Alien at the Movies

A holocaust denier suing for libel sounds like a ridiculous & boring idea for a courtroom drama, but that thought would be wrong. Based on a true story, WWII historian David Irving (Timothy Spall) sues university professor Deborah Lipstadt (Rachel Weisz) for her defaming references made in her book. However, the trial venue is in England where the burden of proof lies on the defendant. Weisz, Spall, & Tom Wilkinson all give excellent performances as the many individual viewpoints are explored including those of the plaintive, defendant, legal staff, & holocaust survivors. This subject matter may not be for everyone's taste but if you give it a chance & listen to the arguments & feel the emotions present, you may just appreciate & enjoy this historical event. It is a gripping story right down to the final verdict. The most haunting moments occur during the solemn pre-trial visit to Auschwitz concentration camp.

Alien gives it 3 "history fabricator" stars out of 4.