In the end Amen is neither as moving nor as illuminating as it should be. It suffers especially when compared -- as is inevitable, given the closeness of their release dates -- with "The Pianist," Roman Polanski's movie about a Polish Jew during the Nazi occupation.
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
Unfortunately, structural flaws and a built-in lack of suspense keep it from being nearly as moving as it was intended to be.
40
The New RepublicStanley Kauffmann
The New RepublicStanley Kauffmann
The picture as a whole lacks the energy and incisiveness --the sheer anger-- that have marked Costa-Gavras's best films. A pity, because it is a true Costa-Gavras subject.
40
Austin ChronicleMarrit Ingman
Austin ChronicleMarrit Ingman
Too bloodless to satisfy except as a political exercise.