The Pianist

A beautiful story, told in measured cadences by a master of old-timey narrative compression and expression.

Polanski, himself a survivor of Nazi-occupied Poland, has created a near-masterpiece.

Never before has a fiction film so clearly and to such devastating effect laid out the calculation of the Nazi machinery of death and its irrationality.

The power of the arts to transcend cultural differences is presumably what moves the German to spare Szpilman, and, perhaps, is the key to Polanski's salvation as well.

Polanski, wisely, doesn't interpret or explain. He seems to have decided that in the face of such meticulously planned horror, the best one can do is get the details right.

The movie is about preservation and restoration and the power of art. But with what gain in knowledge? It's as if Szpilman had no soul, and no will, apart from an endless desire to tickle the keys. [13 January 2003, p. 90]

At the risk of being called an anti-Semite, I would like to propose a moratorium on Holocaust movies -- While it would be crass to discount the importance of the subject, at the same time one has to admit there is some degree of excess going on here.

Just an amazing movie. Great story, great characters, great choice of places and great ending. It is perfect...

For me, really quality. It caught me a lot, because I like the theme of war in movies and this was excellent. It was also helped by the fact that it is a story based on a true event. It was a great build-up. It was great at the beginning, but then it kept going and from about halfway through it really grabbed me and I was really entertained. The last moments of the film were a blast. Suspenseful, I'd say slightly moving and simply gripping. In my eyes, this is an amazing film. I think it's a great choice for war movie fans, but don't expect an action movie. It might even catch the attention of people who aren't into war movies that much. It's not about the action. In short, a good quality biopic. I thought it was great.

This is without a doubt the best film of its genre ever made. The film's brilliant directing, acting, and storyline work together to draw you into a historically disturbing, yet intriguing plot. Brody is deserving of his Academy Award because he brings forth the best in 'The Pianist.' His acting is subtle enough that you can forget you're watching a movie and instead are living through his eyes. Simultaneously, it is bold and loud enough to make you experience every emotion as his character embarks on his harrowing trip.

A standard and typically brutal look at a terrible time. I wouldn't say it stood out any more than the other more well known films in the genre. I'm not sure the benevolent **** storyline was needed at all to push this over the finish line.

It is real it raw it is imminent and moving, the acting is stellar the storyline is ok and paces with historical facts but it is not as appealing as a movie as i had hoped