Iron Cross

A wonderfully written, emotive, powerful,thought provoking film. Tense and unpredictable. It takes you to some unexpected places and earns a fitting place in its genre. It left me contemplative and aware of some aspects of the consequences of war that I wouldn't always be quick to respond too.

I was lucky enough to receive an early screen for Beautiful Blue Eyes and I was hugely impressed with it. The portrayal of Joesph and the fallout from his traumatic past was conveyed with tremendous sincerely and emotional honesty.

I thought Roy Scheider was mesmerising, the film providing a harrowing swan song for the late great actor. I liked the intercutting of past and present and thought the presentation of Joseph's trauma was very effective. The ending was particularly haunting and will leave viewers with much to think upon long after the film has ended.

Given the horrific backdrop of the Holocaust and the sensitivity it requires, I thought the film handled the subject matter respectfully and portrayed the scars created in the aftermath poignantly. I would highly recommend watching this.

So, now it is 2016, 7 years after the release of the last movie Roy Scheider ever made. People in Europe in 2009 got to see it. It has never been played on television, and it has never gone to DVD or any other media. WHY? I am appalled, and angry that this movie has not gained any recognition from any film studio. And as I have not seen this movie, I will probably never be able to enjoy the last film of a great actor. There used to be a link to the official website where you could actually find out the status of the film and DVD sale. But even that has gone away. What do you have to do to make sure this movie doesn't die somewhere in a close vault??? Mad as hell.

It's clear the director put heart and soul into this. I just wish more movies had this dynamic level of storytelling. It's a great story. Scheider is great. His young co-star Alexander Newton is does a fine job too.

Roy Schneider's final performance, released to theaters over a decade after his death, is one of his best, and reminds us what a talent we lost. The movie is a terrific psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat to the end.

It's a crime that so many antisemites and Holocaust deniers have review bombed the film and overloaded it with 1-star reviews. Don't let that deceptive number keep you from experiencing an intense and powerful piece of filmmaking, and a remarkable turn by Scheider. That alone is worth the price of admission, but there is plenty more to keep you there.

In short, this is one of those indie movies that you have to track down and see.