The Danish Girl

Two stars for the performances. Other than that, I have nothing positive to say about the film. It's another one of those rainbow attempts at scoring an easy Oscar. It’s just so cheap. Just pick a "controversial" subject and instead of writing a quality script, pour in a bucket of sentimentality to achieve the desired effect. The film didn't work for me, it was draggy and boring and evoked virtually no emotion in me except for disgust after the closing credits when I realized I had wasted two hours of my life. I'd also like to note that when a film is billed as a biopic, it should be based on facts. I don't understand why the script deprived the poor guy of two more surgeries and a year of life. (08/22/2016)

From the first mention, The Danish Girl was a clear favourite for a film that would see more than one Oscar nomination, no doubt about it. In the end, it is a skillfully made biographical drama with appealing visuals and a subtle musical score, all dominated by a particularly gripping premise and very convincing performances by the two leads. Eddie Redmayne's somewhat androgynous appearance adds to the level of authenticity of his character, while Alicia Vikander relies on a realistic portrayal of a woman whose husband believes she is a woman trapped in a man's body. The film depicts the incredible story of two people who love each other deeply, even if it's more about mental support than physical attraction. (02/08/2016)

Tom Hooper's craftsmanship cannot be denied, everything is exactly in its place, every scene has its meaning, the cinematography works perfectly in relation to the characters and the actors get the most out of their performances. Eddie Redmayne is traditionally convincing and likeable, Alicia Vikander is phenomenal. But as far as any message or dramatic value is concerned, apart from the theme itself, there is nothing to write home about. Above all, the film doesn't feel very much like a true life story, the action doesn't reach the required emotional heights, and although the driving force is supposed to be primarily a depiction of the fateful love and affection between the two protagonists, it fails to extend their feelings beyond the expressions and inflections of the actors. Overall, it’s a bit underdeveloped, in small details and individual components, but definitely engaging and pretty good. 70% (04/06/2016)

The worst possible way to capture the biography of an unconventional person is to make it precisely this conventional and conservative. The slow cinematography, the haunting music, and the precise actors are dragged in a soul-destroying way through two hours without any drama and you guess the plot despite having no idea about the person in question until now. Somehow you guess that the wife had to go through the hardest dilemma, but her inner struggle is done with one tear on a bench in the rain - it’s very cheesy, just like the rest of the film. (02/07/2016)

Tom Hooper has failed to hang on to the status of a clear favorite. After the accessible The King's Speech and all the overflowing emotions of Les Misérables, yet another story is told of a man requiring a sympathetic posture to understand him. Yet this time it fails because it is told all too clumsily. It lacks lightness and, above all, the element of surprise, as every plot twist can be seen long in advance. Often, it doesn't matter, because Alicia Vikander plays like her life depends on it and Eddie Redmayne fascinates with every (albeit again perhaps too specific and almost disruptive) gesture. As a whole, however, The Danish Girl speaks a language that doesn't tell me anything new. (02/03/2016)