Most film depictions of Hitler are WW2 movies about 1939 onwards so this impressively well produced 2 part television movie about 3 hours long fills a needed gap in the history of WW2. Things move briskly from Hitler's childhood to surprisingly elaborate First World War battles where his life as a soldier is shown. His anti Jewish speeches in beer halls to his eventual position of leader of the Nazi party and Germany are portrayed. It's extremely involving and has the thoroughness and clearness of a documentary without the dullness and detachment.
There are a lot of characters some of whom are not that familiar that were instrumental in his rise to power and who tried to oppose him. Yet things aren't confusing. Liev Schreiber is convincing as an opportunistic German publisher who rides on Hitler's coattails along with his supportive wife played by Julianna Marguiles. Matthew Modine as usual plays the voice of good in as a journalist writing against the Nazis. Peter O'Toole makes a brief but convincing appearance as beleaguered Hindenburg.
As Hitler, Robert Carlyle doesn't have that much physical resemblance to his subject but his intensity, often with frothing a the mouth makes the portrayal mesmerizing. He is personifies the insane fanaticism.
It's quite an achievement that so much history could be shown relatively clearly without confusion in a 3 hour mini. Worth watching.
There are a lot of characters some of whom are not that familiar that were instrumental in his rise to power and who tried to oppose him. Yet things aren't confusing. Liev Schreiber is convincing as an opportunistic German publisher who rides on Hitler's coattails along with his supportive wife played by Julianna Marguiles. Matthew Modine as usual plays the voice of good in as a journalist writing against the Nazis. Peter O'Toole makes a brief but convincing appearance as beleaguered Hindenburg.
As Hitler, Robert Carlyle doesn't have that much physical resemblance to his subject but his intensity, often with frothing a the mouth makes the portrayal mesmerizing. He is personifies the insane fanaticism.
It's quite an achievement that so much history could be shown relatively clearly without confusion in a 3 hour mini. Worth watching.