The story is centered around a 1965 mission of a trio of Mossad agents. Mossad is Israel's CIA. These three agents, Rachel (Jessica Chastain), Stephan (Marton Csokas) and David (Sam Worthington) are to capture the notorious Nazi war criminal, the Surgeon of Birkenau (Jesper Christensen), and bring him back for a proper trial of war time atrocities.
The Debt is the type of movie that can be summed up as "a Nazi hunt/spy thriller all rolled into one". I took notice of this film because of the sheer fact that Helen Mirren is in it! I mean the lady is a genius on the screen. It was refreshing to see a film such as this one showcase a serious subject matter in such a thrilling way. This film really does not require much to review in the fact that you don't want to give any spoilers, its kind of like one of those films that you will have to take a chance on.
There are so many elements to this film that you almost have to rely on a combination of the characters and the trailer. You might have to do a small bit of background on the film but not really much. As far as the characters go of course Helen Mirren stands her ground above and beyond, as expected. And then you have Jesper Christensen who plays is a believable psycho and ideal antagonist. This guy really made my skin crawl in so many ways, you can't help but want to see him go down in flames!! Then you have Sam Worthington who was not all that impressive with his role, just enough really to get by (not one of his better films). Now I also must make mention that this film was not meant to be "historical fiction" so if you plan to see it, make sure you take that expectation out of your mind. The film has a way of toying with your perception and expectation of the events in which you feel like you are going in every direction, but the one you want to go in. And the fact that the plot was able to go back and forth (using flashbacks) between the present and past was done in such a fluid manner makes the film that much more exciting and intriguing.
The Debt will keep you wondering from scene to scene what is going to happen next, or what this character is going to say or do. For just about the entire film, I was at the edge of my seat wondering what surprise would come next as the story would unfold. The one thing that it should be commended for is the fact that the characters as well as the story are not driven by a need for special effects and action. Sometimes a good storyline is all you need to make a film enjoyable. Here is a perfect example of a well written thriller/drama. In a sense it kind of reminded me of Munich and The Tourist.
My only concern with this film was the pace throughout the entire film and the ending (slightly disappointing). It was a bit slow at times, and then it would pick up at other times.The film give off a very dark and menacing feel, and then when you least expect it... a nice little plot twist. Don't rely heavily on the trailer, trust me there is much more to offer!! This film is what I would call "compelling and watchable"...see for yourself!
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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