Sadly Over-hyped

Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

For having a relatively low budget, the film's style and overall art direction are immensely impressive.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

I have to agree with everything lexo said about this drama; and I say drama because I was never wholly convinced I was witnessing history.When I bought this title I was expecting a detailed examination of "the architect of Hitler's plan"; no matter the bias. All I received in return was a turgid family drama set against a few pointless conversations between the police captain Less and Eichmann. Once sensationalised by dubious episodes in the man's Nazi career all that remained were constant accusations and denials by Less and Eichmann. Admittedly this man may not have been exciting or even entertaining within the Nazi regime, but one thing he most certainly was, was life-changing.There is an interested audience for films that seek to examine the minds of the "architects of Hitler's plan", as Oliver Hirschbiegel's "Downfall" has shown. Studying German history I was more concerned with the Socialists than the National Socialists, but the Nazi motivation and objectives are still a fascinating aspect of 20th Century History. "Eichmann" however does nothing to advance the understanding of the Nazis, nor the Eichmann that oiled the wheels of the Holocaust, and seems more like Jewish apologia for interrogating Eichmann by a man who suffered personal tragedy in the Holocaust, convicted him on mere supposition and rumour, and murdered him because of intense social and political pressure.

Renowned war criminal Adolf Eichmann has been found at large in Argentina by Israeli agents, where he is promptly kidnapped and brought to Israel for trial. Avner Less is appointed as his interrogator before the trial. The Israeli nation is baying for his blood outside, which makes Less's task of being impartial all the harder. The film revolves around their interviews, Eichmann's replies to certain questions about his past atrocities bringing us back through flashback to the war. Eichmann naturally denies the offences and puts most down to obeying orders. The cat and mouse of the interviewing process and its gradual progression is very interesting and well crafted. Thomas Kretschmann's performance in particular as Eichmann is excellent and the film belongs to him.

I went out yesterday for mother's day with my mom to the LA Jewish Film Festival where this movie was showing and can't disagree enough with a couple of the comments that I read on here. We both really enjoyed it (had my mom in tears)! I thought it was a eye-opening insight into what happened before Eichmann went to trial, about his interrogation and most importantly giving recognition to the little known police captain Avner Less. It isn't true that other languages are not spoken- I heard German and Hebrew spoken. I think the comments made were by people who wanted to see a remake of the story of the trial which as they point out has been done many times- where this is telling the untold, and more interesting story and background to the trail and examines what Eichmann was actually responsible for. I've also have to disagree with scenery not looking Israel enough having been there many times I thought it very real. Amazing performance by Thomas Kretchmann, with an OK one by Troy Garity supported well by Franka Potente. A really important movie for Jewish people!

My fellow countrywoman from Rio was right on target with her comments on this film. She forgot to mention the barrage of Mengele films we've had to put up with. It's believed he died near a beach here in the 80s - and his body has been exhumed a few times, for his dentist to confirm that the body was his, to collect DNA samples once DNA became irrefutable truth. We have been subjected here so many Nazi sitings & their gruesome stories that they became the South American equivalent of "Elvis sightings" on commercial TV & in the press, before cable TV & the internet in the 90s saved us from communication monopolies. But for decades, we had to endure the constant Mengele, Eichmann, Mengele, even supposed Hitler sightings in the 60s.The S.Paulo Film Fest (Mostra.org) which takes place 2 weeks after the Rio festival closes, did not even add this film to their event. The S.Paulo Mostra usually takes advantage of unreleased films like EICHMANN, and then add some more. They always have a very large number of both German and Israeli films. Additionally, Amos Gitai, and several German directors have had retrospectives in this event recently, or have served in the jury.I second the recommendation to skip this, and see or rent "A Specialist, portrait of a modern criminal (1999)" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0189172/ . I believe this was the long actual film of the entire trial in Israel. I think she didn't find it since the name Eichmann is not a part of the title. now THAT is heart wrenching stuff! This new EICHMANN film (as if we needed more - there are what 8 or 9 of them already including 2003's Adolf Eichmann - Begegnungen with a Murderer (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395314/ . Give him a rest, wait at least another decade for a new version, for this film reveals NOTHING new. It merely reinforces Thomas Kretschmann as the ultimate & definitive screen Nazi, the requirement for all German actresses must be darker (or bleach their hair brown) & use dark contact lenses if not natural brunettes like Franka Potente, since Jews of course have to be dark.The plot of this film is so weak and cliché ridden, it's no wonder that now 8 months after its first showings, the film has no distributor (though you do show a May 2008 release in Holland, hardly a major market). I guess if you're under 18, and dislike documentaries, and prefer fictionalized biographies or world events, this movie is, at least, a good primer for your exploration of Nazi War criminals. For anyone else, save your money!