Heaven

Wenig Raum für eine Identifizierung mit den Hauptfiguren und deshalb ein schwaches Argument gegen die umstrittene moralische Ästhetik des Films: Egal, dass Sie ein Mörder sind – wenn Sie lieben können, gehen Sie trotzdem in den Himmel. Der typische Tom Tykwer. Manche Szenen wie z. B. der Dialog in der Kirche, die um den Baum kreisende Kamera oder das Finale sind großartig. Der Film müsste aber länger und detaillierter sein und eine ausführlichere erste Hälfte haben. Dann wäre er auch als Ganzes ausgezeichnet. Eine vergeudete Chance, einen außergewöhnlichen Film mit einem außergewöhnlichen Stoff zu drehen. (16.01.2003)

The masterful psychological character study, for which Tykwer is known, delves into the deepest corners of the human soul, but this time it is somewhat hindered by the lack of a more substantial plot and a somewhat ambiguous moral resolution. The simple and often-told story of crime and punishment unfortunately becomes a rather detached affair in the second half, as the theme of guilt is completely sidelined and Tykwer focuses solely on the relationship between two very different individuals. It's masterful, but why hide the morality behind a beautiful camera and fantastic casting? That’s unfortunate. (23.12.2005)

The fact that Tom Tykwer is one of the most interesting (not only German) directors of this era is proven over and over in every scene of this movie. The long shots look better the higher they’ve been filmed from. The issue is that though Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi have good roles, it won’t save a movie that’s boring apart from the visuals and that drags on forever. And don’t even get me started on the ending. It complements the entire movie – in that it is empty and falls completely flat. (07.08.2018)

Tykwer on a dangerous path towards full-Malick. The romance here is at the same time improbable and unintentionally academically frosty, leaving only Tykwer's love of seemingly inconsequential details, his funny use of genre tropes (a hard-boiled Bullitt during the interrogation), and of course Griebe's reliable work behind the camera, which often makes the whole story seem bigger than it actually is. (14.11.2020)

Tom Tykwer has a knack for capturing intriguing human destinies, particularly from a human perspective. This film isn't an overly exaggerated action drama, although it could have been if produced in America. But it’s emphasis on the human experience makes it more engaging and emotionally resonant. (04.04.2017)