SmugKitZine Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

Sexylocher Masterful Movie

Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

gridoon2018 Roman Polanski does something that is not easy here: he transfers a play to the screen, and never lets you forget that it is a play you're watching, but he makes it completely cinematic at the same time. The play itself is a great enigma about truth, doubt, vigilantism and justice. I don't want to give away the ending, but it is masterfully designed and executed. It's an intense and compelling film, the kind that invites long debates after it's over. The three leads are perfectly cast: Weaver and Kingsley are at the peak of their powers, but Wilson is much more than just "a third wheel". *** out of 4.

Steffi_P When Ariel Dorfman's play Death and the Maiden, about a victim of rape and torture in a post-fascist regime coming face-to-face with one of her tormentors, was adapted for the screen, it is perhaps no surprise that the project was snapped up by director Roman Polanski. This is story which is both startlingly sensitive and understanding towards victims of rape, and yet one which also reserves a crumb of sympathy for the perpetrator. Two decades after his own conviction for sex crimes, Polanski's decision to make this movie poses the question. Is this the director's apology, or his attempt at self-absolution?Death and the Maiden is, in the first place, a powerful and thoughtful work, on the one hand an exploration of the nature of justice, of justice that satisfies the law and justice that satisfies the individual. And on the other, it is a look at the differences between male and female approaches to love, sex and control. It is in this latter it is at its boldest and most eloquent, even if it does equivocate. There are numerous points in the dialogue which are deeply poignant simply due to the aching truth of them. The power Dorfman's words are carried through to the screen intact.This is in no small part thanks to a flawless cast. Sigourney Weaver gives an understated yet resonant performance that gives every impression that she has really lived what her character has gone through. In her flashes of anger she brings a touch of masculinity to the part, and there is perhaps something of her trying to take on the doctor's identity in the role. Ben Kingsley is of that new breed of chameleonic actors who are able to transform themselves completely for a range of roles. Here he presents numerous facets of his character – friendliness, erudition, vulnerability, spite, and an eventual coldness, all with realistic fluidity. Stuart Wilson gives a worthy if rather bland performance, which is exactly what's needed, as being the least important of the cast he must not overshadow the other two.While Polanski's own offences should not be considered lightly, I have always tried to judge his work (which I often enjoy) separately to his deeds. He does a fair job here, using some intense long takes for key scenes, and creating various different spaces to help us forget how limited the setting is. The pacing is marvellous, and despite being a talky stage adaptation the movie simply races along. And yet, in the context of Polanski's involvement, its final scenes have a slightly sickening, almost pathetic edge.Finally however, my interpretation of the ending is not that Paulina chose to forgive the doctor, but that what she needed for closure was to hear his explanation.

moviesleuth2 We hear about it all the time; people have been harmed in the most unspeakable ways, causing pain that most of us cannot begin to even imagine. If this happened to you, what would you do if the person who hurt you walked into your house? This kind of moral quagmire has been approached before in films. Many times, in fact. The torture angle is new though. Unfortunately, that's all that's new about this story.But this is the situation that one woman, Paulina Escobar (Sigourney Weaver), an ex-activist who was horrifically tortured in order to give up the name of a fellow activist (who later became her husband), finds herself in, when a man (Ben Kingsley) is invited into their home after helping her husband (Stuart Wilson). She is convinced that this man, Dr. Miranda, is the one who brutalized her. He denies it, of course. And her husband, now a high-powered lawyer, is caught in the middle.This film could have gone in two opposite directions: a high-powered, claustrophobic thriller or a leadened message movie. Fortunately, it's not the latter (no one is going to mistake this movie for a UNICEF infomercial), but sadly, it's not the former either. It's somewhere in the middle. There are moments of where it works, but overall it's pretty boring.Part of the reason is that the most important part is miscast. Sigourney Weaver is a good actress, but she's not right for this role. She has moments of effectiveness (Weaver is good at being vulnerable), but when she tries to act menacing, she's awful. Ben Kingsley is terrific, though, as the may-or-may not be torturer. He keeps us on our toes, and we never know whether or not he's innocent. Noted character actor Stuart Wilson is actually able to keep up with the Oscar-winner and Oscar-nominee.The problem isn't necessarily with Roman Polanski's approach. "Death and the Maiden" is heavy on the atmosphere, although it could have used some more claustrophobia to increase the tension. The problem is that the script, based on the play, is rather bland. There's nothing that really draws us into the story, and it doesn't take any risks. Thus what could have been a powerful and provocative drama or thriller (take your pick) becomes inert.It's not a total waste; the film effectively keeps us guessing who's telling the truth. But the suspense isn't there, even though it has plenty of opportunity to build. However, the ending of the film is horrible. What happens not only doesn't make sense, it's actually more than slightly reprehensible.This isn't a bad film, just a wasted opportunity.

evanston_dad "Death and the Maiden" tells a harrowing story, one that's not meant to be pleasant. But even so, there is a difference between telling an unpleasant story and creating an unpleasant experience, and unfortunately, director Roman Polanski doesn't maintain that distinction with this film.He's proved that he knows how in other films, like "Rosemary's Baby" and "Repulsion," neither of which dwell on pleasant themes but both of which are exhilaratingly entertaining. "Death and the Maiden" is an oppressive slog, a film that must be endured rather than enjoyed. Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley give top-notch performances, but the whole thing is too one note and aggressively depressing to be very good.Grade: C