Black Book
Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 34
  3. Negative: 4 out of 34
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  1. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    38
    The storytelling is inept and illogical.
  2. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ella Taylor
    30
    A viscerally effective thriller ends up a repugnant exercise in moral relativism, delivered with the grandstanding swagger of the self-styled provocateur.
  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    30
    The new Dutch film Black Book manages to turn World War II into a large piece of cheese. A lurid, pulpy, slightly perverse potboiler, the movie suffers mainly from its utter lack of seriousness.
  4. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Anthony Lane
    30
    This is trash pretending to serve the cause of history: a "Dirty Dozen" knockoff with one eye on "Schindler’s List."

User Reviews

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User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 48 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 26
  3. Negative: 4 out of 26
  1. ERG1008
    8
    Jewish Dutch girl hides from the Nazis, reunites with her family, joins the resistance, gets friendly with high ranking Nazi officer, deceit & mayhem.
    Surprised this was as good as it was considering Paul Verhoeven was the director. Yes it has his usual amounts of pointless nudity but the story is very gripping & Carice van Houten is very convincing in the lead role.    … Full Review »
  2. francel
    2
    This is 'Indiana Jones meets the Dutch Resistance'. I haven't seen this many fanciful, absurdly unrealistic escape scenes since, well, Indiana Jones. The difference is that this movie, peopled with stock characters and flimsy action sequences, wants to be taken seriously as a commentary on WWII Nazi atrocities. Puhleeze.… Full Review »
  3. CuculizaO.
    8
    Verhoeven doesn't want to teach you a lesson. He just wants to entertains you telling this story through a riveting thriller with Van Houten gracing the screen just as well as any other movie siren these days.… Full Review »
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