Downfall

The biggest question here: does this film humanize Hitler and his most maniacal followers too much? Perhaps 'humanize' is not the right word; I suppose the question really comes down to sympathy, and the possibility that there's too much of it here. The answer to that question probably depends upon who you are and how you feel about such things. What you undeniably get here is an exhaustively detailed account of the last days of the Nazi regime. One might even say too detailed, as it goes on hammering home its message long after that point is made. From a cinematic angle, the performances are excellent all around, the recreation of time and place is meticulous, and the movie's ultimate statement--what starts in madness ends in madness--comes through clearly. One note worth mentioning: this flick was made for an audience that is assumed to have a fairly good knowledge going in of who is whom here; explication is minimal, which could trip up modern viewers.