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The Ogre

Released Sep 12, 1996 1h 57m Drama List
89% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A simple Parisian's (John Malkovich) love of children involves him in a Nazi scheme to kidnap boys and train them as SS troops during World War II.

Critics Reviews

View All (9) Critics Reviews
Geoff Andrew Time Out Schlndorff and Jean-Claude Carrire find in Michel Tournier's novel a companion piece to their earlier Gnter Grass adaptation, The Tin Drum. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Astonishing, disturbing, and altogether an affecting piece of work, The Ogre is Schlondorff -- and everyone else involved -- working in top form. Rated: 4/5 Dec 3, 2003 Full Review Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle With his slightly cross- eyed gaze of wonderment mixed with ferocious intensity, Malkovich makes Abel both childlike and frightening. Rated: 3/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Haunting as the film is, it never feels quite cohesive. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 25, 2008 Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Rated: 3/5 Sep 28, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jul 1, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (34) audience reviews
Audience Member This tides up some of the ambiguities of the original novel, and broadens out the admittedly bizarrely fascinating Goering character, but does overall a good job of putting the context of Abel's way of living on screen; and John Malkovich, though cast in many ways against type (scrawny, intellectual rather then giant and almost simple), manages to express the confusion of Abel within himself and towards himself and his role in life. But the inherent and very complex contradictions, as well as the philosophical aspects of Tournier's writing were always going top be difficult to get onscreen> For me, thought the book is a wonder, the film is merely a good provocation. That I enjoyed. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member I guess Malkovich was too young in his career to be more discriminating. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member I guess Malkovich was too young in his career to be more discriminating. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member This strange and original work is a French film about Nazi Germany done in English with a fine performance by Malkovich--A brilliant study in disparity!! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Persoanlly expected more from the director of The Tin Drum & Ulzhan, Way more Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Haunting as the film is, it never feels quite cohesive. Malkovich delivers, but the movie lacks continuity. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Ogre

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis A simple Parisian's (John Malkovich) love of children involves him in a Nazi scheme to kidnap boys and train them as SS troops during World War II.
Director
Volker Schlöndorff
Producer
Gebhard Henke, Ingrid Windisch
Screenwriter
Michel Tournier, Jean-Claude Carrière, Volker Schlöndorff
Distributor
Kino International Corp.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 12, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$49.2K
Runtime
1h 57m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Surround