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Movie:		7.0
Picture:		10.0
Sound:		9.0
Extras:		7.0
Score:		8.0

Director(s):	Edward Zwick
Writer(s):	Clayton Frohman, Edward Zwick
Starring:	Alexa Davalos • Daniel Craig • Jamie Bell • Liev Schreiber • Mark Feuerstein
Genre:	Drama • War
Website:	http://www.defiancemovie.com/
Release Date:	June 02, 2009
Rated:

List Price:	Blu-ray - $25.99
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World War II seems to be a bottomless well of inspiration for Hollywood, which isn’t without justification. When an international event touches the lives of so many, there are countless stories to be told. Unfortunately, there may be infinite stories of human determination and the indomitable human spirit, but thematically the sources aren’t quite so endless. Director Edward Zwick certainly found a compelling story in the Bielski brothers, but Defiance offers nothing that hasn’t already been found in stories like Lord of the Flies, Schindler’s List or even The Diary of Anne Frank. Defiance isn’t without creative merit; it just brings nothing new to the table.

Defiance starts with World War II raging around the Belarussian forests where Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber) and Asael Bielski (Jamie Bell) have taken refuge after their parents were slaughtered by men hired to hunt down Jews. The Bielski brothers may have the survival skills required to carry them through a harsh life in the wilderness – but that’s where the similarities end. When their brotherhood meets up with other groups of wandering refugees seeking a place to hide from the Nazi headhunters, the rifts in their personalities lead to conflicts in how the troupe should proceed. Zus’s aggressive nature chafes under Tuvia’s plan of laying low and making a new life blow the radar of Nazi attention.

Amidst struggles with encroaching German forces, the Bielski brothers and their band of followers create a micro-society of small huts and soup kitchens within the forest. However, external pressures aren’t the soul force threatening to tear Tuvia’s work to shambles. When death looms in the tree line, even the smallest personality conflicts can explode into matters that endanger the collective. Leadership issues, food shortages and other problems threaten the stability of the colony.

Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber perform brilliantly as the two sides of the same coin. Craig’s darker brooding Bond from Quantum of Solace carries over into his role as Tuvia. Tuvia leads with a surprising brutality in the name of survival – Craig plays it well and keeps the character sympathetic even in the darkest moments. Where Craig fails is in making Tuvia too dull. While evening out Zus’s hotter temper, there are times when Tuvia’s character is maddeningly sullen. Liev’s Zus has a feral air that compels the character into many of the more action-filled scenes and helps to energize the lull created by Tuvia’s steadier hand. Liev elevates every film he’s in and gives a badly needed boost of personality to a very mellow character-driven piece.

Even with their great performances, Craig and Schreiber found themselves outshone by Jamie Bell at times. Jamie Bell has been slowly rising as a capable dramatic actor and Defiance gave him some surreal moments to truly take front and center. After carrying Hallam Foe on his shoulders in 2007, Bell’s proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can handle leading roles, and yet he back tracks in a tertiary role to Schreiber and Craig; but he still steals quite a few scenes.

Visually Defiance is one of the most beautiful live-action films currently available in high definition. The cinematography and the pristine Belarussian forest backdrop make for a crystal-clear composition that steals the breath away at times. The white of the snow and the textures of tree bark make for stark images in a film with minimal sets and visual bravado. Defiance may not be the best World War II film ever made, but it is one of the best looking ones I’ve ever seen presented in hi-def.

Blu-ray Bonus Features

Edward Zwick recorded a less than perfect commentary but, as much as I dislike him for being an exploitative director, there are a few interesting tidbits to be found therein. After that there is one terrific featurette and two mediocre ones to be found on the disc. The first is an impressive 25 minute piece “Defiance: Return to the Forest” which details the history behind the story of Defiance and what the Bielski brothers faced physically and spiritually while facing the treachery of the Germans and forest alike. “Children of the Otriad: The Families Speak” features a healthy portion of the Bielski’s offspring talking about their ancestors in nothing short of glowing terms and when they first realized the significance of what they’d accomplished. The third is “Scoring Defiance” where composer James Newton Howard, director Edward Zwick and violinist Joshua Bell discuss the strengths of the Defiance soundtrack.