Shining Through

Linda (Melanie Griffith) is employed by german general of high standing without any Gestapo examination. Obviously, it was impossible in real life.

General says about "secret room". Even his children know about it, but Linda doesn't. Is it really a "secret"?
Furthermore, key can be easily found at this "secret" door. And this room keeps documents about new secret German weapon. Actually, during that war many american, british, russian agents died, trying to get such documents.
But Linda, who arrived to Germany only a few days ago, got that secrets only in a 5 minutes! Only stupid can believe it!

Film contains also many other incredible, unbelievable, false scenes. Only stupids or people who have never heard about 2nd World War can believe it.

During 2nd World War died about 50 000 000 people!
But people who know nothing about that war will think after this film that war was not serious, that it was like simple fun game.

It's waste of money buying this film.

Below is one more link to other review. But it's said there very mildly:
...


A good comedy -- a bad war drama   January 5, 2003
E. A Solinas (MD USA)
8 out of 22 found this review helpful

I think I might have enjoyed "Shining Through" more if I'd been drunk. This movie is a fantastic ensemble comedy, but I don't think they were trying to make one! The only redeeming points of the movie were Liam Neeson and Joely Richardson's performances as a pair of Nazis.

Melanie Griffith plays Linda Voss, a young woman of mixed Irish and Jewish ancestry in World War II. Because of her linguistic skills, she's hired as a translator for Ed Leland (Michael Douglas), who works for the government as a spy (he keeps denying it, but she's seen movies so she knows better!). They become lovers, until his work comes between them. But no sooner have they been reunited than a spy is needed to sneak into Germany to find some bomb-related plans.

She's accompanied into Germany by Konrad "Sunflower" Friedrichs (Sir John Gielgud, who looks like he's always thinking "What am I doing in this movie?") and his niece Margrete Von Eberstein (Joely Richardson). Her position as a chef blows up on the first night, and she quickly finds herself hired as a nanny by elite Nazi official Franz-Otto Dietrich (Liam Neeson, Richardson's now-brother-in-law). And now that she's inside his house, she has only a limited amount of time to find the plans.

I don't think the people who made this movie wanted me to like the Nazis more than the Americans, but unfortunately the Nazis are a lot more likeable. Richardson comes across as competant and multifaceted, divided in her loyalties; Neeson comes across as a loving father, a nice sensitive guy (we don't ever hear of him actually doing anything bad!) with big puppy-dog eyes. Frankly it's hard not to like him, especially compared to the insensitive clod Leland. Douglas looks unhappy and embarrassed all throughout the movie, he's as stiff and cold as a pine board, and Griffith's performance is the stuff of nightmares.

It doesn't help that the best description of Linda is "ditzy blonde." She gets all her info about spies from movies, whines when Douglas goes on missions, and thinks she's qualified to be a spy because she can make strudel. (In one scene she runs through a crowded street chanting a secret password out loud!) She also mouths off to everyone in a way that would not be tolerated in a mere secretary (prepare to cringe when she says "My other half's Irish"), and bungles everything spy-related.

I would say this is a movie best shown to young children but there's a fair amount of profanity, violence, and a detailed sex scene. The direction is pretty terrible -- you'd think WWII included only a handful of people. The Nazis have none of the casual amorality that the real people did. There are one or two creepy, freaky moments that work, like the German woman who exults that the house they took from a Jewish family had everything they wanted (even bedsheets with correct monograms), but they're few and far between. If they'd had Dietrich doing something, anything wrong, then it might have worked. There are a few moments of intentional comedy ("That pompous little (butt) ate a raw bird to prove it was edible!") but most of the comedy is totally accidental. ("What's a war for if not to hold on to what we love?" Gaaaaaggg!)

I only can recommend this to fans of Joely and Liam, because they are the only ones who actually have good roles to play. "Schindler's List" this ain't!


One of my Favorite Movies!   October 25, 2003
Vanessa Johnston (Alexandria, VA)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Being a movie buff and passionate about my collection, I find this movie to be among one of the most enjoyable dramas to watch over and over again. Melonie Griffith and Michael Douglas have a special chemistry throughout the movie. I love the plot and the ending! It feels like a true story when you're watching it. I can't wait to own it in DVD.