The one thing that really weakens this otherwise compelling film, is the main character, Otto (Brendan Gleeson) who displays the same expression and mood throughout. An overly measured performance devoid of passion, excitement, rage, love, sorrow - just about anything. There are several instances where you would expect to see traces of emotion in Otto: When he learns of his son's death - no reaction; His neighbour commits suicide - no reaction; And when he gets caught for his crime - no reaction.
Luckily, we see more depth in the film's other characters; Otto's wife, Anna (Emma Thompson) and the multi-dimensional Police Detective, Escherich (Daniel Brüh). Both provide much of the colour and contrast absent from Gleeson's character: The moving scene where Anna discovers Otto's wood carving of their dead son's face; And Escherich's final moments when he contemplates the significance of the evidence collected and the consequence of his actions.
The usually brilliant, Brül gives an entertaining performance as the Detective who becomes increasingly desperate and ruthless. Let down only occasionally by a lack of authority, vocally. However, this lends itself to a later scene in which Escherich is humiliated and beaten by the results driven, SS Officer Prall (Mikael Persbrandt) who has all the necessary menacing and oppressive qualifications.
Overall, this is an intriguing and often tense film and succeeds to reflect the tyranny and cruelty of the Nazi regime during this period in history and the lengths that some (without and army of their own) will go to, to thwart, infuriate and distract it.
Luckily, we see more depth in the film's other characters; Otto's wife, Anna (Emma Thompson) and the multi-dimensional Police Detective, Escherich (Daniel Brüh). Both provide much of the colour and contrast absent from Gleeson's character: The moving scene where Anna discovers Otto's wood carving of their dead son's face; And Escherich's final moments when he contemplates the significance of the evidence collected and the consequence of his actions.
The usually brilliant, Brül gives an entertaining performance as the Detective who becomes increasingly desperate and ruthless. Let down only occasionally by a lack of authority, vocally. However, this lends itself to a later scene in which Escherich is humiliated and beaten by the results driven, SS Officer Prall (Mikael Persbrandt) who has all the necessary menacing and oppressive qualifications.
Overall, this is an intriguing and often tense film and succeeds to reflect the tyranny and cruelty of the Nazi regime during this period in history and the lengths that some (without and army of their own) will go to, to thwart, infuriate and distract it.