The Danish Girl

It's nice that a transgender being can take festival-goers to Copenhagen, Paris, and Dresden in the 1920s and they don't even protest. The lead roles are godlike, and I had no doubts about the set design. In addition, excellent are also the supporting roles (Sebastian Koch as Magnus Hirschfeld) and especially the emphasis on the work of Gerda Wegener, for whom I don't know whether I prefer the Art Nouveau or Art Deco period. (02/02/2016)

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)

I know next to nothing about this issue and since I'm not some enthusiastic liberal, I didn't really feel like watching this movie. Paradoxically, I found the story intriguing, the acting performances were also great, but the two hours were simply too long. The way Tom Hooper filmed it just plain irritated me – awfully tedious, ridiculously long, and incredibly tacky. The music (I don’t understand how Desplat could have created such a brilliant soundtrack to The Grand Budapest Hotel and now this) in combination with the plot roused the feelings of genuine antipathy in me. That one Oscar for Vikander was well-deserved, but otherwise I have zero desire to watch this movie again. (03/05/2016)

So this was a real good dose of emotions excellently fitted into two hours. I literally immersed myself in The Danish Girl and savored every minute of it. Extraordinary acting performances, a great screenplay, but also great settings. It’s been a long time since I saw a movie that would talk to me through such heartfelt emotions, despair, passion and joy. I can’t give this anything less than a full set of stars. If you appreciate a good emotional drama, The Danish Girl is just the right thing for you. (01/16/2016)

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)