The Last Vermeer

"The Last Vermeer" paints an intelligent, intriguing picture of World War II involving art, Nazis and an unlikely Dutch hero. Dan Friedkin's directorial debut manages to deliver a thriller while offering instruction on the art of Johannes Vermeer. Guy Pearce stars and gives a work of art performance as the flamboyant Han van Meegeren, a Dutch painter, art dealer and enigma who became famous for selling a rare Vermeer to Hitler's second in command, Hermann Göring. This act led Meegeren to be tried in 1945 as a war criminal. Captain Joseph Piller, played by actor Claes Bang, is the former Dutch Resistance officer who believes Meegeren's innocence, helping and defending him in court. The screenplay, written by Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby (writers of 2007's "First Snow," also starring Guy Pearce) & John Orloff, is based on an adaptation of Jonathan Lopez's, "The Man Who Made Vermeers."

Guy Pierce steals the scene in every scene he's in. Very charismatic, boozy, apolitical and passionate painter with a fragile body and delicate upturned eyebrows. Great performance!

Everyone else gives solid performances, but seems to struggle with their accents which distracts sometimes from what they're saying.

A good movie with worthwhile questions about morality and survival during wartime; however many questions are not as satisfactorily answered as they could have been within the film. However a movie that leaves a question in your mind is worth a watch anyway.

I liked that the film dealt with a time that is not as covered in mainstream media, such as the dissolution of the allied powers after World War II, and the change of occupying such as the American military as liberators to nuisances during the Dutch reconstruction.

After the war, Hermann Göring's stash of stolen art is found. Among them is a Vermeer painting titled Christ and the Adulteress. Joseph Piller investigates how it ended up there. The Dutch Jew was a tailor before the war. He joined the resistance and is now a Canadian Captain in the Allied Command. He traces the painting back to uncooperative art dealer Han Van Meegeren (Guy Pearce). The Allies are slowly being replaced by the Dutch government and Piller has to solve the mystery before losing his case.

I don't know anything about the history which is part of the point of the movie. It's rare to be completely surprised these days but this one takes an unexpected turn. It's a fine crime drama and mystery for the first half. I did find Van Meegeren's reticent somewhat repetitive until the reveal changes it all. I was expecting a vast conspiracy but this has something on a more human level from everybody like Piller's wife and Dirk Hannema. It's a fascinating true story.

Interesting film based on a true story, but thought Claes Bang was robotic and miscast in the lead role

Acting wise the under rated Vicky Krieps was good again.

It's a good effort by all, especially guy Pearce and Claes Bang. It had a proper period feel and told a little known story. It is based on a true story, although some of the facts differ from the film.

Definitely worth watching and learning something new. Prepare to google the true story after, the details add more layers and depth that made me appreciate the film more. I wish some of these details were incorporated. IMDB has it right- almost a 7/10!