Today’s quick review: The Statement. Pierre Brossard (Michael Caine), a Nazi collaborator, has been living in hiding around France for the last fifty years, aided by a faction within the Catholic Church. His case falls to Annemarie Livi (Tilda Swinton), a dogged judge who soon learns that Pierre has friends in high places. To uncover his fellow collaborators, Annemarie must take Pierre alive, a task complicated by a cabal of Jewish assassins on the man’s trail.
The Statement is a crime drama that deals with the lingering scars of World War II. The movie follows one of the Nazi collaborators who escaped prosecution after the end of World War II. The Statement offers decent craftsmanship, fine dramatic acting, and a couple of good plot twists. However, its unusual main character, suboptimal plot, and limited emotional payoff keep it from realizing its full potential.
The Statement’s most distinctive feature is the troubled figure of Pierre Brossard. Michael Caine plays the aged but crafty ex-collaborator, whose quiet life is upended by assassins and a renewed police investigation. Pierre strikes a peculiar stance between genuine contrition and lingering malice. He is both sympathetic and craven, and the contrast makes him difficult to peg as either a hero or a villain.
For all its potential as a morally nuanced mystery, The Statement has little real impact. The investigation leads to a few interesting places but has a dull resolution. Pierre comes across as pathetic rather than complex, compelling, or tragic. The movie also misses opportunities to sharpen up its plot or get the viewer to invest emotionally.
What The Statement boils down to is a passable but unremarkable drama. The movie has enough in the way of plot and character to be a decent watch, but it has no strong draws. Give it a shot if you are a fan of serious, realistic thrillers. Skip it if you are looking for action, pathos, or a gripping mystery. For a dry drama in a similar vein, check out The American.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for mediocre drama with mixed appeal and little reward.