous but significant historical event. Iconic work from everyone involved, searingly realistic and audacious. A film that will always stay with me, one that rattled me down to my very soul.

The acting is absolutely spot-on. Adrien Brody gives a brilliantly spectacular and awesomely convincing performance. Brody's work in this film earned him an Oscar for Best Actor. A chillingly realistic portrayal of a man that can be an inspiration to any human-being on the planet.