User reviews

A compelling movie that reveals the flaws in American high society to readily accept people based on vague connections and sheer gall. The protagonist in this movie, played wonderfully by Christoph Waltz (who also directs) is both fascinating and disturbing - a character so determined to climb the social and political ladder that he'll attempt to charm and shmooze his way into virtually every opportunity, all delivered with the smile of a charming, dinner party host. The film unfolds via a series of flashbacks, each showing chapters of the character's life and disturbing personality, culminating in a criminal event. The other cast members are equally brilliant and the movie keeps the tension going throughout. A great film to watch if you're interested in human psychology and the motivations behind those that prey on the vulnerabilities and egos of others.

I don't understand the bad ratings. Ok it's not a 10 but an enjoyable movie with Waltz at his best. 1st half of the movie is brilliant. The second half, especially towards the ending, lacks a bit which is why I only give it a 7.

Waltz and Redgrave offer great performances portraying the real people involved in this movie. Be ready to raise questions and seek answers. Think fraud but ....

In a sense this is the Christoph Waltz show, he directs and stars as a man who had great ambitions but was totally duplicitous. In the Washington, D. C. area. Dabbling on the edges of politics and wars. When he 91-yr-old wife turns up dead in their home he is the logical suspect.

In the real life inspiration for the movie the younger man met his eventual wife when he was still a teenager in college. She was married at the time but after her husband died they reconnected. They married in 1990 when she was 70 and he was 26. Her death was 21 years later.

There are a number of really good actors but the movie succeeds on the performance of Christoph Waltz as the duplicitous narcissist. I have seen him in a variety of roles and he is always excellent, a real expert in his craft.

My wife and I watched it at home streaming on Amazon. A really interesting and entertaining movie.

Ulrich Mott (Christoph Waltz) is a well-connected DC operator. He's married to the elderly widow Elsa Breht (Vanessa Redgrave). Her daughter Amanda Breht (Annette Bening) distrusts the smooth talker. When Elsa is suddenly dead, Amanda immediately accuses Ulrich.

This movie is trying hard to sell its reveals. In the end, there is only one truly intriguing reveal. Once that reveal is shown, I would like to see more of Elsa. It's their relationship that is so mysterious. I want to figure her out more. He's a scammer and a skilled story teller. Him telling his stories is not the most compelling cinema. It's not that deep. It's marginally quirky enough to be mildly amusing. I want her and I want to see more of their relationship.

Overall liked the movie, was decent. Acting was good and the story was relatively interesting. The film comes off as if events were incredibly complex, but at the end it's all quite simple.

This is quite a different story very well played. It is done in a way to understand all the sides as it goes along. Vanessa and Christoph are hilarious together even though it is also dramatic.

It is shown as segments with a different theme in each. We can see a point of view in each and we gradually go deeper and deeper in the story. It is intriguing all along. We get to guess a few things. We understand all the characters and we root for them. Only, we don't get how it ended the way it did at the beginning until the end.

Great acting and sets. I definitely liked the film above average. It is a bit of a celebration of life, almost ordinary, of people reaching for the top, while one was overreaching.

Christopher Waltz, in GEORGETOWN, picks up his goofy character from BIG EYES (2014) right where he left off. He's becoming quite the expert at playing bombastic, sociopathic fabulists. Unfortunately, this particular stock character isn't enough to carry the movie as lead.

Overall, GEORGETOWN is watchable, but it never gains the kind of momentum that's inherent in its premise in spite of objectively good performances from Vanessa Redgrave and Annette Benning. The blame falls squarely on Waltz's shoulders as both director and lead actor. The situations that arise from the protagonist Ulrich Mott's delusions offer plenty of opportunity for suspense, but he fails to capitalize in both capacities.

Based on the true story of Albrecht Gero Muth, a DC grifter currently serving a 50-year sentence for murdering his elderly wife, GEORGETOWN could have been a much better film. Perhaps if Waltz had portrayed Mott with more menace rather than drawing him as a basic clown, the character could have commanded the screen. Instead, we have a cartoon that comes off as a supporting role writ large.

There's always a presumption of darkness in characters like Mott's, but Waltz never goes beyond the surface and, as a result, his portrayal lacks complexity and wears thin quickly. Viewers get no insight into why Mott is the way he is. Lacking much needed character development, his actions at film's end are unsupported and feel contrived.

In addition to (or maybe because of) the weak lead, the film's other elements never gel. In other words, the whole effort is mediocre at best. With a cast this good and a true story to back it up, GEORGETOWN is the very definition of a missed opportunity.

Why the haters coming down on this amazing movie? Christophe Waltz is brilliant as always! Annette Bening is terrific as always! Everyone is great and the casting is tops. There is mystery, intrigue, a bit of humor. It is a bit slow paced in parts but is consistently watchable. If you like a well-made film for adults, this is it. Give it a chance!

This film is a huge disappointment. The central character has no back story or reason why he is where he is at this point in life. The other characters are similarly one dimensional. The plot is like a made for TV movie. I wonder how respected,talented actors sign on to such a poorly developed script.

It is a slow pace mystery which keeps you guessing what really happened. Though there are many surprising twists in the story, there is little surprise. The film somehow lacks a wow factor. Acting is good though.

I had much more expectations from Cristophe Waltz, but his film did not delivered, sorry to say. The story just doesn't deliver. Is not a disaster, yet far from a good movie.

A world that cataclysmically outgrows a man is made into motion picture masterfully. An excellent performance by Christoph Waltz amd Vaness Redgrave. Trauma,Guilt and Emptiness inside of Albrecht Mott's character is enacted well. Both lead characters were supplemented with sincere performances making this a worthwhile watch. Georgetown with it's clever flashforwards gives Mott's journey a supernatural touch. Not a story about a predator but a unique consumer in a society that's consciously too doubtful, too complex and negligent. A very strange and a tragic story of loneliness well made to a film.

No explosions. No car chase. Just fine actors plying their trade. Waltz is wonderful as a mischievous yet earnest con man who wants to mix among the DC political elite as much as enjoy the high life that comes with it. Solid supporting cast too.

Christopher Waltz plays Ulrich Mott, a hugely ambitious narcissist, determined to reach the highest levels of society and political seniority. To help with this he marries an aged and respected socialite played by Vanessa Redgrave. Accused of her murder, through a series of flashbacks the film examines his rise to power, his increasingly fantasist persona and whether he did indeed murder his wife.

Enjoyable mystery thriller with a hugely enjoyable turn by Waltz, seducing, manipulating the powerful and chastising and tearing apart all who stand in his way - it's really lovely to watch and you are reminded a little of Waltz' famous performance in 'Inglorious B*******'. Fine support too from Vanessa Redgrave as the wise, experienced wife, once seduced and impressed but ultimately sees through his facade.

How far might a fantasist get in Washington DC? This, unfortunately, is no longer a merely theoretical question.

"Georgetown" will inevitably be compared with a much better movie on a similar theme, "Reversal of Fortune." (Did Claus von Bulow try to kill his wife Sunny?)

Did Christoph Waltz (as director) choose to make this movie because it gave him scope for his brilliant portrayal (as actor) of the confidence-trick artiste Ulrich Mott? One problem with "Georgetown" is that we can never be sure whether it is drama or dramatized documentary. It's actually divided into themes and phases, with displayed titles, such as "The Intern," "The Butler," and "The Embed." Is this movie a sociological study? Are we to believe that Georgetown, a suburb of Washington (just upstream from Foggy Bottom), is full of important people who can nonetheless be easily fooled into believing that a flashy talker must also be a very important person - like themselves?

Every so often Mott hits a wall: One professional sends him packing. "I'm encouraging you to find a better place to develop your unique set of talents." Does Mott's "NGO", Eminent Persons Group, have credentials from the US State Department? Some Iraqis figure him out - No. Then the State Department figures him out - No again.

But a remarkable number of people do not see through him. And most remarkably, his wife Elsa Breht (Vanessa Redgrave) is taken for a long, long ride into fantasy land. But finally, in a hotel room (oops!): "I thought you were out shopping." "I thought you were at the United Nations. But there was never a meeting at the UN, was there!"

Promotion comes swiftly in Iraq's armed services. After two years Mott has risen to the rank of Brigadier-General. And he's got the uniform and medals to prove it. We feel sorry for the defense attorney Daniel Volker (Corey Hawkins), who knows less and less, as Mott spins more and more cobwebs.

"As I was saying to Kofi..." That would be Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, wouldn't it? Yeah, right. You've got to admire, and even enjoy, the sheer panache that Christoph Waltz displays in this "make it up as you go along" exercise in opportunism.

This is the story of Ulrich Mott, an eccentric who seduced and married a wealthy older widow, Elsa Brecht. Although Mott wad three decades younger than his her , they join forces to dominate the political and social circles of Washington, DC by throwing lavish events at their townhouse in the fashionable suburb of Georgetown. When Elsa is found dead just hours after a dinner party, Ulrich immediately comes under suspicion .

This is Christoph Waltz's directorial debut and going on this effort , he should probably stick to acting alone .

I originally thought that Georgetown was a film about the massacre's in Guyana in the 70's but sadly it wasn't anything quite as dramatic or exciting. There is definitely an interesting movie trying get out here but sadly it doesn't even come close to succeeding.

The problem is i didn't fully understand or even care what was happening with the plot . It was a mixture of a Walter Mitty like story , intertwined with a very weak murder thread and sadly By the end I cared about neither .

Interesting story and great actors. Christophe Waltz, Vanessa Redgrave an Annette Bening ensure that the public will stay motivated and involved in the facts portrayed with their excellent performance. But if you expect an end be ready for disappointment: there is none. The film just stops.

It is not an open-end film but a non-end movie.

There is no way to come to anything that might seem a conclusion because the plot lines are just cut. The development of the movie makes you await an unexpected turn to bring the story to its end but all you get is a frustrating question mark in your face.

What a pity!

This poor plot, poor writing, poor everything! Waltz has tried to have his name removed from Georgetown for a reason also! He finally settled for C. Waltz to try and distant himself for it. If it is ever released save your money!