Army of Shadows

Rialto Pictures | Release Date: April 28, 2006

8.0	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 110 Ratings

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JayCMay 28, 2006

As a movie this film did not give much emotion to the lives of these heros. If felt so devoid of human emotions (as if they were already dead) that it felt like one long dreary story. Maybe it was the way it was, but I expected some brief As a movie this film did not give much emotion to the lives of these heros. If felt so devoid of human emotions (as if they were already dead) that it felt like one long dreary story. Maybe it was the way it was, but I expected some brief moments of the love of life for which they were giving everything.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

AndrewO.Sep 24, 2007

"It's a white-knuckler all the way..." "a brilliant and relentless thriller..." "excruciatingly tense and never less than heartbreakingly human..." ??? I wish I had seen the movie these folks had seen, but guess I missed it. You'd "It's a white-knuckler all the way..." "a brilliant and relentless thriller..." "excruciatingly tense and never less than heartbreakingly human..." ??? I wish I had seen the movie these folks had seen, but guess I missed it. You'd have to be a Franco-cinemaphile of the first order to derive that much enjoyment from this movie. Or it may be a serious case of the emperor's new clothes, I'm not sure which. Apart from the admittedly fine cinematography, I found this film to be meandering, turgid and uninvolving. To each his own, I suppose, but beware the hype.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful

RobertJun 3, 2006

I don't understand why did the critics give this film such a high rating? To me it's just an average movie. It's slow & too long & at times it's difficult to follow.

1 of 2 users found this helpful

LewisP.Jan 1, 2007

There is very little I can add to John E's excellent review of "Army of Shadows". The film was extremely slow-paced and would have been a lot better if many scenes had been pared down. And there were also some scenes that were simply There is very little I can add to John E's excellent review of "Army of Shadows". The film was extremely slow-paced and would have been a lot better if many scenes had been pared down. And there were also some scenes that were simply too incredible to believe (for example when the protagonist (with the help of his confederates) escapes certain death by a German firing squad. This is just another example of how the the majority of critics can't think for themselves and feel safe by jumping on the bandwagon.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

ButteedPopcornJun 26, 2007

I agree entirely with all the others here that gave this film a 6 or lower. This film has its merits (beautiful imagery, well shot, superb acting), but it's slow for no apparent purpose, and lacks any directorial flare. It's just I agree entirely with all the others here that gave this film a 6 or lower. This film has its merits (beautiful imagery, well shot, superb acting), but it's slow for no apparent purpose, and lacks any directorial flare. It's just relentless, like a dirge rilled death march, that will just not break from its oppressive pacing for what seems like an eternity. The film takes a lot for granted. Be it assumed that these resistors have a passion for their cause, that it is a just cause, and that it is one worth sacrificing all for. But ultimately, the film lacked passion, and instead, was just over wrought with an oppressive sense of obligation, determination, and blind obedience to a cause. In many respects, a superb film, but it's sense of righteousness mired it down to the point where it became monotonous, tedious, and ultimately flat in the telling. That said, it is one hell of a dark, dismal vision that must have fairly well depicted what life had become for these Nazi resistors. Even so, the French still found a way to break for some wonderfully delightful lunches.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

JohnE.May 25, 2006

Army of Shadows is a straight forward historical tribute drawn from the accounts written in a novel by Joseph Kessel. The drama is about the co-patriot activities of the French Resistance fighters in World War II. The film has been hailed as Army of Shadows is a straight forward historical tribute drawn from the accounts written in a novel by Joseph Kessel. The drama is about the co-patriot activities of the French Resistance fighters in World War II. The film has been hailed as a masterpiece by many critics, newspapers and magazines. This re-elease of the 1969 film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville is making its US debut in a superbly restored print overseen by the films cinematographer, Pierre Lhomme. The expectation with these superlative credentials of all combined is a film of taught dramatic suspense ranking with the great ones in cinema. Unfortunately, this is not the case. For me, it failed to capture the imagination as an exceptional cinematic effort that delivered both the technical aspects and story movement to give it, a best of all time ranking. Although many of the scenes are wonderfully drawn cinematically from a technical standpoint of near artistic perfection of cinematography, set design and the recreation of events, the film lacks pace, and wanders from character to character who give fine efforts trying to interpet a rambling story changing directions, many times, leaving the audience lost to a clear understanding of the narrative. The difficulty comes in knowing, in real life, many people did give their lives for country and the empathy one must feel for this sacrifice. The theme then does stay true to form but lacks the dramatic tension found in the earlier films of Andrej Wadja in Ashes and Diamonds and Kanal, on the same theme and accomplished with much greater success. The best that can be said is excellence was with in reach here but was slowed by a long drawn out, heavy, tiresome directing pace needing a sharp rhythmic flow of images that is lacking in the final representation.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

MerrillK.Jun 25, 2010

This movie is in need of serious editing. Good story, interesting from historical perspective. Unfortunately the film does not flow; characters get randomly introduced; I had no idea who the traitor that they strangled was - I thought he was This movie is in need of serious editing. Good story, interesting from historical perspective. Unfortunately the film does not flow; characters get randomly introduced; I had no idea who the traitor that they strangled was - I thought he was the guy who was with Phillipe in the prison camp. Did that guy get shot off screen? Why did the young guy give himself up to the Nazi's rather than try and break into the Gestapo HQ? Definitely not a Hollywood movie. But interesting story nonetheless.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful

JohnN.Jul 9, 2007

I kept hoping for the plot to move forward, but it never picked up pace. The acting and cinematography were top notched but the story, outside of 1 or 2 good scenes just didn't hold my attention for 2 1/2 hours. PS..Had trouble with the I kept hoping for the plot to move forward, but it never picked up pace. The acting and cinematography were top notched but the story, outside of 1 or 2 good scenes just didn't hold my attention for 2 1/2 hours. PS..Had trouble with the DeNiro and Shelly Winters French look alikes...!?… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

AndrewH.Dec 2, 2008

Would have been bearable if not for the extremely slow pace. I'd rather be "entertained" by Hollywood trash than to sit through something like this.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

TomPJun 25, 2009

I find it unfair for you to say that we do not know cinema. Maybe those who do not understand this movie simply don't understand cinema at the time of this movie's production, because by modern standards, there is very little drama I find it unfair for you to say that we do not know cinema. Maybe those who do not understand this movie simply don't understand cinema at the time of this movie's production, because by modern standards, there is very little drama or emotion, character development, or any character/ personality at all, excepting the men he meets at the beginning of the film in the concentration camp. Whether you'd like to admit it or not, it does move at an excruciatingly slow pace. We don't need to see people that we have no real feelings towards walking for overextended periods of time, because it is NOT building any sort of suspense. Also, the almost constant absence of music is unbearable, although you might not believe so until you actually see it. That, and the story itself is quite unremarkable. For it's time I can see what makes it great, by today's standards is is simply...good. No more.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

GaryDJul 27, 2009

Beautiful, but frankly a bit of a snooze. I didn't find it an exercise in tension as many claim, but more an exercise in endurance.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

HotelCentralSep 3, 2020

Apparently, a whole bunch of people seem to think that Army of Shadows is just superb, while I find myself, not for the first time, wondering just what it is that French filmmakers are trying to accomplish when they produce a film.

I mean, IApparently, a whole bunch of people seem to think that Army of Shadows is just superb, while I find myself, not for the first time, wondering just what it is that French filmmakers are trying to accomplish when they produce a film.

I mean, I know a few things about the Resistance. I've read a few things about the Resistance. I admire these people for their courage and sacrifice. But this film does little or nothing at all to illuminate their accomplishments.

Very early in the we meet a character who claims to be a traveling salesman. He says he was arrested because he happened to be walking through a square or plaza just as a riot or something erupted. And this could well serve as the epitaph for most of the characters in the film, who do little besides smoke cigarettes and talk about who was just arrested and who might be arrested next.

You'd think that given two hours and twenty-five minutes of footage someone might've found the time to film a raid or two or maybe some sabotage. You'd think they could get deeply into the characters so that the audience get to feeling a little invested in what's happening on the screen. You'd think, if this film is such a masterpiece, that a little suspense or excitement might be building by the time we pass the one hour mark. But you'd be wrong.

The film is as flat as a pancake. The characters are cardboard. The action is almost non-existent. And if the French didn't like it . . . well, what more need be said?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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