The Grey Zone

source: The Grey Zone

Trailer—The Grey Zone

The Grey Zone

I don't want to ridiculize things but how it is possible to make a dull movie about one of the most horrible histories of humankind (the concentration camps and then especially the residence where Dr. Mengele was working) is beyond me. There was simply no story in it, there was simply no emotion in this movie, I had to struggle to be kept awake, and I had no idea what an actor like Harvey Keitel was doing in such an awful movie. Forget it. I never liked it when the Holocaust was used for a Hollywood wet dream but making a talentless televisionmovie isn't that great as well.You'd better watch the famous TVseries "Holocaust" instead. There are sure some interesting things left to tell, "The pianist" from Polanski might be the best example but this one just didn't work.

Contrary to public opinion, simply making a film about the Holocaust does not guarantee that you will have a great movie. Case in point, the Grey Zone. This was shoddy at best. It utilized the marginal talents of many television actors and one tired Harvey Keitel. It moves at a snail's pace and eyes strain as we listen to these American actors attempt European accents. Moreover, it is supposed to show the bravery of these concentration camp inmates, however the end shows one of the most cowardly displays I have ever seen. Instead of showing a real uprising, we see just why the Nazis were able to pull off this great tragedy. However, my main criticisms deal with less than inspired acting and a dull story.

I was a little wary of this film because of the cast - but David Arquette was surprisingly good. I happen to like films that have a theatrical uality - so that was fine with me. At first I wondered why Harvey spoke with an accent, and no one else did - then midway through the film I got that the idea was that the Jews HEARD his German accent - and since the story was from THEIR perspective, they had no accents from their point of view. To convey this to an American audience, they spoke like Americans. I despise Shindler's List . That film turned a horror into a feel good event. Disgusting. THIS movie doesn't manipulate you with sappy speeches and ridiculous violin crescendos, nor does it get sweet and sentimental like Saving Private Ryan. This movie is about horror - and it ends horribly. It doesn't cheapen the death, it forces you to feel all of the terrible weight.

This movie is by far the best holocaust movie ever. It covers an aspect of the holocaust is rarely seen in other Holocaust-movies, namely the destruction and cleaning of gassed Jews by other Jews. The acting work of David Arquette, Harry Keitel and Steve Buscemi is excellent. The setting is perfect (very depressing, as it should be). The music fits superbly in. You should pick a right night for this evening though, because everything, from the gassing to cleaning to burning, is shown uncensored in this movie. The ruthless executions by the German SS is uncensored. As you can imagine, it's quite heavy on the stomach, but this is a MUST-SEE movie.

No punches pulled in this one. "The Grey Zone" is to "Schindler's List" what "Menace II Society" was to "Boyz N The Hood". Tim Blake Nelson gives an incredibly moving account of men and women who know they're dead, but are simply looking for clear consciences on the way out. The performances are excellent (with the possible exception of a miscast Keitel), and the lack of sentiment gives a much more realistic depiction of what these human beings actually had to go through. Be prepared: the last 10 minutes of this film are completely unsettling.