GOOD (2008)

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"Good … well good, but could have been better."

John Halder (Viggo Mortisen) is a literary professor who is brought to prominence within the Nazi party due to his compassionate fictional novel based on euthanasia. At the time he has no idea of the ulterior motives involved and is asked to expand on the ideas within his novel by drawing up a paper to be published. This ultimately leads him to a number of choices between ethics, morals, friendship and success.

This is based on a stage play I understand and I think it shows. The plot is very much static in so far as not a lot happens. The story although well told, I felt left quite a lot to be desired especially at the end. It shows how a normal and 'good' man, through circumstance, can get embroiled within things not to his particular tastes or ideals.

Overall though I thought Halder came across as somewhat of a wimp who seemed to accept his lot in life until chance allows him to change things. In other words there was no motivation from him to change, the change almost happened to him. To highlight this, one moment he is a literary professor and the next moment he is an honouree member of the SS!! Not through choice, just through circumstance. The man seemed to have next to no back-bone when it mattered, although he did come across as decent.

I think the film does raise a few questions, perhaps the main one being how easy it is for normal or 'good' people to be almost drawn or lured into something. Not through political beliefs, but more through aspirations to do well for themselves and their family. How much would you ultimately sacrifice for a better life, I suppose is the question being asked.

I can quite easily forgive Halder for being drawn into the political world not so much through choice but more through circumstance. What I found quite unforgiveable was his lack of compassion and help for his Jewish friend Maurice (Jason Issacs). A man he served with during the First World War and a close friend. When Maurice asks him for help and reaches out to Halder, he is in a prominent position and has the power to help - but dawdles. Something I found quite unforgiveable considering the circumstances and I could not understand Halders rather blinkered view about what was going on.

Viggo Mortisen I have always liked as an actor even if I haven't found some of his films to be that great. I think the man can act and act very well, he is to an extent the sole focus of this film and any lesser actor might have struggled to hold your attention. As Halder it is somewhat of an understated performance, because in effect the man himself is that way. A sort of unassuming man than you wouldn't pay much attention to overall. What was a little shocking was seeing the man in full SS uniform when the reserves get called up. It surprises me even now, but that uniform appears to turn almost anybody into something to be loathed even though you know at the heart of it is a good man.

Jason Issacs plays a good part as Halder's Jewish friend Maurice, who tries desperately to hold onto their friendship under amazingly difficult circumstances. A great British actor, I always remember him from the TV show Civies. Which was a hard hitting drama about an ex soldier trying to make his way in civilian life.

Steven Macintosh also comes across well as Freddie, yet another man involved with the Nazi party it seems more through career ambition than anything else. Another good British actor that seems to pop up, normally in a supporting role for the most part.

The overall feel of the film is good, the settings look authentic and the overall direction and editing seemed fine. But the film doesn't have an ending, well at least not one that is satisfactory. It just led you to an assumption, but not a conclusion one way or the other. Not something I particularly like, if you tell a story 'tell it', don't leave me half wondering at the end.