Resistance (2020) User Reviews

Leave Your Baggage At The Door

[StuffedCat · 6/10 · 1 December 2020]

I have absolutely no idea who Eisenberg is, and consequently watched this film with no preformed opinions or expectations. Only afterwards reading others' (mostly) negative comments did I realise that (I assume) he's better known for different types of role. Well, without the baggage and preconceptions, I think he gave a pretty good performance. I found it believable and nothing struck me as being either over- or underdone.

That being said, give it a few days when I'll have forgotten most of the specifics of this film, and I will probably once again have no idea who Eisenberg is. It's not an OSCAR-worthy performance, but it's acceptable.

The story itself I found engaging, all the better for being based on true events, and I have no regrets at having made the time to watch it. I probably won't watch it a second time in a few years, once it's a distant memory, but that's more to do with having lots that I do want to rewatch, and (probably) not enough time left to fit them all in.

Can I, though, take a moment to give 10/10 to the reviewer who commented "So Marcel Marceau was a Resistance fighter, huh? He kept that quiet." :-) Best one-liner I've read in ages!

Emotional story

[rodandjoy · 7/10 · 24 November 2020]

Often heard of Marcel Marceau but never this part of his life. Very engaging film. I understand other reviewers concerns regarding Eisenberg in the lead role but if you see past that to the actual story it is a good watch.

Do not let the negative reviews deter you from watching this movie

[samuelwebster-05926 · 8/10 · 18 April 2020]

This movie plucks at the heart strings. I will have to do some digging on how historically accurate this film was but I feel that Eisenberg did a fantastic job. Don't let the negative reviews deter you from this. The plot was well thought out and all of the cast portrayed their characters very well. I rented this movie from amazon for $7 and I am going to buy the dvd to add to my collection l.

An Important Reminder

[Roevivium · 7/10 · 14 April 2020]

Was this the most brilliant film I've ever seen? No. Was it a well-told adaptation of a true story that deserves to be remembered? I think that sums it up pretty well.

Jesse Eisenberg delivers a decent performance if you can look past the shoddy French accent, but Clémence Poésy and Matthias Schweighöfer are the true stars here, with the nazi brutality of the latter made all the more shocking when contrasted with the concern he shows towards his own child.

A few reviews comment on the 'formulaic' nature of this film - whilst from an entertainment perspective this might be a valid critique, I personally believe it is vital that these stories are told and retold, and highlighting the bravery of an individual is a valuable way to do so.

courage to be remembered

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 26 March 2020]

Greetings again from the darkness. Learning of the courageous people who found their own way to battle the Nazis during World War II never gets old. Sometimes brain power and courage are more important than gun power. Such is the case in this latest from writer-director Jonathan Jakubowicz, who brings a fascinating story from within the French Resistance to the big screen. This is a group that rescued 10,000 orphaned kids, and this is a story of one special man from within that group.

Jesse Eisenberg (and an iffy French accent) plays Marcel, the son of a multi-generational Jewish butcher in Strasbourg France. Out of familial duty, Marcel works at the butcher shop with his father, but his passion is in performing arts. One evening his dad (Karl Markovics) 'catches' him performing a silent Charlie Chaplin act on stage at a local cabaret. A parental lecture follows. Marcel's penchant for entertaining does come in handy when he helps his brother Alain (Felix Moati) and cousin Georges (Geza Rohrig, SON OF SAUL) rescue 123 orphans.

The opening sequence in the film finds young Elsbeth (Bella Ramsey, Lorna Luft in JUDY) witnessing her Jewish parents being murdered in the street outside their Munich home by Nazis in 1938. We next see her in the group of 123 orphans noted above. As a kind of framing device, we flash forward to 1945 in Nuremberg, as General George S Patton (Ed Harris) is addressing the troops and telling the story of a remarkable man. That man is Marcel, and the film then takes us through his journey and we "see" the story that General Patton is "telling."

When Marcel and his brother agree to join the French Jewish Resistance (also known as Organization Juive de Combat, OJC), they face more danger, and maintain their focus on rescuing orphans. Helping in the cause is Emma (Clemence Poesy, IN BRUGES), and a mutual respect and attraction forms between she and Marcel. The brutality of the war is shown through the actions of Klaus Barbie (Matthias Schweighofer). As the head of the Gestapo in France (and known as The Butcher of Lyon), Barbie works out of the Hotel Terminus, and his sadistic tendencies find their way into the Resistance.

Once the war escalates to a certain point, the Resistance must decide whether it's best to continue hiding the kids, or risk the perilous journey across the Alps in hopes of freedom. In reality, it's not much of a decision, as staying put likely means torture, if not death. There are some touching moments between Marcel and the kids, and some acts of pure bravery from all involved.

At times, the film teeters into LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL territory, but never for long. The moments of pure terror are well presented, yet never overly graphic. We feel the stress of the Resistance as they struggle to get the kids to safety, and feel their pain in tragic losses. As the film ends, General Patton finishes his story by introducing his story's Marcel. The spotlight then lands on Marcel Marceau in full make-up and costume. Marceau, of course, went on to become famous and beloved around the world as the most famous mime. Filmmaker Jakubowicz has delivered yet another fascinating story of heroism and courage ... another story that deserves to be remembered.

This Movie Is UNDERRATED

[Kanniek · 7/10 · 28 May 2020]

Reading many of the reviews on this movie saddens me. Some people say that Eisenberg's mime acting was horrible. Most of the reviews don't seem to be pin pointing why this movie deserves it's 7 solid stars.

The story is VERY touching and Eisenberg did a good job with Marcel. I am personally not into drama but this movie showed me why drama deserves attention. Marcel was relatable to me. A man inspiring to be an artist whilst the world is in inevitable war and only cares about himself and what he is trying to sell. Eisenberg did SUCH a good job because Marcel's arrogance is reasonable (to me at least). Seeing someone like Marcel open up to these orphans and bring them happiness by performing. It brought joy even to me. The movie itself keeps everything complex when it comes to emotions but linear when it comes to storyline. The scenes are connected with each other and they make sense. Not only that, but they follow each other flawlessly. The touch of background music made it even better at times.

The accent wasn't bad and it was hearable. You don't need over 100 IQ to hear what they're talking about. In my opinion every scene was carefully thought out. Especially the scene with the train. Barbie's moment touched me. He is a cruel lieutenant. A savage one with barely any emotion when murdering people. I like how they touched on Barbie. When he asked Marcel that question it was just heart melting. Showing that Barbie DOES have a father figure. The argument with his wife showed even more of his troubled side I would say. These scenes were tempting.

The forest scene was the most tension bringing. It was well shot and well portrayed. Eisenberg's character is a flat out genius. Using his mime skills he managed to save the lives of these children including his friends AND his brother. Even if Emma died honestly her death felt needed for the movie. It was not a cliche death to make the viewers feel sympathy. It seemed unescapable. And the end of the movie was a neutral one.

Overall this movie is a fantastic one. Even if it was made in 2020. I am sure that it deserves it's recognition just like the other good movies that came out in 2020. It's one of the reasons why films are still interesting and worth the review. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE BAD REVIEWS IF YOU WANT TO TRY THIS MOVIE OUT. Just do it.

Had me in tears

[bryanmartin1 · 7/10 · 19 July 2020]

Fantastic Holocaust film. I doubt many people know the true life connection this great stage actor had to saving children during WW2.

Really made me cry !

[godwin159 · 10/10 · 1 October 2020]

Fantastic movie based on true events.screen play, music, actors are well mannered and they did their best actually ! everything are perfect!

A Terrific Cast Flowing through a Compelling Story and a Formulaic Movie

[TwistedContent · 6/10 · 27 March 2020]

The 27th March of 2020 is a good day, a decent day, a day to enjoy a fresh Jesse Eisenberg double feature - "Resistance" and "Vivarium". I decided to start with this biographical WW2 drama in which Eisenberg portrays the real life figure Marcel Marceau, one of the world's most famous mimes and a resistance fighter during the era of WW2 in Europe. The simple verdict is this - it's kind of a mixed bag.

"Resistance" struggles to excel in the well-crowded niche of various WW2 dramas, adventures and historical tales, all usually told in similar fashion. The true story they're telling is compelling, but the screenplay less so. Perhaps the best part of "Resistance" is its first act, which introduces us to Marcel, his love for acting and art, his newfound purpose in helping war orphaned children and the resistance itself - this is where we enjoy endearing scenes and the heart of humanism most vividly, before the movie slowly transforms in by-the-numbers war thriller. Ultimately, "Resistance" feels disjointed and underwhelmingly unoriginal when it comes to screenplay and direction. Thankfully, a whole lot is redeemed by a terrific cast that seems to pour their hearts and souls into authentic and passionate performances, despite the character development being written in perhaps an oversimplified manner. Jesse Eisenberg is very possibly at his best, portraying Marcel with respect, emotional energy and deep feeling. However, I surely know nothing about it, but his mime work just seemed a little shabby at moments. Poésy (as female lead) and Schweighöfer (as central villain) are other performance stand-outs, making the core cast unshakeable. Edgar Ramirez and Ed Harris, to whomever it may concern, are there for only a single workday on set, shouldn't be top-credited at all. Also, I'm pretty sure that the overall French accent situation in this movie is pretty messed up. "Resistance" is aesthetically well enough designed, cinematography's fluid enough, the last act is visually the most satisfying offering & Angelo Milli's contemporary but fulfilled original score tries its best to help carry the mood throughout.

"Resistance" works as a compelling small-scale indie biopic, its scope is indeed too familiar, but the dooming dryness of a formulaic biopic combine with a formulaic WW2 drama is stopped effectively by a cast that deserves a round of applause. My rating: 6/10.

A story that needs telling, but perhaps not this way

[guauen · 5/10 · 30 March 2020]

Marceau's life story deserves to be told. His body of work is a precious gift. Sadly, this is a journeyman's effort from Jon Jakubowicz; the script lacks nuance; and, the film falls well short of good cinema. Jesse Eisenberg does a fair job of his dramatic role but he is no mime, and here, that's a shame. Bella Ramsey stands out as Elizabeth. Not worth going out on a cold night to see this plodding tale.

A Different Eisenberg!

[sarafkeriakous · 9/10 · 23 May 2020]

I actually like this movie so much. I don't know why people are criticizing Eisenberg that much in the movie. I loved him in this role. Actually I see a diffferent Eisenberg , This role is so different from his other movies. Also I have to say that the soundtracks of the movie are AMAZING! I recommend anyone who loves historical movies to watch this one, regardless all the negative reviews about it.

Shoddy history, but okay movie

[JurijFedorov · 6/10 · 22 September 2021]

Ehhhh, it's a hit and miss for sure.

Now, the story seems interesting enough which is why I watched it. I love historical movies and Jews hiding from Nazis sounds pretty darn interesting. That's the good thing about it. Then the budget feels very high for such a small story production. It also never gets overly dull or predictable. It's very much watchable.

Now, there are some very serious issues here that are so glaring that it's hard to just blindly like it. The actors put on a Jewish accent when speaking "French". Meaning that French here is just English with an accent. It's not bad here, but it adds to the overall silliness. The scenes are all overblown Hollywood stuff. Instead of following the real history, which is surely extremely interesting, we have a Hollywood version of the story.

The protagonists are action heros often tricking Nazis or escaping their grasp. That surely happened, but in no way did it happen this way. This kind of overblown action is better fit for fiction Hollywood not real life stories. It really takes you out of the setting and story when you have Hollywood chase scenes and super tricks done to trick the Nazis. It's stuff better fit for a Tarantino movie with "fake" history.

Then you have a ton of messages here all working AGAINST the main message of Jews surviving WW2. It's so much noise that you really don't know what the movie tries to be. Of course the leader of the resistance is a woman and they make a big deal out of that. Because? Why? The main person the Nazi Klaus Barbie captured was a man not as woman. A real life person with a name and real story they could have told instead of this fake history made to fit Hollywood anno 2021. Then there is a Black man in the resistance too who the camera of course lingers on to show us... what exactly? It's a movie about Jews why is it trying to be overly progressive? I watch a ton of movies about Black history and I don't expect random Jews to have scenes in them for no reason. You already have a strong message in the story itself about good and evil. Then you have a scene where Klaus Barbie beats up a gay Nazi at a party. Again, why? Why all these silly over the top scenes? This is not how Nazis acted. The suffering was caused behind fences and locked doors and that's the scary part. Someone walking into a party and beating up a man is something a silly James Bond villain would do. Even the message at the end is about Gypsy kids. They also make a huge deal out of making sure communists and socialists are also seen as the counter groups to Nazis. Everything here is about various groups modern progressives love and it's like the movie doesn't really think Jews are important enough to have a full movie be about them only. It's all a huge mess. It's not bad to make a movie about Gypsies during WW2. Or maybe French women during WW2. It's just silly to just add random scenes like this into a historical movie by forcing them into the story in unnatural ways.

The Nazis overall are just extremely evil in every single way and all their movements and acts are pure evil psychopath actions. There is nothing subtle here. You don't feel like you are watching history. You feel like you are watching a theater play. Furthermore every scene just lingers way too long on things. Emotional scenes are stretched out to be twice as long as they should have been and other events are barely shown.

It's okay. It's just a huge miss and historically a mess because it tries to be overly progressive.

Mime of his Life

[Lejink · 5/10 · 23 August 2020]

The story of world-renowned mime artist Marcel Marceau's efforts during the Second World War to help Jewish children, often orphans to escape Nazi persecution is a remarkable one which deserves to be told. However unlike Marceau's own understated performances, here his life is given the full Hollywood blockbuster treatment which exaggerates and ultimately distorts the truth of what really occurred.

The film began promisingly with the framing device of General Patton's introduction of Marceau to the Allied troops after the relief of France before he gives a mime show reflecting his experience of the war. We are then flashbacked to his early life as a pre-war entertainer taking Chaplin as his inspiration, much to the disgust, it would seem, of his strict, butcher father. There's a girl in the picture too, the quiet and thoughtful neighbour's daughter who introduces him to the resistance group with which she's involved who take care of young Jewish children displaced by the growing German occupation in Poland. Marceau is attracted to join the group not just because he wants to pursue his girl but also because he finds he has genuine empathy with these homeless and often parentless kids. He can make them laugh but with his physical agility can also teach them useful tricks like how to climb and hide in trees. These particular scenes, as we will see later, act as a sort of mile-high telegram for the climax of the movie.

Marceau, his brother, girlfriend and others form a resistance group but their cover is blown by collaborators and they change tack to concentrate on getting the children under their charge across the border to neutral Switzerland although in between time, they will encounter the infamous Nazi Klaus Barbie whose baby-face masks a sadistic barbarism as he tortures and murders Resistance suspects in pursuit of his quarry.

Like I said, the story is a noble one but its sometimes sensationalist treatment of the serious subject matter undermined the stoic heroism of the main protagonists. The scene on board the train for instance when Marceau stalls Barbie while his girlfriend is hiding in the ladies's toilet behind him and especially the ending when Barbie is tipped off that Marceau and his group are about to escape and almost immediately turns up right behind them on the cold and dark Alpine paths leading to a cliff-jumping conclusion where seemingly all but one walks away unharmed, defied belief. These pumped-up thriller-type sequences are interspersed with downbeat, horrific scenes of Barbie callously gunning down suspects in an emptied public swimming baths but I found they didn't mix well.

I found the acting only serviceable with Jesse Eisenberg not really capturing the idiosyncratic spirit of the great Marceau, in the end his portrayal looked to me like one based on studied facsimile rather than genuine inspiration.

I'm the better for knowing more about this amazing true story but felt it was over-compromised in the pandering treatment we get here.

Watch it! Great story that needs to be told

[tendoakane16 · 7/10 · 6 April 2023]

Agree with most reviewers, Eisenberg is miscast as Marceau that had charisma out of this world and an incredible command over his body that Jesse is lacking. In spite of this, it's a well produced movie, with a more than compelling story that needs to be pass on. Good rhythm and good acting from everyone (even the leading man is passable just not on Marceau routines but that's why YouTube is for). Definitely a captivating movie with a strong script that could have been an Oscar contender if only the producers would have gone with some other leading actor and another director. That said, still worth to watch.

Reasonable

[josephhj · 7/10 · 24 January 2024]

I think you get an unfair assessment after reading reviews before watching movies. The movie was strong, it was very emotional, The endurance of the characters is more than inspiring, it's compelling and pulling. I won't speak about the acting, because the actors are simply actors. The event of holding composure during the Cat and Mouse game of Death is horrifying. Let alone for children, so is the movie showing the real FRIGHT of children? I would assume some was left out. But the movie does capture you and you journey with it through the monstrosity ill of war and intent of extinction. So the main characters for me are the children. As important as Marcel story is "A CHILD IS ESCAPING DEATH." The hope of survival is terrifying.

Well Done WWII Picture

[taylor-gold-13 · 7/10 · 21 November 2021]

This movie shows the side of the Resistance fighters during WWII: brave men & women who risked their lives to save Jewish children and stop the war. There are some very upsetting scenes of violence mixed with scenes of human connection and even humor.

Lovers of both War and History will enjoy this Film

[WalkdenEntertainment · 6/10 · 14 June 2020]

Marcel Marceau (Jessie Eisenberg) is a Jewish man who is passionate for the performing arts (especially mime). When he is not performing on stage, he works with his father at a local butcher shop. His father does not like the idea of Marcel pursuing a career in the arts and prefers he invest his time and energy into something that will allow him to earn more and be more successful.

Marcel receives an invitation from his older brother to assist with the arrival of Jewish orphans being transported from Nazi Germany. At first, Marcel tries to be supportive, trying to help teach and train the children on how to best survive, but Marcel also manages to bring a smile to their faces thanks to his performing arts skills. But it is not long until Marcel decides to join the French Resistance in an attempt to save many more from the hands of the Nazis.

Personally, I was not familiar with Marcel Marceau and the history surrounding him with the war. After being made aware of this film, I was very curious to learn more. Not only that, I felt this type of role would be very different for actor Jessie Eisenberg.

Resistance as a film is not just focused on Marcel Marceau and how he became famous for miming. This film, in fact, focuses on many characters as well as telling events that occurred within WWII itself. There are moments where the film will follow various characters, allowing us to see experiences from their perspective. This meant that there were times when I felt as if Marcel had been off-screen for some time. The film's visuals for a majority of its duration are quite a dark which is to be expected being a WWII story based on true events.

As for concerns with this film, there are a couple. Firstly, the accent used by Jessie Eisenberg is slightly fickle. During what should be heartfelt moments or strong words of dialogue, I fear movie lovers will be distracted by his accent instead. As for the plot, the 1st and 2nd acts generally feel like a slow story- there is no tension etc, it's just a war story. It is not until the third and final act when I started to feel suspense or any type of gripping tension. The film also introduces a romance which sadly felt unrealistic.

Overall, Resistance tells a significant story involving Marcel Marceau. Lovers of war and history will generally take pleasure in seeing this film. It was also a delight to see Jessie Eisenberg take on a new type of role, unlike anything we have seen before (even if his accent can be questionable).

6.0/10 - Walkden Entertainment

That Resistance is based on a true story makes it even more poignant.

[clivevarejes · 9/10 · 10 June 2020]

Wonderful, teary eyed movie, that brings into stark relief the bravery, tenacity and love that enabled people to overcome the despicable actions of the nazi's and save all those children.

Silent heroes and heroines

[hkpolarbear · 7/10 · 5 May 2020]

It is totally worthwhile to spend the time to know and recognise them.

Miscast

[Silent_Rocco · 5/10 · 29 March 2020]

The film itself is pretty formulaic, neither really bad nor really good. My biggest problem was Eisenberg as a total miscast for young Marcel Marceau. As a professional mime artist, I might be twice as critical here. But his stone face, stiff moves and rapid-fire talking are pretty much the opposite of real Marceau. So I simply couldn't believe his role. So in the end, there is nothing special about this film, apart introducing Marceau's WW2 experiences to an audience that might either never have heard of him or just know him as the world famous mime that he became later.

Underrated

[andreaknyc · 10/10 · 11 May 2020]

I don't understand why why this movie is rated so low. Great dialog, story, suspense...

brutal

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 20 June 2021]

It's the famous French mime Marcel Marceau (Jesse Eisenberg) and his little known exploit as a resistance fighter during the war. He and his friends receive a group of Jewish refugee children from Germany before the invasion. The war starts and they escape to the south. After scattering the children to safe homes, he joins the resistance in Lyon.

It's an interesting biopic historical drama. Here's the thing. I have no idea how Marcel Marceau sounds like. I don't actually know what he looks like. It all means that Jesse Eisenberg is fine and I have no way to judge his performance. This is a brutal WWII occupation story. Barbie with the sisters is almost impossible to watch. It's a brutal section. The movie does struggle with its tone and the level of cruelty. I do love Marcel and Emma's talk. It's a jarring switch between the humanity of Marcel and cruelty of Barbie. No matter what, Marcel Marceau is definitely worthy of a biopic for this part of his life.

Derailed by miscast lead.

[Victor_Fallon · 4/10 · 19 June 2020]

The movie has several areas where it plays fast and loose with historical events, but broadly speaking it is well-intentioned and wants to focus on Marceau. His story isn't particularly interesting, but it is very 'dramatic', with very familiar 'beats', so I can see why the filmmakers wanted to portray this on screen.

Unfortunately, they chose Eisenberg. His theatrics are weak, his clowning skills are bottom-tier and his delivery (especially when it comes to accent and projection) is so bizarrely off-kilter that he completely dispells any cinematic illusion and deflates every scene. It's a shame, because there is a lot of excellent production here with quality sets, costumes and locations to enjoy. The music is somewhat generic, but fits well. The editing is clear and competent too.

If you can tolerate such an alienating performance, you will probably enjoy this for what it is - a semi-historical tall-tale. But it was too much for me. I spent most of my time daydreaming about who should have been cast instead.

All good except Jesse Eisenberg

[edwin18124 · 7/10 · 2 February 2021]

Really good movie, but Jesse Eisenberg is as usual really horrible.

Engaging

[Gordon-11 · 14 April 2020]

It is hard to dislike a World War II drama. The story is engaging, and makes you hope for the best ending possible. There are two scenes that make me hold my breath, as they are very close to death. If the lead actor is someone else other than Jesse Eisenberg, I would have liked it even better. I just find that his on screen persona does not fit with this role.