There are certain things that we now expect from an Ed Zwick film — among these are that there will be at least one rousing speech given while a character is on horseback.
But in some ways this is the least-distinctive and memorable of the handful of features from the director of "Glory" and "The Last Samurai."
For one thing, he's become too predictable and formulaic in his filmmaking. And while his sometimes bombastic style did work on those early movies, it detracts from this World War II drama. This is a first-rate, real-life story that deserves better, more-subtle treatment.
It's loosely based on the true story of the Bielskis, a Polish family that helped protect their fellow Jews from invading Nazi armies. (Nechama Tec's novel of the same name was an obvious choice of story material, though Zwick and co-writer Clayton Frohman receive the screen credit here.)
At first, the three surviving family members — brothers Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber) and Asael (Jamie Bell) — are more concerned with their own survival. They manage to escape their pursuers by retreating into the Belarussian forest.
However, they're not content to just hide there. Oldest brother Tuvia even attempts to find the neighbors and collaborators whom they blame for the deaths of the others.
As time passes, more and more refugees from the surrounding villages begin arriving, asking the Bielskis for help. This sets off disagreements between Tuvia and Zus.
Eventually, Zus joins the Russian forces trying to repel the continuing Nazi offensives. Tuvia and Asael try to build as "safe" a haven as they can for those who remain.
Zwick presents a Hollywood-ized view — witness the romantic subplots for all three leading men (Alexa Davalos, Iben Hjelje and Claire Danes lookalike Mia Wasikowska, respectively). These are unnecessary and they only pad out the film.
Still, Zwick has assembled a very good cast — even if Craig's natural accent keeps emerging any time he raises his voice.
He and Schreiber are convincing, though, as is Bell. They're really what makes the film watchable.
"Defiance" is rated R and features strong war violence and violent imagery (gunplay, shootings, beatings, brawling, vehicular and explosive mayhem, and some violence against women and children), occasional strong profanity, slurs based on ethnicity and nationality, some gore and blood, vulgar references, a brief sex scene (mostly implied), and brief drug content (use of and references to antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals). Running time: 137 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com