DEFIANCE (2009)

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"Gramov: How come it's so fucking hard to like Jews? Tuvia Bielski: Try being one. "

To be honest, I watched this movie online. I'm glad I did. Not because this movie wasn't worth the $9, but because on my computer, dark, by myself, I really had comfort, relaxation, and a good time with this movie.

The story, (a true story) is about of course the Defiance of Jews, against the Nazi's when the war first started. They come into one particular village, as with many and kill everyone save four brothers, who hide and find each other in the woods (their backyard kinda). With only a shotgun, they go wandering around the forest which they know better than anyone, hoping to be undetected there. Well it turns out that their not the only ones smart enough to hide there, and come in contact with a bunch of Jews. Then slowly and slowly more and more of their kind are found, and before you know it they have a whole colony of them. They make their living steeling food, begging for food, making food, and surviving basically.

Well, I think from the trailer and such, you know what happens. Attention like this cannot go unseen for long, and soon the Germans are after them.

Now, the cool thing about this movie, which makes or bakes it, is the acting. I thought the acting was great on this movie. I mean, I truly thought that Daniel Craig, Liev Shreiber, and Jamie Bell were all Jews on the run. Great acting, not to mention the humor, and realness of this movie. i mean, here I was expecting non stop action, and it is really rather simple. But I was not disappointed.

This is not the type of movie you see for action. Nor for romance. This is a movie about a real life story, and in real life, shit happens, but not all the time, so deal with it. Instead take this movie as a testament of the better human nature, and about family.

Daniel Craig plays Tuvia Bielski, I think he's the oldest of the brothers, because he was the only one not living in the village of his family. He is of course the main star, and leader of this rubble. In the movie, after an act of revenge on the men who murdered his parents, he realizes, revenge is not the key to happiness. He says "our revenge is surviving". and it was well said. I really enjoyed his acting, and look forward to the next performance by him.

Liev Shreiber is Zus Bielski, the stubborn middle bother, who doesn't like being under Tuvia. He is a good actor, but I never really liked him, till now. He is realistic, and funny at times, with this performance. So his character goes off and joins the Russian red army, occupying the same forest, to fight the Germans. He see's all this war, and doesn't really feel anything to much, because his wife was killed by them. But he has his nice parts here and there, because he cares for his people, and I think he was a great if not perfect choice to portray this character.

Jamie bell is Asael Bielski, the second youngest of the four brothers, and I was surprised by his performance. He plays a young man, who backs his oldest brother an respects him, yet always has to choose between Tuvia, or Zus. He starts out sort of wimpish as a person his age and under his circumstances should be, but progresses into turning into a young man, and young leader. He is chosen to play the lead in Spielberg's Tintin, and I think he will do a great job, as he does in this one.

the rest of the cast does good as well, bringing life to this, if not, rather slow tale, especially the rabi, and the writer.

The directing is good. I mean, I have seen better from Edward Zwick, such as his Blood Diamond, or Last Samurai, but this is still pretty good. I didn't feel anything new on this, so I am a tad bit dissapointed there. But he did good.

Altogether this is a great film, just don't be wanting action, over story.