The Lives Of Others

"A compelling thriller but an unsatisfying character drama..."

"Superbly cast drama… that looks to be a solid upscale attraction wherever the special chemistry of good writing and performances is appreciated..."

"A great film, the best I've seen since Terrence Malick's "The New World," and far and away the richest and most brilliantly acted picture to be released this Oscar season..."

"While much of it may recall Coppola's masterwork 'The Conversation', this film's dramatic lineage goes back much further. For once, the overused word masterpiece seems almost inadequate..."

"Starts out dark and challenging then comes to a startlingly satisfying and warmly human conclusion that lingers long after the curtain has come down..."

"von Donnersmarck creates a milieu so realistic that the attention-worthy setting becomes just a backdrop, while an intricate tale, as suspenseful as it is humanistic, takes over..."

"Already f?ted, von Donnersmarck’s debut sets a closely focused, personal story against a more expansive backdrop of politics and power games -- a moving, enlightening tale of recent times..."