Rent Denial (2016)

Tom Wilkinson outstanding - Denial review by Philbuff

An important subject & a strong cast. Tricky to turn a trial - with its inevitably narrow focus - into an absorbing drama. But, for the most part, it works well. Certainly worth watching.

Interesting movie - Denial review by PE

You don't need me to tell you the story here; the trailer and previous reviews adequately outline what's going on.

We returned from a trip to Berlin and found this in our letter box which was fortuitous especially after learning more about the holocaust whilst visiting the different museums and memorials on our trip to Germany's capital.

it's absurd that the likes of the odious Irving and his ilk deny the holocaust ever happened as the evidence is there for all to see but it makes for an interesting and "worthy" premise.

Most trial movies quickly become tedious but "Denial" manages to balance the inevitable legalities and drama well without losing our interest. I'm not sure what the references to Boudica were meant to symbolise considering she was seemingly responsible for the killing of an estimated 80,000 Romans and British and then became known as a British folk hero; though her statue near parliament got a good polish for the movie so that's something.

Despite some obvious signposting and downright silly moments, "Denial" is an interesting movie and the principal actors all play their parts well with both Spall and Wilkinson putting in excellent performances and Weisz plays against type and acquits herself.

All in all a good watch and you'll also probably learn something too.

Evil - Denial review by KN

Something as important as this subject matter should shock you to the core . Unfortunately this is just a worthy film rather than an emotional experience. Of course the acting ,script etc are fine but where is the real horror. Irving is evil but I don’t think this is fully realised

A gripping, horrifying & magnificently acted drama about a momentus trial in UK legal history - Denial review by TB

I had never heard of this case/film or David Irving. The reason I rented this was because, after the sad passing of Tom Wilkinson (an actor who I was enormously fond of, as well as a sign that any film he was in would be elevated, even if the movie as a whole wasn't great,) I was reading a collection of tributes from people he had worked with. And one which stood out was from Mick Jackson, the director of Denial. He absolutely raved about not only Wilkinson's performance (and to be clear, he is emphatically the best thing in this film, no question,) but also his ability to really reach you as the viewer. From this testimony, I put Denial on my rental list. And I'm so glad I did.

Deborah Lipstadt is a highly respected American Jewish woman who lectures about the Holocaust, as well as a writer of books. Her latest tome, Denying the Holocaust, which deals with people who question various elements of this barbaric industrial murder machine, references & attacks David Irving. Irving is a historian who was known as a rapid Holocaust denier, alongside other repugnant views, which he openly espoused to anyone willing to listen. At Lipstadt's book launch, Irving gatecrashes the Q&A, challenging Lipstadt to prove her assertions, before launching a libel case in the UK against her & the book's publishers.

I really enjoyed & was gripped by this movie. The direction is taunt, fast-paced & assured. Thankfully, this film is only 105 minutes long, mercifully excluding long periods of exposition & testifying, which would have really bogged down the narrative/pace. But it is also crucial to say that this approach does not in any way skim over or minimise the horror of the subject which this film is examining. After a series of fast-paced, almost breathless scenes introducing Deborah Lipstadt, David Irving & the legal teams, as well as several scenes in the London Chambers as the case is built, the film then slams on the brakes & takes us to Auschwitz...

And this build-up to it makes the impact of being there all the more horrifying. We go from rushing around, with the sights & sounds of vibrant & active cities, to a silence & quiet horror, with death heavy in the air. These scenes are also horrific because as much as the legal team show respect & are careful, they are also there to ask the sort of questions which Irving claims are the proof that these camps were not what they were said to be.

When we do finally get to the trial, Mick Jackson & the writers put in just enough to keep you gripped, with the customary rug-pulls & surprises. And you really do become captivated with seeing this single, solitary man filled with poison, going up against the might of the UK legal establishment & often running rings around them, it must be said.

The performances are great. Weisz gets one of the meatiest roles of her career, fully immersing herself in the strong Yiddish-tinged American accent & mannerisms of Lipstadt, making her a woman absolutely determined not to be silenced or bullied. Timothy Spall also gives a good performance, although it was a little too theatrical in the sense that Irving is played as such a scumbag, as if playing to the gallery. With the bile coming out of his mouth, adding extra layers of poison wasn't needed.

But the stand-out, as I said at the beginning, is Tom Wilkinson. He plays Richard Rampton as not only a slightly socially awkward man, but also a deeply moral & conflicted one, in the sense that he has had to shed all of his emotions in order to become the best barrister in the country. And this loss of humanity clearly troubles him. But this is beautifully & subtly played, which gives it all the more power. I also loved how he never gave Irving the satisfaction of looking at him, being a willing audience to his screed, which only antagonised him more.

This is a great film, brilliantly made & compulsive viewing.

Great watch - Denial review by SB

Interesting film which highlights the atrocities of the past. Excellent acting which draws you into the situation and highlights that sometimes less is more to get to the truth and arrive at the correct outcome. Riveting stuff.

Intelligent drama - Denial review by NW

The film has a good cast and deals with an important, if slightly complicated, subject. I thought Rachel Weisz was good in the main part and helped bring out one of the themes of the film: how Lipstadt's very direct American approach clashed with the much more cautious and methodical British legal system. The film is less helpful on how exactly David Irving transgressed and why (spoiler) he lost the libel action. An intelligent and enjoyable film, none the less.