The Pianist

[Edwin]

I'm so dissappointed that I did not see this Oscar nominated picture in the theater. I had planned to, but it never made it to my vicinity.
The Pianist is a wonderful story based on Spzilman's biography. However, beware. If you're squeamish about the unbelievable atrocities inflicted upon the Jews by the Nazis you might want to bypass it. If not, Adrien Brody and company will make you laugh, cry and cheer for a people who endured the unthinkable during a time of deplorable tyranny.

[Anonymooo]

I caught my parents watching this about five minutes in, and sat down to get a feel of it, see what it was about.

I stuck around for the rest of the movie. Very well-written and acted, proving one of the most obvious facts: POSSESSIONS don't matter. Food, water, and shelter matter. As I don't watch too many dramas, I really shouldn't give it a rating, but I'll give it a tentative 8.5/10.

[RickySlade]

I was let down. Plain and simple.

I thought this movie was going to be great. I thought Adrien Brody was going to be great too. I was wrong on both.

I do not think that he deserved an Oscar. Mainly for the fact is that he didn't talk for more than half of the movie. The scenes with no dialouge at all were boring and dull. Yes, I know it's during WWII and it's not going to be action packed but still. This is an O.K. film that could have been better.

6/10

[BrentLumkin]

What can I say, other than I am in awe at what I just finished watching, The Pianist. I know it's being hailed as a great film, as seen by it's nomination for Best Picture, but I had no idea it was as good as it was. Before this, my pick was Chicago, but now, I'm not so sure. This film simply blew me away, in just about every way. The look, the feel, the tone, it just "felt" pefect, and whatnot. Everyone in the film looked, and acted, their parts seemingly flawlessly from where I sit. While there aren't any truly classic performances in this one, everyone was great. Now when you think about it, isn't it best for everyone on the cast to have a solid performance, rather than a single person to have an Award Winning performance? I'd have to say so, but that's just me. That being said, I must also say that Adrien Brody was fantastic, and is the emotional and dramatic backbone in this film, he was fantasic, playing the role of Wladyslaw Szpilman.

I know some feel the last half, or so, of the film is borring and repetitive, but in my eyes, it was paced perfectly. I felt as if I could, as best I could by simply watching a film, actually know what Wladyslaw Szpilman went through, and his struggle for survival. When it all comes down to it, when it's all on the line and it's a matter of life and death, one MUST do what is need to survive, to move on, and to simply live. I felt such a connection with this character, and his trials of trying to stay in hiding, and to simply have just a drop or a simply bite of food to eat. It was human life stirpped to the bone, naked, and bare, and I loved every second of this visual and emotional experiance.

This is just the basic second half of the film, the first half put forth even more emotions. I felt a true bond between him and his family, and when they were seperated, I truly felt heart broken for all of them. Then of course we have the scene's where all of the horrible things happen, like the German's killing innocent people for seemingly no reason. While it's been presented in film before, this is one of the most emotional in this sense I've ever seen.

How great was the scene where they make a series of men lie on the ground, and a German soldier walks by firing off a single shot into each of their heads, untill he gets to the last guy. His clip is empty, and he has to put a new one in. The way the man on the ground looked up at him, I could actually feel, the best I could, his fear for his life which he KNEW was about to end. While that scene is so subtle, it was so powerful for me, in more ways than one.

Then the scene where the German soldier finds him hiding out, I didn't know what was going to happen at that time, it was great. Even though they didn't have too many encounters, I felt such a strong connection between those two characters also. When he began to help him, bringing him food and giving him his coat, it was just something else to me.

Even the lines in the film seemed to be just in the right place. You can almost pick out certain lines here and there which trigger a change in mood and whatnot. One that instantly comes to mind, is right near the end. Wladyslaw Szpilman has been hiding in the attic, and he finally hears the Russians coming in. He is so excited that he runs out with open arms, and the Russians take aim and fire thinking he's a German because of the coat he has on. He runs back in the building, and they tell him to come out saying that he's not German, and he is in face Pollish. I love this line, as it was like, just a release for the film, Wladyslaw Szpilman, and me...

"Why the fucking coat!?" --- Russian

*shivering* "I'm cold." --- Wladyslaw Szpilman

...maybe it's just me, but I just sighed after that, while also actually laughing. That's one emotion you didn't really feel throughout this film, and when you finally really had an excuse to, it was symbolic and meant something, I loved that. Anyhow...

...I'll shut up now, I just wanted to express a few of my thoughts on this film, and I think I'll just come out and say it, in my personal opinion of course...

...The Pianist, 2003 Best Picture.

[El Bracamonti]

cool movie all around. everything about it was awesome........9/10

[JCPhoenix]

i'm way too tired to go into details, but i just saw this movie a while ago, and it replaced CMIYC as my favorite movie of 2002.

9/10

[Mike]

THE PIANIST (2002)

I watched it Sunday night, and I was really disappointed. My hopes weren't THAT high, but I still expected it to be better than it was. For the first hour it was actually an interesting film, but then for the last hour and a half (it seemed longer) it gets extremely dull and goes more and more downhill as it goes along. Yawn! I thought it would be pretty good judging from the first hour, but then it completely lost my interest.

For some reason I blind bought this (something I've been doing far too much lately), and it's not one that I'm keeping in my collection. I know I wouldn't ever watch it again. Even if I liked it I doubt I would have watched it again. It's too long and not interesting enough for more than one viewing.

Grade: 5/10 (C)

[Sad man]

Originally posted by Mike
THE PIANIST (2002)

I watched it Sunday night, and I was really disappointed. My hopes weren't THAT high, but I still expected it to be better than it was. For the first hour it was actually an interesting film, but then for the last hour and a half (it seemed longer) it gets extremely dull and goes more and more downhill as it goes along. Yawn! I thought it would be pretty good judging from the first hour, but then it completely lost my interest.

For some reason I blind bought this (something I've been doing far too much lately), and it's not one that I'm keeping in my collection. I know I wouldn't ever watch it again. Even if I liked it I doubt I would have watched it again. It's too long and not interesting enough for more than one viewing.

Grade: 5/10 (C)

:) Thank you. Although I did like the film I agree with you. The awesome first hour, the beautiful cinematography and the perfect direction by Polanski made it up for the very week second hour.

[Mike]

Originally posted by Sad man
[BThe awesome first hour, the beautiful cinematography and the perfect direction by Polanski made it up for the very week second hour. [/B]

I think you mean hour and a half ;). It was two and a half hours long. It felt longer though.

[Hannibal21]

THE PIANIST is overall, a very powerful and realistic film. It's slow at points but Polanski was willing to make this film great, featuring a great performance by Adrien Brody; I don't think he deserved the oscar, but it was a great performance nontheless. There was climax in the film, tense moments in the film, and very touching moments in the film as well.

A very subtle, dramatic experience it was while watching this film and the whole movie had a stillness to it, that you just had to keep your eyes on the movie the whole way through. It's not a movie I would recommend to everybody, it may be boring to some, but for those looking for a powerful, subtle, realistic, and overall GOOD movie that's not a popcorn flick, and one that can make you think, feel and experience the horrors of the holocaust, this one is worth watching.

8.5/10

[Annie Hall]

This is certainly the most objectively well-done movie of 2002. While Chicago was fluff, The Two Towers & GONY debateable, and The Hours purely love/hate, this movie was just plain good. The acting, primarily by Adrien Brody was solid and captivating, the direction steady, and every-so-often slightly vague. The script was nearly flawless, not to mention the beautiful music and style.

Everything flowed together smoothly, and the unique perspective of the film was superb. While most movies are from within the battles, ghetto or concentration camps, this looked at what it would be like to be helpless, and watching from the outside.

9/10

[blankpage]

Although both Best Actor and Best Director were snagged by this flick, I can see why. The Pianist is a powerful, sad and brilliant film. It's an amazing story, and it's amazingly done. This is possibly Polanski's best work. Brody was brilliant, although Lewis was snagged for Bill the Butcher. I can't say much except that I cried, and was amazed by this film. I figured it was going to be good, but not as good as I thought. Good is a weak work to describe this film.....brilliant is better.

**** (out of 4)

[urbanlegend23]

THE PIANIST (2002)

THE GOOD:

--In a film entitled "The Pianist", which is based around, well, a pianist, there has to be that passion behind the musical field, and Roman Polanski (director) and his team display that terrifically. Polanski seems to love those shots of just the hands dancing around the piano keys and many scenes are focused on simply the music, which is very effective. The musical aspects of "The Pianist" help to move the story forward and all of these aspects are injected with life and stamina, making this film not only technical marvel but a musical marvel as well.

--This is the first time - bar his small role in "The Thin Red Line" - that I have experienced a performance by Adrien Brody, it was one of the things I was looking forward to most before watching the film. While watching the Oscars I was massively upset that Daniel Day-Lewis did not win Best Actor for his amazing performance in "Gangs of New York" but now that I have seen both "Gangs of New York" and "The Pianist" I think Adrien Brody also deserved the award. Day-Lewis would still be my personal choice for winner but Brody's performance was also astoundingly good. He has this really soulful quality and an amazing presence on-screen which I was very impressed with.

--This is another comment concerning the Academy Awards, and this time it's Roman Polanski's win for Best Director. Once again I really wanted "Gangs of New York" and Martin Scorsese to take this home, but after seeing this film? Sorry Martin, you did an INCREDIBLE job but Polanski just deserved it that tweak bit more. I think he did an incredible job and I found myself - surprisingly - not caring at all that it was a fugitive behind the film, because there was so much heart and soul invested into the motion picture. Now let's just hope Scorsese takes one home for "The Aviator", because Polanski really hit a milestone with "The Pianist".

--One thing I've always found interesting in films is how Nazis are portrayed in film. Roman Polanski does an exquisite job of showing the brutality and horror of the holocaust and the utter lack of heart and restraint for many of the National Socialists; I actually had my mouth hanging open in shock at many of the HORRIFYING scenes involving Nazi-Jew brutality. One such scene was when a Nazi tells an elderly man in a wheelchair to stand up and the wheelchair man doesn't respond. Shockingly, the Nazi picks up the wheelchair and throws the man off a balcony. I was so heartbroken at seeing all of this brutality and violence, which was all realistic mind you. But in a film that is never black and white, such as this, you just can't have ALL mindblowingly horrific Nazi terror. So Polanski, true to the book, presents us with the fascinating character of Captain Wilm Hosenfeld (played brilliantly by Thomas Kretschmann). This character helps out Szpilman and they form a most delicate relationship, which I found incredibly well crafted and very intriguing. Polanski also hinted at some interesting ideas, such as Hosenfeld being a Nazi Jew, and him relating to Szpilman in his state of coldness and loss.

THE BAD:

--Not much at all! Maybe a couple of scenes dragged slightly in parts, but the running time didn't bother me at all. One of the more perfect films of 2002.

RATING:

10/10 - A film from Roman Polanski rarely comes along, so it is important that we treasure it. Furthermore, it is rare that a film such as "The Pianist" should come along, so that it in itself is worth celebrating.

IF YOU LIKED THIS MOVIE I RECOMMEND:

Enemy at the Gates (9/10)
Gangs of New York (10/10)
Hitler: The Rise of Evil/TV Miniseries (8/10)
Schindler's List (10/10)
The Thin Red Line (9/10)