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Since we have been on the subject of WWII in film, I thought I would mention a little seen movie I watched last night called "The Statement." It was allegedly based upon a true story. Michael Caine stars as a former French officers responsible for killing seven Jews. He was in kahoots with another French officer, who since the war, was elevated within the Vichy government. The film noted that the Vichy French government exterminated Frencj Jews before the arrival of the Nazis.After the War, Caine's characther was granted a pardon by the government for the alleged crimes levied against him. After the pardon, new charges of crimes against humanity were filed against him. After those charges are filed, Caine is then hidden by the Catholic Church. Tilda Swinton (much underrated actress) plays a Magistrate hired to locate Caine to find the person in the government who he conspired with during the war to kill the seven Jews.
Jeremy Northam plays the Colonel sent to assist Swinton in her pursuit. There are also Jewish hunters looking to kill Caine to do justice. The Church is ordered by Rome not assist Caine anymore. There are those in the French government that now want him dead because they fear that is Caine is caught, he will divulge the government officer that assisted Caine in the killings.
Unfortunately, what sounds like a good suspense was a very slow moving and tepid film. The screenplay was not very lively. There were many charachters introduced within a short period of time that were not given any kind of introduction, and so it was impossible to know who they were, or what role they had with the killing, the coverup, or why they would want to help Caine. There were flashbacks to too many black and white photos with too many people, and so it was impossible to know which of the older charachters were represented in the older photos.
A very good cast in a very good vehicle were wasted.
Follow Ups:
and the Ludlam-type action made the film.
----Be right there, Mom.
Here is what I thought about.
- http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=films&n=25341&highlight=the+statement+patrick&r=&session= (Open in New Window)
The build up to the film, and the postscript to the film, indicates that it was based upon a true story. After seeing the film, I was not sure if any part was true, or how much was true. Not having been familiar with the events, this film did little to answer any questions, or provide much information. It seems that it was made for the viewer who had some knowledge of the subject matter prior to seeing the film. I still do not know who all the players were, what they were supposed to be doing, and why they were involved in the story. All I know is that the Catholic Church hid a French officer, accused of killing Jews during WWII, and that there were vigilantes after him, and that someone (hired by who?) was trying to find him to locate an officer in the French government who collaborated with him.It needed a tight screenplay, which it did not have. I felt like I came in on the middle of the story, and the flashbacks provided little context and history.
It is about the fact that the Catholic church helped a lot of Catholic Nazis hide in diverse monestaries, in fact until the Ninety and we can suppose until...now too.
A lost occasion.
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