Review of The Pianist (2002) by Phil F — 01 Sep 2011

The Pianist is one of the most beautiful, heart-wrenching, and bittersweet movies that I've ever seen. Fabulous direction by Roman Polanski; a perfectly-acted, highly inspirational performance from Adrien Brody; and flawlessly-executed screenplay based on the true story of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a wealthy and respected Polish-Jewish concert pianist who loses everything during the unrelenting Nazi occupation of Poland during WWII.

This film paints a picture of the horrors of the Holocaust with more vivid detail than any film I've ever seen. Better than Schindler's List? While this was a great film, The Pianist tugs at the chordae tendineae (heart strings) harder and evokes more emotions.

I literally cried a bucket of tears while watching this movie, and I am not ashamed to admit it. Anyone that possesses a soul would say the same. I am going to purchase this movie, and at any point in my life when I am feeling sorry for myself, and think that things are shitty, I will immediately pop this into the DVD player for a reminder of what true sorrow really is.

Szpilman was living in Adolf Hitler's (the most evil man to have ever lived) version of hell on earth (probably the closest that earth has ever come to resembling hell), yet he somehow remained steadfast in his quest for survival and freedom, as his predicament progressively grew more and more dire with the passage of years.

This movie is transcendent. Wish I would have seen it sooner. I thought this movie was going to be a relatively boring flick about a guy playing a piano, but I got much more than I had initially bargained for.

It garners my highest recommendation and commendation. The Pianist is one of the best movies that I've ever seen. Five big stars.