MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > The Pianist (2002).

The Pianist (2002).

posted 2 days ago by TheMan18 (13047)
14 replies | jump to latest

If that's alright, may I ask what we the general discussion board aficionados here think of this movie, even if sadly yeah, its directed by a very sinful individual albeit acclaimed as a filmmaker (on that level, were you still alright with watching this movie) whom I won't name (but we know who he is and I even discussed him on numerous occasions) but anyways...

And also, compared to other similar WW2 and Holocaust themed movies, like "Schindler's List" (1993) among others, how is it and how does it fare, thanks.

And did it deserve awards and Oscar nominations, thanks.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77491) 2 days ago

I only recall that it was about a very tall and girthy pianist.

[–] Melton (4567) 2 days ago

It’s a typically excellent Polanski film, probably his most disturbing. The way he stages and films the brutalisation of innocent Jews in a civilised society is… worse than horror.

Brody nails the title role, and his journey is both harrowing and inspirational, and really nail-biting towards the end.

Holocaust films always attract Oscars and this is a good one. I prefer Schindler’s List overall but this one is more raw and traumatising.

As for Polanski, this practice of not naming him is bizarre and overblown. He did a very gross thing but so have many people who don’t get the same treatment. It’s also not necessary to bring up his crime every time his movies are discussed 🤷🏻‍♂️

[–] TheMan18 (13047) a day ago

"this practice of not naming him is bizarre and overblown"
People (including myself) can simply be put off, sensitive, disturbed and frustrated over this matter around him so its a little easier that way as his name might conjure up such situation, and in my case, its also because I DID discuss him around this matter a few years ago, hence, you know, giving it a rest and all.

And our world in general is often very uneven and unfair its hard to tell who gets what, what "treatment" and all, most of us, hype or no hype, wish such things didn't happen in the first place.

And that's mostly just me, my 50 cents if you like.

[–] TheMan18 (13047) a day ago

" It’s also not necessary to bring up his crime every time his movies are discussed 🤷🏻‍♂️"

And online today especially, many still do it without giving it a second thought OR deciding to separate the proverbial "art from artist" and there is no one UNIVERSAL answer to say who is RIGHT here in THAT sense alone.

And I and many others see it as more than just a crime in a legal sense but an act of horror-laden immorality that has no statute of limitation.

[–] TheMan18 (13047) a day ago

And there were rumours or even almost proven facts that this wasn't his first and only offense as such of that nature. Although it was his most known example of it as such.

[–] Melton (4567) a day ago

My feelings towards Polanski are a bizarre combination of pity, admiration and disgust. I can’t think of anyone else who inspires that response.

Pity because his mother was industrially murdered by Nazis, and later in life his heavily pregnant wife was stabbed over a hundred times by Manson cultists.

Admiration of his incredible filmmaking talent.

Disgust over him drugging and buggering a 13 year old.

I think he should have served more time… but I’m also glad he’s been able to keep making great films.

[–] susannah101 (137) a day ago

This is one of my favourite movies. Adrien Brody did a great job and in my opinion, deserved the Oscar.

[–] olioz (3687) a day ago

One of my favourites too. This movie made me a fan of Adrien Brody.

[–] KiwiJim (1325) a day ago

Roman Polanski.

There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?

Great film, probably Polanski’s best since Rosemary’s Baby. Brody deserved his Oscar. As for holocaust movies, generally I don’t seek them out. I’m well aware of the atrocities that occurred and putting myself through that emotional turmoil time and again is not entertaining for me. That said, it is important to document what happened and as far as films about the period go it’s certainly one of the better ones. Son of Saul would be my pick for the best, though.

[–] TheMan18 (13047) a day ago

"There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?"

It wasn't "so hard" for me either, but I was making another sort of metaphorical point with that statement, and we also know who he is as for one with this movie, even younger audiences who may not have known him well for his say past work, not to mention, personal life etc, have become familiar with him, and I for one was more keen on what we think of this movie overall, first and foremost.

[–] jacotodd47 (1875) a day ago

"The Pianist" was very good. No doubt worth watching.

No, I didn't care that Polanski directed it.

One liked it better than "Schindler's List". Probably mainly because, I never saw Oskar Schindler (someone that actually did exist) as the hero portrayed in the film. To me he was another Nazi phony. Happy to take advantage of Jewish slave labor up until the time the tide of war went against the Nazis.

It didn't bother me Brody won, although you can make a good argument for a very underrated Jack Nicholson performance - "About Schmidt". I'd have taken it for best picture that year as well ("Chicago" won).

[–] TheMan18 (13047) a day ago

"Probably mainly because, I never saw Oskar Schindler (someone that actually did exist) as the hero portrayed in the film. To me he was another Nazi phony."

Maybe one of the messages of "Schindler's List" (1993) was that many if not all people including perhaps some Nazis too are not either all good or all "bad" and "all evil" but rather are a complex set of individuals with a mixture of light and dark sides, virtues and vices and some may even do heroic things at one point whilst some or other wrongs at another. Could it be the case?

[–] jacotodd47 (1875) 9 hours ago

Sure. There were plenty of very good people "stuck' in Nazi Germany. Some fled (Einstein), others showed guts beyond belief ("The WHite Rose").

SOme, like Schlinder, had no problem taking advantage of Jewish slave labor. He was one of many. He changed his tune once the war started going South for the Nazis.

Incidentally, you can make the same contention of the Valkyrie crew. Most of them had no problem with what was going on up until they knew the war was lost. One man that credited himself was Beck (played by Terrence Stamp). He was disagreeing in 1936-37 - eventually resigning in 1938. He never jumped on the Nazi bandwagon.

You can make the contention the rest of the Valkyrie crew (including Stauffenberg) and Oskar Schlinder would have happily kept going with the Nazi program, if in fact the Nazis continued to win the war.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77491) a day ago

Sheesh, apparently I’m the only poster that finds the word ‘Pianist’ very funny.

Say, does anyone know what the third largest whale in the world is called?
Let’s all act like we’re still in 7th grade! It’s fun👍