Scanialara
You won't be disappointed!
Glucedee
It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.
CrawlerChunky
In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Cineanalyst
Based on Deborah Lipstadt's perspective of the trial where she, a Holocaust historian and professor, was sued for libel by Holocaust denier David Irving, "Denial" saves most of the melodramatic moments for outside the courtroom, as she argues with her lawyers over legal strategies and as Irving plays to the press and public and later has an egg thrown at him, while the trial itself is a rather dry presentation of evidence. It's an appropriate, if not necessarily entertaining, approach to a based-on-a-true-story defense of academia and facts. Released during the 2016 presidential campaign in the United States, the movie's portrayal of Irving invites easy parallels to be made with now-President Donald Trump's disregard for facts and dissemination of conspiracy theories and misinformation, whereby "Denial," thusly, becomes a kind of catharsis or wish fulfillment for the election's losing side.I don't think the comparison goes much further than that, though. Perhaps, even, Irving may be seen as a somewhat sympathetic, or at least pathetic, character, which seems unfortunate for a movie that visits Auschwitz and portrays a Holocaust survivor. He's an anti-Semitic buffoon with a fragile ego, but he's right, in a sense, that he's the David up against the Goliath in this dramatized contest. There's a reason that most courtroom dramas are from the perspective of the underdog. It's less compelling to root for the side with plenty of resources, a team of skilled lawyers and, to top it off, academia and facts in their favor. It lacks obstacles. Meanwhile, Irving has no one and represents himself at trial. If like me, you don't seek cinema merely to reflect your own judgments, "Denial," if not seen through the lenses of contemporary politics or an interest in racist conspiracy theories as controversy, has the unpleasant appearance of the flogging of a dead horse.
Gareth Crook
This is not an easy watch by any means. Timothy Spall is fantastic and plays the denial character well. So well in fact, despite that I love him as an actor, I hate him in this. Truth is of course my feelings are really directed at the real life character he portrays, David Irving and any other holocaust denier for that matter. That this is a true story is most detestable of all. There's an undercurrent to this story though, away from the matter of the holocaust. It's that of the law, the way it works and the way people can work within it. How it can be used to protect racist, antisemitic people. How the simple right and wrong of the court is hard to equate in the real world and how the those wishing to justify their crimes use it, bend it and twist it for their defence. That the law protects everyone, even evil and unapologetically stupid people like David Irving and people like him. Freedom of speech is not freedom to lie. As a film, this is good, solidly acted, Tom Wilkinson being the stand out for me, but it could've been a little better, less glossy perhaps with such an important subject. Still, I'm very pleased that this story was brought to the screen. Holocaust denial is crap and every opportunity to call it so should be encouraged.
aurasbob
The logic & dialogue of the script was Supurb. Acting & Casting were Perfect. The Story True & Realistict.
zuta-63046
Unfortunately, some of the highlighted reviews in this page were obviously made by Nazi sympathizers. Do not take their low rated reviews seriously and watch this important movie. And Imdb should use more scrutiny when they allow a horrid and insulting review to be a top review.
