Craig lacks spark in ‘Defiance’

Cert 15

131 mins

Drama/Action/Romance

As Hitler’s army marches through Belarussia, three Jewish brothers lead hundreds of survivors into hiding.

While Tuvia Bielski (Daniel Craig) and his youngest brother Asael (Jamie Bell) establish an expanding community in the woods, fiery middle son Zus (Liev Schreiber) aligns himself with Viktor Panchenko (Ravil Isyanov), the charismatic commander of a resistance group determined to strike at the heart of the Nazi machine.

Based on the book by Nechama Tec, Edward Zwick’s history lesson is a stirring tale of heroism and sacrifice.

Unfortunately, Craig lacks spark in his pivotal role, while Schreiber would have been a far more compelling hero.

Star Rating: 3/5.