CANpatbuck3664 My favourite type of villain is one who is smart, tough, charismatic and analytical. A good example is Russell Crowe in 3:10 to Yuma. He is smarter and more charismatic than anyone else in that movie. You know he could take anyone of these guys out at any time but he's biding his time till he comes up with the perfect scheme. While the villain isn't as good in this action film called The Debt, it does deal with a similar scenario where the villain is in our heroes' heads and just toying with them. Now, while this film doesn't exactly break new ground it deals with the fact that the Nazis in some cases were some of the most evil people to walk this Earth. When dealing with them, you couldn't let down your guard for a minute. Our heroes are part of an organization that is world revered for its special ops and still that is their fatal flaw and believe you me, they more than suffer the consequences.* Minor Spoilers Ahead* At the start of the flick we are introduced to 3 young Israeli special ops agents in a flashback narrated by Sarah Gold (Romi Aboulafia). These young agents are Stephen Gold (Martin Csokas), David Peretz (Sam Worthington) and Rachel Singer (Jessica Chastain). She describes them during a presentation and how they were able to confront and kill the famous Dieter Vogel (aptly nicknamed the Surgeon of Bierkenau). In the audience is Rachel Singer (Helen Mirren) who has now aged into a proud yet sullen mother. In another flash we see older David (Ciarian Hinds) being picked up by a young agent to go meet with the older Stephen Gold (Tom Wilkinson). Yet before he gets in the car David abruptly runs in front of a passing bus and is killed. Again we flash to a dinner in Sarah's honour that night for her book in which Rachel has been asked to read a passage. Stephen is able to make it to the party as well and there is considerable tension between Rachel and Stephen. It is revealed that although they are separated, they are mother and father to Sarah. Rachel is instructed to read aloud the passage which describes the escape of Dieter Vogel from his confines with our 3 heroes in tow and the passage ends at his death. Rachel is obviously bothered reading it but she doesn't let on. Stephen talks to her after that she needs to come with him something has developed that could compromise the two of them and their revered story.There's a lot in this movie to like and the first thing I would like to talk about is the actual look of the film. They not only do a really good job making it look like the 1960s but they do a great job recreating Berlin at that time. To say its dingy and dark is an understatement and its a breath of fresh air because spy films have a tendency to really dress up everything to make it look sexy. This one takes a more accurate look into the environment a spy has to endure.Secondly, the actors really shine to say the least. Every performance by the 7 or 8 most popular characters are great, grounded and believable. If there were standouts, I would point to the younger actors who all help convey the sense of monotony and paranoia that would come with these terrible situations. While I don't think he was any better than the rest, I have to say this is one of Sam Worthington's best performances. He is good normally but this is the first film that I have seen where he really has to convey a range of emotions which the movie hinges on and he completely pulls it off. I also hand it to Jessica Chastain who is awesome in both this dramatic yet physical role. She has great range and after this and The Help, it's easy to see why she's one of the elite actresses working today.The pacing of the movie is pretty fast too, its constantly jumping, shifting and moving around. It never lets you get comfortable and it movies toward its conclusion swiftly and assuredly. The movie also offers unique twists that you won't see coming. The plot changes directions a lot and it actually works to its advantage. A great example is the romantic triangle between the three younger characters. Your heart really goes out to Rachel and David even amongst all this action and psychological drama going on.I do have a couple of minor complaints. With so many flashbacks going on, it does make the movie hard to follow at points. I love a fast paced movie but there were times where I needed some more explanation and time with the characters at this point which I didn't get. There are some minor plot holes here and there (my brother pointed these out immediately) but I don't think they really make you suspend your disbelief. Lastly, I just don't think the movie really aimed high enough. It didn't try and reach for that next level. It does exactly what it wants and that's good but had they decided to go a different direction, it could have been great instead of just really good.Getting to the rating, I thought this movie was pretty good, just not great. It satisfies avid fans of several different genres effectively and that is its strongest point. But it also fails victim to the fact that it really was just not aiming high enough. I give this movie a 8/10 for efficiently achieving its goals. I would like to see more movies like this and I was surprised at where it actually decided to go.

Rameshwar IN Reviewed April 2012An intriguing spy thriller about three Mossad agents about their mission 30 years ago and how its consequences are affecting them now. Excellent performances, a little rough on the edges yet competent screenplay and an even tone makes this an interesting watch before it all gets messed up by the end. Sarah Gold has just launched her book about a Mossad mission that took place 30 years back where a Nazi war criminal was captured and killed from Russian occupied Berlin. The mission consisted of 3 agents Rachael Singer (Now: Helen Mirren/Then: Jessica Chastain), Stephan Gold (Now: Tom Wilkinson/Then: Marton Csokas) and David Peretz (Now: Ciarán Hinds/Then: Sam Worthington). Sarah is the daughter of Rachael and Stephan. The mission was to capture Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen) responsible for experimenting and killing hundreds of Jews during the Nazi rule and delivering him back to Israel for a trial. The agents plan and prepare for the delivery, but the circumstances go off their plan and the rest is about how they managed it then and how it is affecting them now. Also deals with Rachael's feelings for both men in her team and how they end up. The real star of this movie is Jessica Chastain. She is unbelievably beautiful not just for her looks but also the portrayal of her character as a vulnerable yet determined young agent going to any lengths to fulfill her mission objective. Most interesting part is also the time line during their mission, which is shot with the right ratio of subtlety and panache. Sam Worthington and Marton Csokas also deliver apt performances. Where it all goes wrong is towards the end, not just because I am not a huge fan of sudden change of mind about honesty, but the way it is dealt with. Apart from the climax mess, the rest is so compelling made more by Jessica Chastain. Watch it for the new star, Jessica Chastain and some thrilling spy action sans fancy gadgets and over-the-top styling.

Fahim Akhter A spy film without American spies involved is always a good start.The story revolves around three Mossad agents two men and a woman and the mission they carried out. It's set in two time lines the time of east Germany and present day where the daughter of the woman has written a book about the spy life of her mother and the mission that made them infamous.I'd recommend this if you enjoyed Munich and tinker tailor soldier and spy. While the two mentioned films focus on more spy double crosses and mysteries. This is more of a drama revolving around the event and the layers of lies it involved. The acting by the two set of actors (different actors on the two different time lines) is brilliant and you feel touched. It is possible to feel or at least understand the circumstances, the risk and above the uncertainty involved undertaking these missions.The drama does not only show spies as spies but people, something the American's (Show) has able to achieve. It does get slow in parts and predictable in others. If you are looking to see a great spy film, I'd say go for Munich or Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy but if you're looking for a drama where the cast of characters happen to be spies this is a good watch.

azn_3004-865-192938 The Debt is good but not great, interesting but not gripping. In my opinion, this movie has a ho-hum quality to it. Most of the acting was good, but the actress who played the young Rachel was not quite believable; the character just didn't have much depth. Helen Mirren and Tom Wilkinson, while they have little face time in the movie, were, as always, good. My main problem with this movie is that it feels shallow. John Madden, the director, did basically nothing to bring the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis into the movie and therefore into viewers' psyches. There were a few photos, and once in a while you can sense, through the characters, that the Nazis' atrocities are driving the Mossad agents' lives. However, Madden fails at getting anywhere near the psychological depth of the Holocaust. For a movie like this to be successful, the director has to get the viewers to feel the Nazi horrors and therefore the compelling reason for the agents to do this mission. All in all - this movie could have been one that stays with viewers for days. As it is, it felt like "just a movie", "just a made-up story".