In the time of Counter-Reformation, a miller and his son come under investigation by a priest of the Inquisition, when rumors spread that their prosperity comes from working with the Devil.
The Devil's Trap is a film directed by František Vlá?il, based on a novel by Alfréd Technik, adapted by František A. Dvorák and Miloš Kratochvíl. It was the first of three historical dramas that Vlá?il made during the Czech New Wave (technically he isn't really a part of the New Wave, however these films were made during the same era of artistic freedom), preceding his more well known Marketa Lazarová (1967) and Valley of the Bees (1968).
Set in the late 16th Century during the Catholic Reformation, in the Moravian Karst, situated in what is now the Eastern Czech Republic, it tells the tale of a miller (Vítezslav Vejrazka), and his son Jan (Vít Olmer), who come under suspicion and are investigated by a Jesuit priest of the Inquisition (Miroslav Macháchek), when rumors of witchcraft are spread by the local regent (Cestmír Randa), who is jealous of the miller's prosperity and degree of respect among the local populace.
As expected from Vlá?il, this film is a stunning experience all the way through. From the opening shot, an ominous manipulation of perspective with a close up of a mangled figure of Christ dominating the foreground against a tiny figure in black walking along the horizon, to the breathtaking confrontational finale inside the vast stalactite filled Karst caverns, it is a wonderful display of visual mastery.
Maybe not quite as impressive as Marketa Lazarová, but still full of astonishing imagery. As seen from unique angles and distinct points of view which highlight the director's remarkable sense of awareness of framing, motion, and positioning on the emotional and dramatic tone of the scene. The most memorable being a repeated shot where the camera is suspended and launched with speed through the air towards the miller's door.
The story here is a simple one and I would say more accessible than his later works. With a conventional structure emphasized as much by its plot and characters, than by its expressionistic cinematography or authentic historical detail. The events play out without much surprise, and there is a strong underlying, almost supernatural, mysterious aspect that is left unresolved, in fact barely explored, which is slightly disappointing, but only because it's so fascinating that I wish there was more.
Acting is great all around. Particularly the villains: Miroslav Macháchek as the priest, casting a sinister and imposing shadow wherever he goes, and Cestmír Randa as the weasel like regent behind all the persecution. While Vít Olmer brings a charismatic leading man presence in his role as the miller's son Jan, in love with the lovely orphan girl Martina (Karla Chadimová), who becomes a dangerous object of rivalry between Jan and other young men of the village.
The film also features the evocative music of Zden?k Liška (perhaps the most prolific composer of the Czech New Wave). In this his second of eleven collaborations with Vlá?il, his compositions are used sparingly, but to great effect, complimenting but never overpowering a scene. The best example of which can be heard in an amazingly shot celebration and dance sequence at the end of the second act.
The Devil's Trap might not be a masterpiece, but it is still a strong effort, with a fascinating straightforward story and a glorious historical setting captured beautifully by Vlá?il's unmistakable visual prowess. A fine work that would also be the perfect starter plate to prepare yourself for the challenging feast of Marketa Lazarová or The Valley of the Bees. It even has an easy to digest running time. It's therefore puzzling why this gem remains largely overlooked and ignored.
堕入地狱
本身素质也就三星，NBA加1星！能把NBA球探挖掘全世界新秀+拉到美国培养的模式+一大堆现役球员和管理层参演+剧情还能反转2次以上，相当不错了（诶不对……男主现在真的在绿凯打球？！）
NBA永远不缺童话，缺的是发现千里马并且带着一起创造童话的伯乐。
NBA的观赏性以后会被英雄联盟职业联赛取代
整片节奏很平淡，不像拳击题材戏剧冲突很多，但，这才正常！
比我热爱的网球奥斯卡bp入围那部好看的很多
冲突平淡，剧情老套，到40多分钟才开始看得进去，多一星给配乐。后面几场球赛拍得可以，亚当桑德勒眼里有光，不是为了他说实话不会看
你见过凌晨四点的费城吗？管理层一定是在影射湖人
我们能预见类型的套路，却永远无法想象运动员付出过的汗水。痴迷比天赋重要，因热爱，永不熄火。放低要求的话，埃尔南戈麦斯居然演得还算过得去。爱德华兹那些台词可能都不用背，NBA日常问候语罢了。
运动电影很难拍，要不就是好，要不就是不好，这一部当然是毋庸置疑的好。
简单的剧本，踏踏实实地拍完了，挺下饭的。
就很一般，NBA球员喷垃圾话再正常不过，这点情绪管控能力都没有是没办法生存在这个联盟的。再加上主角还有铺张膨胀等一系列恶习，可以说这个人物塑造地是相当失败的。球探倒确实是很敬业，只是不怎么真实。难为爱德华兹愿意主动饰演这么样一个反派角色，算是这部乏善可陈的片子里一个为数不多的亮点了吧，至多三星。
除了一帮真球员上场以外，也没啥特别之处，主要我不是篮球粉，可能很多细节看不出来，很多球员也不认识。总归故事中规中矩，跟同类型比较区别不大。PS：因为是桑德勒就是喜剧吗？！6.6
豆瓣er们打分太mean了吧！以及我爱体育！
3.5-确实套路，但不难看。喜欢亚当·桑德勒。
1.各路NBA球员的客串，眼花缭乱。当彩蛋来看，观影体验也不会差。
故事简单，可看性挺好的。能看到NBA球探体系的运作，球员的训练之路，大量的NBA球星，甚至担当了关键角色。
呐，站在电影的角度，拍得其实挺一般的，最大问题是节奏把握不对，场面调度也有些莫名，但真的就是胜在本子实在太好了！
虽然是美式运动片的一贯套路，中间的曲折离奇最终都会走向成功，但过程中挥洒汗水，一步步努力超越自己还是挺燃的。
陪小薛看了。他：啊博班！啊J博士！啊塞斯库里！天哪还有骨头收集者！不会吧诺维斯基不会就演这几秒钟吧？不会吧勒布朗真的不出镜？……（他挑的小毛病：盖帽太多了，真的比赛单场没有这么多盖帽，一场两个就到头了。
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