The Survivor

There is absolutely no doubt that "The Survivor" is a fascinating, harrowing, and poignant Holocaust story. At times, the film features concepts/ideas that are truly significant and worthy of investigation. Sadly, the overall product comes off as quite messy and doesn't allow for the type of meaningfulness that could have sprung from such a project. For a very basic overview, "The Survivor" tells the real-life story of Harry Haft (Ben Foster), a Jew who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp by fighting-to the death-other prisoners under the handling of a guard (played by Billy Magnussen) in a boxing scheme. Later in life, Harry pursues a professional boxing career-including a bout with Rocky Marciano-and is helped by Miriam Wofsoniker (Vicky Krieps) and journalist Emory Anderson (Peter Sarsgaard) to tell his story and potentially find the woman he was separated from before the War. There are certainly scenes in this movie that are quite poignant. A conversation between Haft and the guard in a genuine moment is particularly riveting, as are the times where Haft must internally grapple with the conflict of survival versus essentially dooming fellow Jews at his own fists. I had never heard of Haft's story before, and it is truly fraught with emotional depths to plumb. But in this telling, the filmmakers make a number of decisions-perhaps due to want of covering Haft's entire life in just over two hours of runtime-that water down or oddly render Haft's high-drama life. First and foremost is to make the emotional center of the film all about Haft's search for his first love-yet viewers are never treated to more than a single, extremely brief scene (more of a flash, really) constructing that relationship. For as heavily as "The Survivor" leans on this throughout, this is almost an unforgivable way to set up the narrative. The movie also (especially towards the end) jumps back-and-forth in time quite frequently and not always in chronological order. Though I could clearly see the film makers' intent, the experience proved rather jarring and difficult to piece together. I hate giving 'The Survivor" a rating as low as 5/10 stars, because the story behind its creation is so emotionally dynamic. But here, director Barry Levinson & screenplay writer Justine Juel Gillmer largely miss the mark in terms of wringing that emotion out of the material and making it compelling viewing. All the pieces are present-just jumbled up and without much sense as to how they fit together in the overall narrative.

The Survivor

source: The Survivor

They DO still make good movies. This is one, & i can understand many folk rating it a 10 Films based on truth are always good very well acted and good to see danny divito in a serious role.

A very difficult movie to watch and follow. I hope my family and yours never have to suffer the way that the Jewish people did during World War II. I hope we never have to be put in the position to make the choices that Harry did to survive.

Although there are some trite choices, the overall feeling and impression of the film leaves you feeling choked by the visceral realness of the trauma of Harry Haft. Scenes are concise and carefully placed to reveal the strife of someone living in galvanizing shame and remorse for his actions. The search for his love, who was taken to a camp for being Jewish in Poland during 1937, is his guiding light forward to survive. Watch without expectation, and let the story wash over you. If you're reading this review even now while watching the film, you're likely to miss the effect. Yes there are old stars in it. Yes there are nose prosthetics. Yes we've seen many many many films about this Holocaust. But this one is about a human life, surviving through the most extreme and dire circumstances. It's worth giving the excellent direction, cinematography, sound engineering, and deeply textured performance of Ben Foster a chance to grab at your heartstrings.

For my 70 years of film watching I am sure this is the very best I have watched, the cinematography, the acting subtlety, the story line, amazing. A must for all at a time of present day pogroms by the Russkies.

He boxed his way out of the most deadly concentrating camp in the history of mankind. Can you imagine the odds? Triumph over the evil Nazis, he boxed his way to freedom. Almost unbelievable, almost.

Conveyed in the most boring way possible. The first 45 minutes or so is pretty engaging due to Ben Foster's performance. Around one hour in The Survivor starts to do significant jumps in time that are off putting. The pacing becomes glacially slow after the first hour and I stopped being engaged in the story. Scenes of lengthy conversations are drawn out with uninteresting cinematography (with the exception of the holocaust scenes) and static camera placements. The dialogue never pops out enough to make many of these conversations engaging. The performances really save this movie with Ben Foster showing off his chops and Danny Devito putting some much-needed energy in the few scenes he is in. Some scenes do stand out and are very profound, but others struggle under the weight of the stilted dialogue and a runtime that feels like three hours. Worth a watch if your expectations are in the right place, because there are parts of this story that are tragically beautiful. Unfortunately, The Survivor is a great story told in the most boring way possible.

A remarkable story of survival and the cost thereof. Ben Foster (Harry Haft) is one of the excellent younger actors. I cannot think of a bad performance from him, and most especially in 'Hell And High Water.' His physical transformation herein and his dead-on accent are remarkable. Billy Magnussen (Dietrich Schneider) is outstanding as the complicated Nazi who saves Haft's life. Danny DeVito has a small but impactful role. John Leguizamo, whom I cannot stand in any role, is not around long enough to ruin anything. The major problem with the film is Barry Levinson's direction and the editing. The film drags. It is, at least, 30 minutes too long.