Film 29 - The Book Thief

The Book Thief - 15/03/2014

During World War II, Liesel, sheltered by adoptive parents finds comfort stealing and reading books and sharing them with others. She meets Max, a Jewish refugee, who is hiding in their basement who drives her passion for the written word.

This is a child's perspective of World War II, sometimes it feels like a film for children, sometimes a fable, sometimes historical.  A very interesting story to it, although I think the narration from Death is unnecessary for the film (I haven't read the Markus Zuzak novel, so don't know how important this actually is).

The Book Thief is an enjoyable film, but far too drawn out.  I do not have issues with long films, and at 131 mins this is hardly an epic, but it does seem to drag it's heels for pretty much the full running time.  For me, it could have been edited a further 40 mins and still told the same story (and probably would have attracted a younger audience and taught them something)

Geoffrey Rush is great in his "Papa" role and Emily Watson is the grumpy (but loving) "Mama".  Sophie Nelisse (Liesel) was very good in the titular role, but sometime seemed to lose the German accent.  Rudy (Nico Liersch) was a little annoying for me, and wasn't strong enough an actor to carry his role.

John Williams (the God of Soundtracks) did his usual with the score, what a legend!