The Book Thief
(2014)Courage beyond words.
Drama based on the award-winning novel by Australian author Markus Zusak. Set in Nazi Germany, the story follows young Liesel (newcomer Sophie Nélisse) and her relationships with her foster parents (Oscar-veterans Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson) and the Jewish man who hides in their home. From the BAFTA-winning director of Downton Abbey.
-
Directed by Brian Percival (TV's 'Downton Abbey')
Starring Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Sophie Nélisse, Ben Schnetzer, Nico Liersch, Joachim Paul Assböck, Kirsten Block, Sandra Nedeleff
Written by Michael Petroni (based on the novel by Markus Zusak)
On Demand, DVD & Blu-Ray
Available from 4 providers
Flicks Review
The Peoples' Reviews
Reviewed & Rated by
Your rating & review
Rate / Review this movieRate and/or review
The Book Thief
BY thorinoak superstar
Some interesting heart warming parts but the narrator distracted heavily from the plot of the story, removing the emotional punch with an early reveal.
BY GrahamP superstar
This is an easy watch.It has the script and props similar to a theater production.
Sophie Nelisse was perfectly cast as the book thief.
It will appeal to some movie goers.
BY kohicat nobody
I haven't read the book but will now. This must be an excellent adaptation. Two hours eleven minutes long and I was captivated throughout.
BY CJRedshaw superstar
Great film, has a different perspective not always seen in movies set
during World War flicks. Geoffrey Rush is as amazing as always and
Emily Watson plays her role as a hard German mother would be. All up
a great film with interesting characters and elements of suspense. It will
make you appreciate how lucky we are to be able to read a book when
we want to!! Enjoy!!!
Showing 5 of 10 reviews. See all reviews
The Press Reviews
49%
of critics recommend.
Rotten Tomatoes Score. More reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
The Book Thief crams story after story into such a small space that it can’t realize any of them in depth. Full Review
You may come away more impressed by the intentions than by the achievements. Full Review
Where the book had a kernel of intellectual irony to it — words betray a nation — this drama goes shamelessly for the heart. Full Review
A shameless piece of Oscar-seeking Holocaust kitsch. Full Review
Brought to the screen with quiet effectiveness and scrupulous taste. Full Review
BY Dominic Corry Flicks Writer
Many people have read the book this film was based on. I haven't, yet I still found myself lamenting its stylistic adaptation choices, despite no knowledge of the source material. It's that kind of movie. Positioned as a prestige period picture – complete with a brutal setting (Nazi Germany), a literary metaphor, a doomed friend and a kindly foster parent (Geoffrey Rush) – The Book Thief fails to come alive for any sustained amount of time.... More
You can sense the resonance the tropes may have had on the page, but on film they stumble forth feeling clichéd and tired. It feels mean to rag on a film with a fragile little girl as its protagonist, but the sprawl of the film prevents any single thread from fully forming.
One thing I did like that came straight from the book is having the story narrated by Death, voiced in this instance by the perfectly cast English actor Roger Allam, who was so awesome in Tamara Drewe and Speed Racer.
There's some handsomeness to what's on display in The Book Thief that prevents it from being an entirely worthless experience, but whatever lofty artistic goals the filmmakers may have had are definitely not met.Hide
Care to comment?