Directed by:
John MaddenCinematography:
Ben DavisComposer:
Thomas NewmanCast:
Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciarán Hinds, Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas, Sam Worthington, Jesper Christensen, Romi Aboulafia, Cassandra Church (more)VOD (2)
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The story begins in 1997, as shocking news reaches retired Mossad secret agents Rachel (Helen Mirren) and Stephan (Tom Wilkinson) about their former colleague David (Ciarán Hinds). All three have been venerated for decades by Israel because of the secret mission that they embarked on for their country back in 1965-1966, when the trio (portrayed, respectively, by Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas, and Sam Worthington tracked down Nazi war criminal Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen), the feared Surgeon of Birkenau, in East Berlin. While Rachel found herself grappling with romantic feelings during the mission, the net around Vogel was tightened by using her as bait. At great risk, and at considerable personal cost, the team’s mission was accomplished – or was it? The suspense builds in and across two different time periods, with startling action and surprising revelations that compel Rachel to take matters into her own hands. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (10)
Apart from the unnecessarily and artificially escalated ending, it is essentially a meticulously crafted work of art that is atmospheric, excellently acted, and fantastically orchestrated. Those who enjoy dirty Germany, the theme of World War II, and the legendary German butchers will not be disappointed. Jesper Christensen is truly demonic in his role as the main villain. Above all, the dialogues with the Mossad agents are unforgettable. John Madden has always been somewhat soft, but this is a film that might make me start to respect him. It can be watched multiple times, which is quite rare for a film with such a theme.
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Decent craftsmanship. Three Mossad agents vs. a Nazi war criminal. Madden build a convincing atmosphere on both sides of the time line and the actors don’t let him down. I enjoyed the younger members of the cast more, Jessica Chastain is a fox and on the same acting level as Helen Mirren, and even Sam Worthington rocks in Berlin (the scene with the plate). An excellent, nicely tight story with an unexpected, although rather strange ending. And Newman’s music is first rate.
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Very respectable, both as a psychological drama and as a suspenseful thriller. However, it would have been better to focus more on one or the other. The Debt could have then found a more distinctive place in cinema alongside, for example, the dramatic Munich or the thriller Valkyrie, next to which it is more likely to gather dust as it is. John Madden tries at all costs to engage American viewers while intellectually fulfilling Europeans and narrowly misses the mark. Ignore the ending, which is utterly inappropriate and calls my four-star rating into question.
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As I've grown older, my perspective on movies and series I watched years ago has certainly shifted, and this film is a prime example. At one point, chasing Nazis might have seemed justified, but seeing the recent outcomes of such actions feels like kicking someone who's already unconscious. I'm not here to defend anyone, but dragging elderly folks in near-vegetative states to court, with more tubes and wires than Robocop, doesn't seem to have a point. What kind of punishment will they get? Life imprisonment? Right. The blindfolded lady with scales must be having a good laugh. Anyway, this film captured a time when such actions seemed more sensible, and I particularly enjoyed the part set in Berlin. However, the part set in the present and the ending was executed so poorly that I debated whether it deserved that third star for quite some time. / Lesson learned: While we played cops and robbers as children, kids in Israel apparently played games like Simon and the Nazis.3*-
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I don't know, I don't know, but based on what I have been able to see lately, I feel that the American thriller is in decline. Whether it's the films "Man on a Ledge," "Contraband," "Colombiana," or even "The Debt," none of them are groundbreaking. After "Man on a Ledge," I once again encounter Sam Worthington in a thriller, who - if nothing else - at least proves in this case that he still has some acting ability. Except for that terrible accent. The structure of the film is quite interesting as it takes place in two different time periods. One is the "present" (which is actually the year 1997) and the other is the year 1965, specifically in Berlin. In the older date, an event occurs that has consequences for the future. Excellent casting, however, does not guarantee the realization of potential. The same can be said for the screenplay, which, although it hints at interesting moments - especially the submarine emerging from long confinement in the apartment - ultimately only represents something incredibly long and boring. I have always felt that a thriller should be a suspenseful film, where you eagerly await what will happen next. But films like "Die Hard" are not made every day. The attempt to incorporate emotions and focus on human fates in "The Debt" did not work out. Instead of being thrilling, the film is boring. Therefore, it becomes tedious and ultimately uninteresting. The two different time periods actually dilute the story even more instead of helping it. This is really a shame because I had high expectations from the cast. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/08/jane-eyre-ekologicka-afrika-cislo.html
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