Der Eisbär

DER EISBAER is the first movie German mega-star Til Schweiger directed, and starred in. Seen when it premiered in Germany in November of '98, I accompanied all the avant premiere buzz surrounding the film and Schweiger's career moves, and even attended one of the premieres Schweiger hosted at the new Potsdamer Platz Cinemaxx. This action drama with a relationship story lived up to all the hype, and exceeded my inflated expectations. If you are a Schweiger fan or a an action drama lover, don't miss DER EISBAER when it comes out on video or if it opens outside Europe. Schweiger has come a long way since DER BEWEGTE MANN ("Maybe, Maybe Not"), and in the process has single-handedly brought German cinema back to the masses after a half century of domination by the high brow author directors (Herzog, Fassbinder, Wenders) who made German cinema synonymous with boredom, and inaccessibility with the masses. Since 1994, Schweiger starrers have broken German Box Office Records consistently. Here, though this film did not break the Box Office Records of the others (including MAENNERPENSION and KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOORS), he shows us in more dimensions why he has been the phenomenon of popular German cinema this past decade, and probably beyond 2000. I give DER EISBAER 8 out 10 points.

Quentin Tarantino is a talented director who occasionally acts, although it's clearly not his forte. Till Schweiger on the other hand is a, well, decent and very popular German actor who, for this movie, pretended to also be a director. Unfortunately, the whole shtick didn't work out as well as hoped, and "Der Eisbär" turns out to be a glossy but ultimately pointless, and occasionally annoying, flick. It comes laden with Schweiger's actor buddies and is well filmed and "easy on the eye" (nice camerawork, good locations, coherent costumes, etc.), but the story is paper thin and has been done a hundred times before, and better. What really turned me off was the fact that Schweiger seems to think that simply having him on the screen for extended periods would make great cinema, and that copying Tarantino's style with a large brush would make him a great director, as if Tarantino's work was unseen of in this country. The movie is practically Schweiger's cinematic ego trip, and I did not find it was worth watching.

At first glance, one could think the movie just unashamedly copies the stereotypical Hollywood gangster movie. But nothing could be further from the truth. The film is a total persiflage on the genre, setting a typical and deliberately shallow plot into Germany's industrial heartland - the Ruhr area. There it is staged with loads of local colour and bizarre details not necessarily related to the actual plot, the latter obviously 'borrowed' from Takashi Miike movies.

Der Eisbär not only holds its own when it comes to gangster flicks, it's a standout. Rarely has a movie taken on the genre and rendered it what it really is in all its ridiculousness. The love for details is extraordinary and the situational humour spot on, but not as overdone as it often is the case in American productions.

Add to this supporting roles filled with the who is who of the German film and entertainment industry, most notable an -as usual- brilliant Juergen Tarrach as the bomb constructor, Ralph Herforth and Ralf Richter as undercover cops, comedian Tom Gerhardt as the manager of the fast food restaurant, and character actress and internationally acclaimed director Katharina Thalbach in a tiny appearance, sleeping off her intoxication in the "Pauls Eck" pub during the final stand-off.

Der Eisbär is a masterpiece. Totally misunderstood by many, it has acquired a cult following among the ones in the know.

"Der Eisbar" is by far the greatest surprise in german postwar film production. Directed by the emerging Mr. Till Schweiger, who usually plays the protagonist in many european movies (like the upcoming Star Trek, Star Wars bashing satire from Bulli Herbig after Manitou´s Shoe) Imagine Brad Pitt doing a great road track movie... This work feels like "PULP FICTION" on steroids- Cramped with german TV and movie stars this movie blows a heavy punch. It has everything from satire, jokes below the belt -absolutely political incorrect, fast cut scenes, a furious and hilarious plot (the killing of the "Minister of Health" -the mafia mob boss). Anybody outside Germany will have dramatic problems understanding those jokes due to the appearance of well known german faces (like the american diner boss -the star comedian Tom Gerhardt and the country song idol Peter Maffay). Even if you are not acquainted with the star parade, the story is wonderfully told. The whole thing resembles a half breed- Altmans "Short Cuts" and Quentins "Pulp Fiction" We wish there would be a chance for a second or a third Eisbär Movie...

Til Schweiger in one of his best roles. Nearly forgotten german music gives the proper sound providing the amusing plot of the film directed by Til himself. All in all it is worth seeing it more than just one time so enjoy the atmosphere which will catch you in any case.