"The Angry Bull" meets "Schindler's List" in "The Survivor" - a Hollywood Holocaust drama based on the true story of Harry Herzko Haft, a Jew who fights brutal boxing matches against other Jewish prisoners in order to survive in Auschwitz.
Haft, who died in 2007, is played by Ben Foster, one of the most intense and underappreciated American actors working today.
During the film he lifts and loses many pounds, completely changes his appearance several times (so much so that it is impossible to identify him) and has to deal with a variety of inhuman situations.
Foster tackles the challenge with the totality that characterizes him, and invests his soul in the role.
As a result, while "The Survivor" is not always easy to watch, it's hard to take your eyes off this fascinating actor.
Unfortunately, the film itself, directed by veteran Barry Levinson ("The Rain Man"), is struggling to reach the level of its lead actor.
While this is Levinson's best film for years and his professionalism is evident all the way through, the script is scattered and at times awkward, the clichés are celebrating, and the length (two hours and ten minutes) is a bit excessive.
The story often jumps back and forth in time - between Haft's era in Auschwitz, where he was taken under the wing of an opportunistic SS officer (Billy Magnusson) who recognizes in his fists a business opportunity;
And his years as an immigrant in the US, after the end of the war, where he had a brief career as a professional boxer.
Despite his shortcomings, "The Survivor" manages to maintain interest.
As mentioned, Foster's performance alone justifies watching the film, but this one gets a welcome boost from a quality gallery of supporting actors (which includes Danny De Vito, John Legizamo, Peter Sarsgard and Vicky Cripps).
Also, Levinson's old-school directing yields some effective scenes in which all the elements fit together perfectly, and the script (signed by Justin Joel Gilmer) does not shy away from dealing with the traumas and guilt that Haft carries with him.
"The Survivor" may not be sophisticated enough to say anything significant about the impossible issues he deals with, but he certainly shows the complexity of the character at its center.
Not a great movie, but it has moments in it, and it has Ben Foster in it.
Score: 6
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