Taking Sides

Taking Sides (2001)

  • 73% of critics liked it
    (56 reviews)

  • 68% of users liked it
    (906 ratings)

Set in Germany in 1946, Taking Sides tells the story of the investigation of Wilhelm Furtwängler (Stellan Skarsgård), the renowned conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic orchestras, by the American occupying army. Major Steve Arnold (Harvey Keitel) has been told by his… More

Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By
István Szabó
Written By
Ronald Harwood
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Sep 5, 2003 Wide
On DVD
Apr 27, 2004
New Yorker

Critic Reviews

  • Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

    Schematic, didactic, and most of all, in the case of Keitel, woefully miscast.

  • Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

    The notions of the good man's complicity through inertia ... are ones that have been more powerfully explored before.

  • Michael Booth, Denver Post

    We're asked to jump into the combatants' arguments with no background about either one, no reason to care if Skarsgard sweats or Keitel rages.

  • Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News

    The talk in this moral debate smokes with provocative drama and actors of weight.

  • Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic

    Brilliantly acted and written, Taking Sides overcomes any shortcoming of its transition from stage to screen.

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

  • Walter M


    [font=Century Gothic]"Taking Sides" is set after the end of World War II, when the United States Army is investigating former Nazis in Germany. One specific target is Wilhelm Furtwangler(Stellan Skarsgard), the famed conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Major… More

Cast

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