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 black book
 to access audio and video on collective you need real player.Basic instinct. An epic, rip-roaring, double-crossing wartime thriller, Black Book finds Dutch director Paul Verhoeven back home after 20 years goosing America’s skirts and on top form. Accept Schindler’s List remade as an unashamed B-movie spy throwback and enjoy the outrageous exploits of Rachel (a fearless, star-making turn from luminous Carice van Houten), betrayed Jewish fugitive-turned-resistance-fighter-turned-Nazi mole. Verhoeven’s still kinky (a full frontal shot cheekily recalling Shazza Stone in Basic Instinct) but hasn’t shown such rigour and purpose in decades, subtly needling his own Hollywood impulses and climaxing with one of cinema’s great cynical final shots. Orange pulp of the highest quality. Black Book, on selected release 19 January 07.
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comment by NormanWisden
Jan 24, 2007
Black book was indeed a surprise. A pleasant surprise. Already pilloried for its supposed graphic scenes (which I think were all completely necessary to the plot) Paul Verhoeven's new work actually proved to be not just a good 'fast paced thriller' - if you will - but also a thought provoking piece about the duplicity of war.Dealing head-on with anti-Semitism as depicted in a wonderful performance by Carice van Houten as Rachel it goes deep inside the paranoia that must have been rife at that time. I also found her relationship with the Head of the SS (nicely played by Sebastian Koch) believable even given the fact that she had witnessed the murder of her family at first hand. Desensitized and dead inside she toughens through necessity and looks for retribution however that might be achieved. And in the process finds some warmth from a most unexpected quarter and in turn rediscovering her own vulnerability. One note (pun not intended) of criticism's reserved for the music which is a wholly turgid affair of heavy laden theme less strings from Anne Dudley. Quite why Verhoeven (after giving more than twenty years of his life to this film) should pass such an annoyingly mediocre musical morass is a mystery. It would have been even better with a sympathetic score. But then there are a number of 'worthies' around scoring at present who really shouldn't bother. And talking of 'worthies' (as I don't think it'll happen for one moment) Carice van Houten's performance is surely worthy of an award and yet I'm sure we'll be subjected to 'The Queen' lauding it over everything. More's the pity.
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