The Statement (2003)

24% of critics liked it
(106 reviews)
36% of users liked it
(2,066 ratings)

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 and inspired by a true story. After France fell to German occupation during World War II, the… More 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 and 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

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 59 min.
Directed By: Norman Jewison
Written By: Ronald Harwood, Brian Moore
Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Dec 12, 2003 Limited
On DVD: Apr 27, 2004
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Critic Reviews

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Caine bounces back and forth almost randomly between pitiable and detestable, following the dictates of a formulaic plot.
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
This is a creaky, obsolete sort of film, not an instant classic, but an instant antique.
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.
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 be rancid.
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
An inert sociopolitical thriller mired in moralizing.
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.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
The film operates well as a thriller and probably goes further than intended in extracting sympathy for its reprehensible protagonist.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
... the thrilleresque aspects ... are most pleasing.
Jordan Hiller, Bangitout.com
"The Statement is that rare, unassuming movie that has much to say and is so daring in its message that it is a wonder it has seen the light of day"
James Plath, Reel.com
It's hard to believe that the script was written by Ron Harwood, who penned the Oscar-winning screenplay for The Pianist.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Em função de sua própria premissa, apresenta questões éticas interessantes.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Confused at its core and too befuddled to make that a virtue.
Dan Lybarger, Kansas City Star
For the most part, though, there really isn't enough suspense or drama to make The Statement more than an occasionally chilling civics lesson.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Sophie B

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, but he… More
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, but 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!
♥˩ƳИИ &

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 Pierre… More
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 Pierre 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."
Film C

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!
Pierluigi P

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.
xGary X

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… More
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 never 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.