The Lives Of Others (2006) - #199

Empire top 301: #199
IMDb top 250: #54

Rating: 8/10

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Writers: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Starring: Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Tukur & Thomas Thieme

"We are the Shield and Sword of the Party"

Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler (Mühe) is a master interrogator, assigned an operation to spy on playwright  Georg Dreyman (Kock) who lives with his actress partner Christa-Maria Sieland Gedeck), as they are believed to be potential enemies of the GDR regime. The film is set in 1984 focusing on the activities of the Stasi, the German Democratic Republic secret police who are blacklisting artists who go "too far" against the socialist regime in their work. Whilst Georg is visiting his blacklisted friend Jerska, a theatrical director, Wiesler and his team bug his apartment and using an abandoned space on the top floor of the apartment block Wiesler, who lives for his job and the Republic, spends several months listening to his subjects and begins to open his mind to a new way of thinking and changes his views on his known way of life. 

I really didn't know what to expect with this film. I must admit I'm not all that familiar with the GDR and the Stasi operations and I had to pause the movie half way through to go on my iPad and do some research. I thought the movie was going to be an all out thriller in the vein of Baader Meinhof Complex, which I loved, but it was a bit slower paced and more intimate focusing more on a smaller operation against the backdrop of politics and art. The movie is beautifully filmed and von Donnersmarck allows the camera to take in so much to give the viewer more insight into the characters. I particularly love the scene where the camera stops on Wielser showing his turning point in the movie, where that tear falls down his face as Dreyman plays Beethoven's "Appassionata". 

The two male leads in the movie Wiesler and Dreyman are played exceptionally by Ulrich Mühe & Sebastian Kock. The two men couldn't be anymore different, Dreyman is charming and has a bohemian, well read feel to him, whilst Wiesler is staid and grey and by the book. Their differences can be seen in their lives too, from the look of their apartments to the type of company they keep. Mühe is particularly good and goes through every type of emotion beautifully. 

Martina Gedeck's performance as Christa-Maria is equally as impressive as the lead actors, however I was so distracted every time she was topless; she was having to strategically move her arms to cover her nipples. Ulrich Tukur & Thomas Thieme make for excellent villains who are eager for power. The film has some incredibly tense moments and you will be upright during these moments, von Donnersmarck executes these scenes really well. There are plenty of twists and even a few "I never saw that coming" moments too. The movie has a lot of dialogue and therefore a lot of subtitles and the dialogue is important so if you don't speak or understand German you will need to have your brain switched on. This is a superb directorial debut from von Donnersmarck. 

United 93 (2006) - #DidntMakeTheListButShouldHave

Empire top 301: -

IMDb top 250: -

Rating 10/10

Director: Paul Greengrass

Writers: Paul Greengrass

Starring: Cheyenne Jackson, Corey Johnson & David Alan Basche

"This is a suicide mission. We have to do something. They are not gonna land this plane." 

United 93 is the story of the fourth plane hijacked on September 11th 2001 during the terrorist attacks against America. United 93 was the only plane hijacked on the day that did not reach it's target. The movie tells from the moment United 93 takes off right through to it's conclusion and also about the other hijacked planes.   

United 93 was one of the films on the list that I was most excited about watching, I'd been threatening to watch it for years and have heard great things but I always put it off. Perhaps it was the subject matter and the fact I knew it was going to be difficult to watch. I am so glad I've finally watched it now, to say I loved it would be an understatement. This movie is superb!!! Paul Greengrass is a master at building up tension and suspense and my heart was pounding throughout and I actually was on the edge of my seat. 

I found myself shocked, sad, terrified, baying for blood during the last forty minutes and ultimately spent when the film finished. It drained me but I loved every minute of it. The events of 9/11 are so shocking and awful it still has the power to sadden me, whenever I see something 9/11 related it takes me back to the day when I saw it happen on the television, it was shocking then, it's still shocking now. 

The acting is exceptional, from everyone! The film is quick paced and frantic and every actor does an outstanding job. During the control room scenes it's hard to believe they're actually actors, they're so good and convincing. The way the movie is filmed also makes it feel very realistic and this really heightens your emotions. The scenes were the passengers phone their loved ones broke me and a few tears were shed, the fact this actually happened only made it worse, it must've have been truly awful. The movie is unflinching and hard to watch but it should be watched, by everyone! 

I cannot recommend this film enough it is outstanding!!! How it never made the top 301 I'll never know!!

Pan's Labyrinth (2006) - #50

Empire top 301: #50
IMDb top 250: #116

Rating 10/10

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writers: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Sergi López, Ivana Baquero, Mariabel Verdú & Doug Jones

"You're getting older, and you'll see that life isn't like your fairy tales. The world is a cruel place. And you'll learn that, even if it hurts."

Pan's Labyrinth is the story of Ofelia who along with her pregnant mother goes to live with her evil Step-Father Captain Vidal who hunts and fights the Spanish Maquis in Franco's Spain 1944. Ofelia escapes this dark and dangerous world into a mystical world just as dark and dangerous and has to complete three tasks before the next full moon to reveal if she is the true Princess of the Underworld - who had left to join the surface many years before and the sunlight had erased her momory. When I first saw Pan's Labyrinth I was blown away, so much so I immediately went to the next showing to watch again. 

The word masterpiece is thrown around so nonchalantly when people describe movies but to me this is a masterpiece. The film is essentially a fairytale but is given a really dark and brilliant twist which works so well against the backdrop of post civil-war Spain. The film is so beautifully made by Guillermo and co and features some amazing CGI and makeup. 

The cast are stunning especially Sergi Lopez as the sadistic Captain Vidal; whilst his actions are brutal and extreme you can understand why he is this way and how his fathers death made him the man he became. Ivana Baquero is delightful as Ofelia and gives a very mature and lovely performance. I love Maribel Verdu in this movie - who I had previously loved in Y Tu Mamá También - and think Mercedes is a great character! During her scenes alongside Captain Vidal in the last 30 minutes you see her character really grow and you'll be cheering for her when she does! 

For a fairytale, the movie is extremely violent and very tense in scenes, not least the one with The White Man and is definitely not for children; my kind of fairytale.  

Pan's Labyrinth is an amazing and magical movie that really deserves it's place in the Empire 500!