The Debt (8.5/10)

Spy thrillers always have the benefit of the doubt in my mind. I’m a sucker for an old fashion espionage cat and mouse chase. “The Debt” is as much a throwback to older spy films as it is new and original. So what if it’s a weaker version of “Munich”? It’s a fun ride with romance, violence, life changing questions and all in a nicely paced 1:44 long film. It’s an explosive time.

In the 1960’s three Mossad soldiers returned from a top secret assignment. They were charged with bringing back Nazi criminal Vogel (Jesper Christensen). His crimes include switching limbs, injecting paint into the eye among other heinous deeds as his time as a concentration camp doctor. He’s been in hiding in East Germany and Israel wants to kidnap him and bring him to their country to stand trial. An accident happened and they say that they shot him dead. Is that the whole story however? Years later the truth is brought up again and what will it cost them to continue the story they’ve told.

The film is technical force. It’s sharply edited to a pulsating score. It moves around and never comes close to stale. The story is interesting enough to keep you entertained. So choose your poison, plot or style and you’ll have a winner either way. Some terrific acting from Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciaran Hinds, Sam Worthington, Marton Csokas and the beautiful Jessica Chastain make that whole side worth it. It’s got some deep thought to it and its pretty damn entertaining. “The Debt” is worth it.

8.5/10

Recommendation: Very well done, suspense (including a fantastic set of scenes involving an gynecologist), romance, action and drama. I’d watch it for sure.