Written by James M. Tate / 12/08/2013 / No comments / 2013 , drama , emily watson , geoffrey rush , sophie nélisse , war
THE BOOK THIEF
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year: 2013 cast: Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Ben Schnetzer, Nico Liersch rating: *** |
Well he’s onto something because Liesel, played by Sophie NĂ©lisse, is the best thing about THE BOOK THIEF, centering on a young girl who, adopted by a common family living in a German ghetto during the throes of Nazi rule… and then the beginning stages of World War II… steals books that aren’t allowed by Hitler... Basically, anything the Furor didn’t write.
Some of the more heartfelt scenes involve Liesel with her adaptive father, Hans. Geoffrey Rush is good as always, his kindhearted character liken to the LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL dad, wielding a creative method to alter the harsh reality of Hitler's takeover, making his child feel comfortable, if oblivious, to the approaching storm. In this case, allowing Liesel to read voraciously and then to, after memorizing important words, write on the basement wall where the family's hiding a young Jewish man named Max.
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Sophie Nélisse is Liesel in THE BOOK THIEF |
On the peripheral, and taking us into the daylight, is Liesel’s friendship with a young boy her age, blond and blue-eyed, typical of the German youth of that era. With a Fascist-loving bully dogging their heals, much of the scenes play off like an AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL or perhaps a wartime version of MY GIRL.
The more interesting parts occur indoors, relating to her parents, Hans and Rosa. As the wife, Emily Watson has the most noticeable character arc, going from a henpecking, irritated wife to a woman with passion and strength. The couple are polar opposites yet seem like they’ve been together, forever, through thick and thin. Unfortunately, the film never centers long enough of each of Liesel’s eclectic friendships to make them matter as a whole. It’s almost like watching a collection of vignettes as opposed to a thoroughly structured story. But the emotional range of the lovely and talented Sophie NĂ©lisse is what really matters. Like Death himself, you’ll be very impressed.
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Sophie Nélisse is Liesel in THE BOOK THIEF |
Labels:
2013,
drama,
emily watson,
geoffrey rush,
sophie nélisse,
war
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