Apt Pupil

Master Waltz by Bryan Singer and Ian McKellen. All you have to do is admire how the director magician manages to step over the abyss that traditionally divides attractiveness and depth in Hollywood. Singer's language is intelligible, yet full of emotion and atmosphere. Everything works civilly, precisely, expressively. The drama of the individual scenes is perfectly constructed, the constant overflow of "teacher x student" tasks keeps the intensity of the film at a high level and the drastic dream scenes only increase it. There is no doubt that there are more impressive portraits of evil in man, but Apt Pupil is rare in that it retains the attributes of a good American spectacle without undermining or being nice to Singer's homeland (the final composition of a newborn monster with an American flag in the second plan is almost provocative). Great credit again goes to the phenomenal Ian McKellen, behind whose mask of a kind old man resides incredible brutality... however, the English virtuoso is able to play even this role in such a way that Kurt Dussander does not seem monochromatic and schematic. Compared to the brilliant performance of the old master, the young pupil Brad Renfro still gives off a significantly weaker impression, but he also shows a considerable amount of skill and talent. Apt Pupil is an excellent film where everything fits the way it should. What I leave out in my rating, I add as a message: It is not history and ideology that are responsible for the evil in man. It is man himself. (03/07/2006)

I paradoxically liked the film more than the book because it simplified the storyline and didn't "overdo it," making both anti-heroes much more civilized and natural in their depravity. Ian McKellen plays his fascist veteran brilliantly, and Brad Renfro is truly an apt pupil... The film maintains a modest line, with (almost) no affected scenes. The mutual probing of both adversaries and accomplices at the same time is a subtle psychological game that culminates in the final scene of complete transformation. Overall impression: 90%. (07/05/2007)

How to adapt a book where the most thrilling moments are connected to the main character's thoughts? I have King's perfect novel deeply ingrained in my mind, which is why I admire Boyce's screenplay for showing me a different way into Todd's head. However, what I value the most is that the deadly weight and psychological urgency are present in almost every second. (20/04/2008)

I haven't read the book by Stephen King, but I'm seriously considering it after that near-perfect two hours. An impressively made psychological thriller about a twisted fascination with the Third Reich that eventually escalates into a real crime. The atmosphere is really thick in places (the shower scene) and that Jan Tříska – he's just a cherry on top. 4.5 stars (12/07/2009)

The novella “Apt Pupil" from the compendium “Different Seasons" (which also contains “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption") describes the story of a twisted high school kid interested in the things that went on in Nazi torture rooms during the Second World War. It’s his greatest hobby. One day he comes across Kurt Dussander, who used to be head of a concentration camp in Patin. The kid starts to blackmail him and demands that Kurt tells him stories of those days, in exchange for his silence. Stories of torture and killing Jewish prisoners... It’s very clear that Bryan Singer has great respect for Stephen King. He faithfully transferred the atmosphere from the book to the movie and adapted the story pretty damn well. I was little disappointed with the ending which is more hinted at and more “happy-ending" like, while in King’s version it is tougher and overall comes across better and more realistic. If I hadn’t read the book before seeing the movie, I would have been happier with it. But I was pleased to see Jan Tříska who gave an excellent performance in his small role and also David Schwimmer in a rather unusual role of Ed French aka Rubber Ed. :) (29/06/2006)