This WWII thriller is a return to form for Verhoeven after his hit-and-miss Hollywood journey, featuring an exceptional performance by Carice van Houten as a Jewish singer who attempts to infiltrate the Gestapo in Nazi-occupied Netherlands.

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Paul Verhoeven makes a return to his Dutch roots and writes and directs one of the year’s most powerful films. Black Book is a true story about a Jewish woman who volunteers to infiltrate the Nazi’s inner circle by having a sordid affair with a high-ranking Nazi officer.  

Simply put, it’s Lust, Caution set in WWII Europe.  Verhoeven’s direction is supreme; he crafts Black Book in a way that works like a high-octane thriller rather than a slow-paced drama. 

Furthermore, the screenplay works like a mystery; the story snakes its way through numerous climaxes and twists, often leaving viewers in a ‘what’s gonna happen next?’ frame of mind.

“Does it never end?”

Without a doubt, the star of the show belongs to Carice von Houten.  She gives possibly the year’s best female lead performance (it will take someone of substantial pedigree to really rival her display here).  Her performance is daring yet earnest enough to deserve what will likely be an elusive Oscar nomination.  

In one scene, she even dyes her pubic hair golden on screen.  But what is more remarkable is her ability to restrain her emotions for most parts of the film, only to let it explode when the finale draws near.

Black Book features excellent action set-pieces that work on the level of suspense. The violence presented is at times very shocking and visceral, like it’s out of a Cronenberg picture.  In a nutshell, this is a return to form for one of the Netherlands’ most marketable filmmakers. 

Grade: A-

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