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Michael Caine, Tilda Swinton, Jeremy Northam, Alan Bates, Charlotte Rampling ... see more see more... , John Neville , Ciarán Hinds , Frank Finlay , William Hutt , Matt Craven , Noam Jenkins , Peter Wight , Malcolm Sinclair , Colin Salmon , David de Keyser , Edward Petherbridge

A man who has been able to avoid the consequences of his actions for nearly 50 years suddenly finds he must answer pursuers on both sides of the law in this drama, based on the novel by Brian Moore an... read more read more...d inspired by a true story. After France fell to German occupation during World War II, the Nazi-controlled Vichy government established a law-enforcement group known as the Milice, who were under the direct control of Nazi authorities. In 1944, Pierre Brossard (George Williams) is one of a handful of Milice officers who round up and execute seven Jewish resistance members in the village of Dombey. After the liberation of France, Brossard is tried and convicted for his crimes, but he manages to escape capture, and years later is pardoned. In 1992, Brossard (now played by Michael Caine) is an elderly man living a quiet life in Provence and modestly supported by fellow veterans of the Vichy regime when he's ambushed and nearly killed by a man whom he learns was a hired killer. Brossard discovers this is hardly his only problem; new legislation will allow Vichy-era war criminals who escaped punishment to be charged and tried again, and Anne Marie Livi (Tilda Swinton), a bright and aggressive French prosecutor, has joined forces with Col. Roux (Jeremy Northam) to bring Brossard, among others, to justice. While Brossard is still being clandestinely assisted by church officials and Vichy sympathizers, he must go on the run to avoid capture, and finds himself hiding from the French police as well as a cadre of underground assassins, whose alliances and purposes are frustratingly unclear. The Statement also stars Charlotte Rampling, Alan Bates, and Frank Finlay. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

36% liked it

2,066 ratings

Critics

24% liked it

106 critics

R, 1 hr. 59 min.

Directed by: Norman Jewison

Release Date: December 12, 2003

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DVD Release Date: April 27, 2004

Stats: 110 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (110)

  • StarCrossedVoyager
    October 22, 2011
    StarCrossedVoyager
    I really liked the narrative behind this film, however I was slightly confused as to who I should be rooting for. Opening with (and following) Pierre Brossard we can see he is truly sorry for his actions. Is that just to calm his own nerves and make himself feel better? Maybe, bu... read moret he still pained himself over what he has done which led me to believe we should be on his side and want him to escape. Certainly casting Michael Caine in this role does that. But at the end the filmmakers professed this film to the 7 Jews who were killed all those years ago, so why make their murderer so human and so compassionate? I also found it slightly slow at times when nothing to progress the narrative happened. This is a good film and whilst I won't be watching it for a long while it's something I'll definitely revisit. Thanks in part to Caine's brilliant performance!
  • LWOODS04
    September 28, 2010
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Michael Caine, Tilda Swinton, Charlotte Rampling, Alan Bates, Jeremy Northam, Ciarán Hinds, John Neville, Matt Craven, Edward Petherbridge

    Director: Norman Jewison

    Summary: The buried sins of the past almost always find a way to surface in the present, as Frenchman Pi... read moreerre Brossard (Michael Caine) discovers in this drama directed by Norman Jewison. Pierre's quiet life in southern France is disrupted as he's haunted by his betrayals. During World War II, his Nazi sympathizing led to the deaths of 14 Jews. With a Nazi hunter (Tilda Swinton), the police and hired killers on his trail, it's his turn to be the hunted.

    My Thoughts: "The movie grabbed me right from the start with it's brilliant opening, but unfortunately it doesn't keep with that brilliance the entire film. In about thirty minutes in, it gets quite boring. Not one of Caine's best performances, but a movie he did carry on his own. It's basically him going from church to church in hiding. Not very interesting, but the story is. I wish they would have elaborated on it more then just showing Caine's character on the run. Also, what happened to this film being of french characters, they all sounded pretty british to me. Just not well made."
  • FiLmCrAzY
    April 24, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    Not one of michael caines best of films its a bit boring really just following him around with his life and it just was very exciting!
  • pier007
    July 16, 2008
    pier007
    Michael Caine plays the only interesting part , but even he can't help the sinking feeling of this flat, slow, superficial, unsympathetic tv movie with big aspirations. Too bad to know also that this may be Norman Jewison's last movie.
  • garyX
    July 14, 2007
    garyX
    I was initially hooked by this film, both by the great opening scene in which Michael Caine coldly disposes of a supposed jewish vigilante and it's promise of historical and political intrigue. Unfortunately it never quite lives up to expectation, the potential in the storyline ... read morenever being realized. It merely scrapes the surface of the historical aspect of the story, and many of the supporting characters are wasted in superficially realized roles. The fact that the picture postcard scenery is the only thing remotely french about the whole affair did not help, most roles filled by brits with very british accents. But it's always good to see Caine playing these rare but always watchable unsympathetic characters, and I found myself wishing we saw more of him, and less of the dreary duo in pursuit. On the whole, a missed opportunity.

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Critic Reviews

Terry Lawson
March 26, 2004
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Caine bounces back and forth almost randomly between pitiable and detestable, following the dictates of a formulaic plot. Full Review

Jay Boyar
March 19, 2004
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

This is a creaky, obsolete sort of film, not an instant classic, but an instant antique. Full Review

Joe Baltake
March 5, 2004
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Worth catching for Caine's bravura turn as a despicable old man begging for sympathy, and also for its fascinating insights into the darker side of both France and the Catholic Church. Full Review

Howard Shapiro
February 19, 2004
Howard Shapiro, Philadelphia Inquirer

Partly because of Caine and partly because of meticulous work by veteran director Norman Jewison, The Statement is a fiction done so effectively, it rings true -- even slick lines that may otherwise b...

Bruce Westbrook
February 6, 2004
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

An inert sociopolitical thriller mired in moralizing. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
January 30, 2004
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Cut-and-dried morality play, with the saints played by Brit actors who can't even be bothered to speak with French accents.

Ann Hornaday
January 30, 2004
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

One more case study in how loads of taste, talent and accumulated filmmaking wisdom don't guarantee success.

Gary Dowell
January 29, 2004
Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News

A high-minded but structurally shaky thriller. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 17, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Although the story is based on fact, the movie never convinced me of its truth.

Mick LaSalle
January 16, 2004
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Somewhere in this disappointing political thriller was a superb character study trying to get out. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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