The Promise [Blu-ray] [2017]

“The Promise” was knocked down by a lot of reviewers as being “dull” (and other disparaging terms) all basically saying it was mediocre. It was not. It was really good. It might be the best film of 2017. Spoilers ahead.Story/plot 5/5. This movie is a huge sweeping historical drama, sort of in the same vein as “Seven Years in Tibet”, but not so tightly focused on a single perspective and viewpoint. It tells a true story of how the Ottoman Turks attempted to exterminate the Armenian ethnic group from the then-Ottoman Empire, as experienced by an Armenian doctor (Oscar Isaac), a French artist (Charlotte Le Bon), and an American reporter (Christian Bale), as they get ensnarled in the unfolding chaos.There’s been a lot of controversy and arguments about media portrayal bias for and against the Ottomans and their actions for a long time now. There was a genocide. The people involved, good and bad, are all long gone. Why not admit it happened and move on? This movie was not propaganda. And it pointed out that the Turks were not all one-note bad guys, as shown, for example, by Isaac’s Turkish friend from the medical school turned conscripted officer, who risked (and lost) his life saving Bale from execution so that Bale could expose the massacres through the newspapers, and the Ottoman colonel(?) who warns a missionary priest helping refugees of an impending attack so the priest could get his charges out of town safely.Overall Production Values 5/5. Turkey doesn’t seem to feature much in the movies, other than the ever-present Hagia Sophia and a few surrounding town blocks briefly showing up in films like “From Russia with Love” or “Skyfall”. This film really gave moviegoers a good look at more of Istanbul in general, as well as some of the smaller towns and the countryside. The cinematography was excellent and showcased some really unique and beautiful sights, the film was a travelogue at times. And it was like the early 20th century came to life with the period clothing and vehicles and so on, not in-your-face about it, but subtle. It was almost like a cross between pseudo-medieval and American West in the rural areas, just wagons and old-world buildings and no electricity. Then you see a few early motorcars in the big city, and a semi-modern battleship sails by the coast, and you can see the modern age moving in. There was also a harrowing extended large-scale battle towards the end (so one-sided it was almost a massacre really – and it was meant to be, for sure) that was very well done. I felt genuine fear for the refugees making a fighting run for it.Casting – 5/5Oscar Isaac is an excellent actor. The scene when he finds his wife and parents and scores of other people murdered in the woods and he just crouches and hugs his wife and loses it, kind of cries and screams in one breath, spittle hanging from his mouth, it was like it was happening for real, I got kind of freaked out. He was great all the way through the movie, going from naive medical student to labor-camp internee to impromptu refugee leader/doctor/rebel. About 99% of people probably only know him from “Force Awakens” or “Ex Machina” (he was good in that too) but this role is what he should really be best known for.Christian Bale has a solid dramatic role here. His driven, abrasive journalist-coming-apart-at-the-seams character was a good counterbalance among the three main players, as he repeatedly runs into deadly situations and almost gets killed when attempting to report on and expose the ongoing massacres, while trying to come to grips with the fact Le Bon wants to leave him for Isaac. He goes from hating his rival to becoming his lifelong friend, forged by bloodshed and tragedy.Charlotte Le Bon’s part was not as big as her costars, but she was solid also. I did not think the love triangle subplot was lame or out of place as some reviewers said. It added another human element to the overall story being told. This was based on true events but it’s not a documentary, and people don’t put their feelings on hold just because there’s a war on or massacres happening.Supporting cast. Huge cast in this really, all I can say is that everyone in it, from small parts to large, was convincing. I’m not going to score them, these were real people, they just kept it real.Ending thoughts - It was a relief to see in the end that a bunch of the escaped Armenians were living safely in the U.S. and would never have to fear for their lives in masse like that ever again. However, there was a sobering statement made at one point in the film, that their revenge was to survive. Not to return to their homeland, not to get some kind of compensation (not that any amount of money or their homes returned could make up for their ordeal and the lives lost), just…survive. This was a serious movie. Not downbeat, but very serious, and everyone should have watched it. Too often we just dive deep into fictional stuff and forget the real world. I can understand why of course, I do the same thing constantly. But let’s not leave nonfiction movies out in the cold just because they don’t have superheroes in them or whatever. A dang shame that this movie kind of flopped.

The movie was very touching, well acted and directed. It’s a shame that people can’t get along and want to conquer other nations. It is well worth watching.

Very epic film , on human rights or the lack of them and history. Excellent performers and very hard not to feel the emotions of the story.

I thought this was a great movie. Very well acted and put together. It is a little slow in the beginning due to setting up the love story but once we cross into to the Turkish governments crack down on the Armenian people plot line, it becomes an absolutely enthralling movie, beautifully shot against the landscape. I came across this movie randomly on Amazon and was surprised at the historical backdrop. I am definitely no history buff and I have never formally learned about the Armenian genocide. I find the historical event surrounding this movie fascinating. The fact that it happened at all is horrifying but the refusal of governments to acknowledge the event is bewildering. The emotion in this movie is raw, the actors are very talented, the events are heart breaking, and it depicts the worse and the best of humanity. It is a must watch!!!!!As a side note I also watched the first 20 minutes of The Ottoman Lieutenant and did find the movie to stink of propaganda. If you aren't aware of what I am talking about..there is some controversy that The Ottoman Lieutenant was made as an answer to The Promise (it was apparently funded by Turkish interest).

Good storytelling. And of course, the backdrop of Istanbul is beautiful in spite of the unfortunate history.

I saw a short clip on the side of my screen on fb. It was a group of people in a long line struggling to move forward. In an instant I knew what this was-even before I had clicked on it and learned about the existence of the film. My Mother's family was from Armenia-my Mother was a prolific story teller and I was a enraptured listener. Most of my Grandmother and Grandfather's family died during the Genocide. When I was a young child I would ask my Mother...Where are the pictures? She did not know of any-she only had some of our family's stories. As I grew older I heard more stories from other relatives. When my 4 sons were all almost grown-I heard the story of how my family came to be here-by a fluke-by a miracle...nothing less. My Grandparents were marched in the desert with 1000 people. Fifty made it to the other side...that is how I came to be here. I was a little afraid to watch this film. I couldn't see it in the theater...I ordered the dvd as soon as it became available. It does not disappoint..it successfully portrays the struggle and agony of so many that lived through that time while also showing the triumph when some very blessed Armenians made it through to live their lives out all across the world. I think the love story makes it even more real. Being human does not stop even when we are faced with horrors and the odds are so stacked against us. This is a wonderful representative of the story that should have been made more public much earlier. HIGHLY recommend this film!