SummaryIt is 1914. As the Great War looms, the mighty Ottoman Empire is crumbling. Constantinople, the once vibrant, multicultural capital on the shores of the Bosporus, is about to be consumed by chaos. Michael Boghosian (Oscar Isaac), arrives in the cosmopolitan hub as a medical student determined to bring modern medicine back to Siroun, his ...
SummaryIt is 1914. As the Great War looms, the mighty Ottoman Empire is crumbling. Constantinople, the once vibrant, multicultural capital on the shores of the Bosporus, is about to be consumed by chaos. Michael Boghosian (Oscar Isaac), arrives in the cosmopolitan hub as a medical student determined to bring modern medicine back to Siroun, his ...
The movie hits its cinematic stride, as it happens, when events are at their worst. The Promise is drenched in production value and replete with ravishing shots of sunrises and sunsets, but it’s in the scenes of fleeing, of battle, and of horrendous loss that the film is at its most effective. The depiction of the savagery inflicted on Armenia is bracing.
The Promise may not be the greatest movie of its type since "Hotel Rwanda," but purchasing a ticket to this solid if predictable movie is a sure way to thumb one’s nose at deniers of the Armenian Genocide.
"The Promise" is not just a film; it is a cinematic cry for justice, a poignant masterpiece that delves deep into the crevices of world history, shedding light on the grim reality of humanity's darker side. It is a triumphant and yet tragic portrayal of the human spirit enduring against overwhelming adversities.
The plot unfolds amidst the backdrop of the Armenian Genocide, a chapter in history often forgotten or deliberately overlooked. The film strikes at the heart of an inconvenient truth - governments, at times, choose to turn a blind eye towards mass atrocities when it suits their interests, a fact disturbingly prevalent even in today's geopolitical scene. "The Promise" endeavors to challenge this notion, asking viewers to never forget and always strive for the truth.
As Theodore Roosevelt once said about the Armenian Genocide, "the failure to act against Turkey is to condone it... the failure to deal radically with the Turkish horror means that all talk of guaranteeing the future peace of the world is mischievous nonsense." "The Promise" brings this quote to life, posing a vivid and painful exploration of what happens when countries fail to act in the face of cruelty. It urges us to remember that mercy to the guilty often means cruelty to the innocent.
Oscar Isaac delivers a performance of a lifetime, brilliantly portraying the intricate nuances of his character, Mikael Boghosian, a man caught in the whirlwind of human chaos and violence. His emotive performance is nuanced and richly textured, creating an intricate tapestry of a man attempting to hold on to his humanity amidst unimaginable horror. Isaac's ability to capture the depth of his character's pain, hope, and determination is nothing short of Oscar-worthy.
"The Promise" is undoubtedly a difficult watch, a potent reminder of an overlooked tragedy, but therein lies its greatness. Its unflinching portrayal of human cruelty and endurance is simultaneously heartbreaking and inspiring. Director Terry George's keen eye for historical detail and character development elevates the film beyond just being a history lesson. It becomes a window into the past, providing us with the much-needed perspective on the human condition during times of war and conflict.
The film's cinematography is impressive, capturing the stark contrasts of life before and during the genocide. It is this juxtaposition - the vibrant, lively towns turned into silent graveyards, the people full of life and promise now facing unspeakable horrors - that makes the film a visually stunning piece of work.
However, "The Promise" is not all about despair. It's also a story of resilience, love, and the indomitable spirit of humanity that refuses to be defeated. It reminds us that in the midst of the most horrific circumstances, the human spirit can still strive for hope, love, and ultimately, survival.
In summary, "The Promise" is an essential watch - a testament to the past, a reminder for the present, and a warning for the future. It drives home the message that in the face of atrocity, silence is complicity, and forgetting history often means repeating it. Isaac's performance is a triumph, an essential piece in this cinematic puzzle that brings to life a historical moment that should never be forgotten. This film is not just a promise to remember but a plea to act and prevent history from repeating itself.
An excellent historical film about the Armenian genocide. It shows all the atrocities committed by the Turks during the Ottoman Empire. There are people and even countries that do not recognize the Armenian genocide, I want to ask them, if more than 30 have recognized the genocide at the legislative level, then why are there people who deny it? You don't deny the Holocaust, do you? Many documents, open archives, witnesses say that there was a genocide, and one cannot argue with that. It's up to everyone to admit it or not, but know those that it's on your conscience
Director and co-writer Terry George (“Hotel Rwanda”) tries his best to give the film an epic sweep, but he substitutes quantity of plot threads for quality of story.
The events being considered deserve better than a sloggy melodrama in which the tragedy of a people is forced to take a back seat to a not especially compelling love triangle.
Didactic yet generic, The Promise endeavors to educate about a period of recent history that is still unacknowledged by the Turkish government, but curiously manages to be anonymous in form nonetheless.
Decent film. Another fantastic performance by Oscar Isaac. He always seems to get overlooked when the Oscars come around. He is one of the best actors working today. Onto the movie. I felt the movie was enjoyable and a story that was need to be told on the big screen. I didn't mind the love story, but I felt like it focused more on that than the terrible genocide that happened. All in all I feel like most of the negative scores are just because of the subject its on.
I respect that a film has finally been made about this genocide that Turkey still denies despite all the proof. The movie itself though is quite flippy floppy. The makers clearly couldn't decide if it was a love story or a war film. The needless love triangle sub plot was laughably bad at times. Especially when Bale's character clearly did not care at all that his lover was sleeping/in love with Isaac's character. It just wasn't believable.
Same goes for the fact that Isaac's character got out of certain death many times by sheer luck while every other main character got the ax. The cliched ending where the leading woman dies saving a child. All of it is just generic story telling and painfully unrealistic imo. It just never seemed real and I think that's where it lost me.
While I fully appreciate the filmmakers behind it and the fact they are trying to educate the public about this genocide, It's still a deeply flawed film. Also kind of ironic how none of the leads are Armenian...
Another phony movie filled with inaccurate and one sided history. Obviously aimed for propoganda. Love story is third class, drama is achieved by pure agitation. And ofcourse there has to be an American hero to make it to the box office and before American auidience...
Poorly done without any research of facts. It does not reflect the reality of 1914. Even the Ottoman flags are wrong flags. They placed Republic of Turkey flags which did not exist before 1923. Exaggerated and misleading.