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Amazon.co.uk Review
Absent from the directors’ chair for over half a decade, Paul Verhoeven returns to business with the engaging thriller Black Book, and it finds him once again near the top of his game.
Leaving the disappointing Hollow Man firmly in the rear view mirror, and more in keeping with his original Dutch films than his infamous Hollywood output (Basic Instinct, Robocop, Starship Troopers and Showgirls all sit on his CV), Black Book is the story of a refugee by the name of Rachel Stein in the second World War, who embarks on a quest for revenge when her family are killed. Stein joins up with the Resistance, and is giving the mission of using her seductive charms to infiltrate the German Security Service, and the ingredients then fall into place for a labyrinthine thriller of some quality.
Black Book works for several reasons. Firstly, lead actress Carice von Houten is quite excellent, while the tight screenplay is happy to provoke questions and keep the complex plot in check. Verhoeven, too, directs well, occasionally relying a little too much on one or two of his conventions, but nonetheless delivering an engrossing piece of cinema.
For sure, Black Book isn’t perfect, and there are films that treat the material with more gravitas than is on display here. But it’s still a strong, well-made thriller, and one that leaves you hoping its director won’t be away for quite so long next time. --Jon Foster
DVD Description
September 1944 – Nazi Occupied Holland. When her temporary safe house is destroyed by a bomb, the beautiful young Jewish chanteuse Rachel Stein joins fellow refugees in an attempt to reach safe Allied territory by boat. Tragedy strikes when a Nazi patrol intercepts their escape, ruthlessly killing everybody onboard including Rachel’s family; only Rachel escapes the massacre. Embittered and desperate for revenge, she joins the Resistance where, assigned a new identity as the blond Ellis de Vries, she is charged with infiltrating the German Security Service by seducing senior officer Muntze. Without warning she becomes entangled in a deadly web of double-dealing and betrayal
Twenty years in the making, this stunning, sexy thriller from the internationally acclaimed director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct, Total Recall) is an epic and moving tale of great courage and fierce emotion – played out against the dying explosive months of WWII.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
This is an excellent adult espionage thriller, and a showcase presentation in high definition. It looks superb with a sharp picture and boldly defined colours.
This (now deleted) u.k. Tartan release includes an extra disc - the original standard dvd version featuring 20+ mins interviews with director Paul Verhoeven and the stunning star of the movie Carice Van Houten.
However, the u.s. Blu-Ray version is equal in a/v quality and contains a full length director's commentary (but no interviews) and can be picked up for a fraction of the silly prices from these marketplace sellers!
This (now deleted) u.k. Tartan release includes an extra disc - the original standard dvd version featuring 20+ mins interviews with director Paul Verhoeven and the stunning star of the movie Carice Van Houten.
However, the u.s. Blu-Ray version is equal in a/v quality and contains a full length director's commentary (but no interviews) and can be picked up for a fraction of the silly prices from these marketplace sellers!
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A movie which is both highly entertaining and thought provoking, Black Book is about the most Hollywood-like movie to ever come out of Europe. Paul Verhoeven returned to Holland after 20 years to make this epic (in Dutch and German for the most part) about the Dutch resistance in WW II.
Carice van Houten is magnificent in a role which I expect she will always be remembered. She can switch from whimsy to intensity, and passion to despair, and still hold your attention through the whole journey. It's a long journey too, about 2 and a half hours. And yet, the action, plot twists, and crucially the characters, keep you engaged throughout. Scratch that - not just engaged - on the edge of your seat. If there is a downside, it is that as so often with Paul Verhoeven's US output, with all the bright colours, frequent nudity and non stop action, we are almost voyeurs of the occupation, rather than growing to despise it.
The lush saturated colours and technical perfection are holdovers from the highly produced style Verhoeven perfected in America with Basic Instinct and Total Recall amongst others. And yet, while all the style and technical elements scream Hollywood, there is a European sensibility here when it comes to the story and characters. The characters are never ciphers but enter into real shades of grey. Sebastian Koch's Gestapo Chief Muentze is a delight - a Gestapo Chief who collects stamps, has a conscience.. and is perhaps even someone with whom the heroine can fall in love with.
There are underlying ideas here being explored - what would you be prepared to do? When is killing another person right.. is it still murder when it is the right thing to do? But rather than make this an issue movie which seriously and earnestly displays angst, this is an action romp with a compelling whodunit at its core.
This is therefore an exciting action thriller in Hollywood, style, but with some thought provoking ideas thrown in. Don't be put off by the foreign languages.. if you only see one Dutch movie this year, then this is the one!
Carice van Houten is magnificent in a role which I expect she will always be remembered. She can switch from whimsy to intensity, and passion to despair, and still hold your attention through the whole journey. It's a long journey too, about 2 and a half hours. And yet, the action, plot twists, and crucially the characters, keep you engaged throughout. Scratch that - not just engaged - on the edge of your seat. If there is a downside, it is that as so often with Paul Verhoeven's US output, with all the bright colours, frequent nudity and non stop action, we are almost voyeurs of the occupation, rather than growing to despise it.
The lush saturated colours and technical perfection are holdovers from the highly produced style Verhoeven perfected in America with Basic Instinct and Total Recall amongst others. And yet, while all the style and technical elements scream Hollywood, there is a European sensibility here when it comes to the story and characters. The characters are never ciphers but enter into real shades of grey. Sebastian Koch's Gestapo Chief Muentze is a delight - a Gestapo Chief who collects stamps, has a conscience.. and is perhaps even someone with whom the heroine can fall in love with.
There are underlying ideas here being explored - what would you be prepared to do? When is killing another person right.. is it still murder when it is the right thing to do? But rather than make this an issue movie which seriously and earnestly displays angst, this is an action romp with a compelling whodunit at its core.
This is therefore an exciting action thriller in Hollywood, style, but with some thought provoking ideas thrown in. Don't be put off by the foreign languages.. if you only see one Dutch movie this year, then this is the one!
50 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This has to be one of the best Non-English WWII action/drama films I have seen. The acting, costumes and special affects not to mention the overall ambience were excellent. Even though mainly in Dutch, German Hebrew and English were mixed in and I found myself understanding the conversations without constantly being glued to the subtitles.
The heroine shows such gutsy determination to endure and not give in to despair when all around is collapsing - without giving too much away; I was particularly impressed with the script for her lover towards the end of the movie - a German not making a 'cut and run' at wars end? a nice twist.
With so many twists and turns this should keep any war film buff happy for a couple of hours. Although the heroine is saved from many near death incidents (one or two a bit implausible) overall having rented this first I have since added it to my owned collection.
The heroine shows such gutsy determination to endure and not give in to despair when all around is collapsing - without giving too much away; I was particularly impressed with the script for her lover towards the end of the movie - a German not making a 'cut and run' at wars end? a nice twist.
With so many twists and turns this should keep any war film buff happy for a couple of hours. Although the heroine is saved from many near death incidents (one or two a bit implausible) overall having rented this first I have since added it to my owned collection.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
History Realized
Apart from being maticiously directed this film has a most significant value for me personally.
I am a holcaust survivor from Holland thanks to a dear Catholic family who kept... Read more
I am a holcaust survivor from Holland thanks to a dear Catholic family who kept... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Posh
no woman, no cry
a best movie i saw once 10 years !splendide story, suspense, love.... I was enjoy at least to see the black book, i recommande it to you, go and watch it !
Published 3 months ago by steffou
"Black Book" DVD
I bought this fine movie for a friend as a gift and it arrived on time and in perfect condition. My friend was very happy to own one of her favourite films.
Published 4 months ago by Raymond
great dvd
The dvd is excellent even though it is sub titled it is an enthralling story and so well acted and is well worth a viewing
Published 4 months ago by Frank Hessey
Very Good War Movie
The main theme of this movie revolves around the German occupation of Holland towards the end of World War. Read more
Published 5 months ago by genre mania
Shame about the movie...
Sound and video quality on blu-ray is excellent, but shame about the movie.
Having watched the whole movie I wasn't sure if some of the reviewers here and elsewhere had a... Read more
Having watched the whole movie I wasn't sure if some of the reviewers here and elsewhere had a... Read more
Published 8 months ago by nagi_hojo
Lively, graphic, and thought-provoking
The plot of this film focuses on the fate of the Netherlands during WWII as seen through the experience of a Dutch Jewish woman who enters the Dutch resistance in late 1944 and... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Artsreadings
Black Book
I had heard about this film at a general chit chat about what films that they had been watching and this one came into conversation. Read more
Published 10 months ago by desieroo
black book
It's breathless stuff! If only Hollywood could produce films this good!
I really enjoyed this packed film based on a true war time events. Read more
I really enjoyed this packed film based on a true war time events. Read more
Published 16 months ago by chancer127
totally brilliant
The story is about the German occupation of Holland and the Holocaust. It is a brilliant film, full of suspense and surprises. Read more
Published 17 months ago by catwoman
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