Defiance (2008, R)

For the most part, Defiance is an underrated World War II flick, one that holds truth, entertainment, and an amazing true to life story of human survival, but also one that doesn’t add that much morale value.

            The film stars Daniel Craig as Tuvia Bielski, Liev Schreiber as Zus Bielski and Jamie Bell as Asael Bielski, three Jewish brothers whose parents and family are brutally murdered by the Nazis during World War II in Eastern Europe.  Hiding out in the woods, the brothers avenge their parent’s death, and then start to take care of Jewish refugees hiding out in the woods.  Zus wants to fight back, but his older bro Tuvia wants to remain in hiding in the woods.  After a fist fight, Zus takes a handful of his own followers and joins the Soviet resistance, leaving Tuvia and Asael in charge of the Jews.  The Jews survive a cruel winter and build homes and shelters out in the woods, but are constantly pursued by the Germans, while Zus leads his men on several raids on German installations and patrols.

            Defiance doesn’t exactly work as a World War II movie, but rather as a story of human survival.  Both Craig and Schreiber are big enough movie stars to carry the show, but I was pleased to see the movie holding itself together, and actually making sense; not getting lost in the shoot em up type film that is now plaguing Hollywood. 

            Directed by Edward Zwick, who does a fair enough job sitting in the director’s chair, Defiance contains some good performances, but the best comes from Schreiber.  Craig came close, but I think he will be better known for and is better as 007. 

            Tuvia constantly feels like Moses leading his people to the Promised Land.  He stands up on a white horse and gives speeches of encouragement and determination to the Jews and in the end leads them through a swamp to escape the Germans, walking in front of a long procession of Jews.

                Overall, despite its shortcomings, Defiance had real history, and that’s what made it more inspiring then some other World War II pics. I would call Defiance as an underrated World War II film, and one that should be more closely looked at.

                         ****/5