Plano A

It's not a bad movie, on the contrary, the scheme is daring, and inspired from actual events. But the overall result in terms of acting, directing seems too predictable for this daring story. There is something wrong between the purpose and the development. This movie could have been far better, actually it lacks power, it could have gone further. But, I repeat, the basic topic where, for once, Jews are not shown as purely good guys, intending to poison millions of civilians in revenge, this topic is not that usual, it is rather surprising. So, so summarize, I think it did not deserve a theatrical release, but on the contrary released as a TV movie, it could have been far enough. With less "big screen" production design, it would have been more dramatic, more sober. More effective.

In the immediate aftermath of WWII, camp survivor Max (August Diehl) returns to find the man, who ratted out his family, has now stolen his home. He encounters a squad of the British army's Jewish brigade. They have been tracking down and executing former SS and other collaborators. They are transferred out by the British. Max remains behind to join a local Jewish squad with a darker plan.

I am going with this as Max and the group hunt down the SS. I am less convinced that he would do what he does after that. First, he would go kill the man who stole his house which led to the murder of his family. Without that, his character makes no sense. After killing the guy, he should finish off the list. I'm more than willing to believe that he would switch sides, but by that time, I don't buy his character. The story has no tension since the plan was never pulled off in the real history. I never expected them to succeed. The first half of this movie is pretty good, but the second half runs into various overall issues. In many ways, Michael would be the better lead character.

Based on a true story which normally grabs my interest anyway, this is a film generally worth a watch

August Diehl who tends to be cast in this sort of movie gives a decent enough performance.

It begins: 'Based on a true story' and that's exactly what it delivers. These were extraordinary times where simple unvarnished truth would have been an incredibly powerful way of telling this particular story. Unfortunately, creative license greatly diminishes rather than heightens what should have been storytelling at its finest. The ending, in particular, betrays the integrity of real events. The high-scoring ratings here seem similarly gratuitous. Is it better than Schindler's List (8.9 and seven Oscars)? Or Life is Beautiful (8.6 and 3 Oscars)? Or The Pianist (8.5 and 3 Oscars)? The acting's is good, as are the production values and it's a decent enough film. But truth, especially given the subject matter, is infinitely more powerful than fiction.

It's unbelievable. A true story about what's right and wrong. Revenge or forgiveness. A shame that so many anti Semitic people rate it with only 1 star. It definitely deserves a much higher rating.