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The Hebrew Hammer (2003)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Jonathan Kesselman (writer)
Release Date:
25 March 2004 (Australia)
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Tagline:
Part man. Part street. 100% kosher. more
Plot:
An orthodox Jewish blaxploitation hero saves Hanukkah from the clutches of Santa Claus's evil son. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Jewish
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Hanukkah
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Blaxploitation
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Shotgun
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Cult Favorite
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NewsDesk:
(13 articles)
Adam Goldberg: The Hollywood Interview
(From The Hollywood Interview. 2 November 2009, 10:22 AM, PST)
Exclusive Interview: Adam Goldberg is Candid About '(Untitled)' Movie
(From CinemaSpy. 21 October 2009, 9:15 PM, PDT)
(From The Hollywood Interview. 2 November 2009, 10:22 AM, PST)
Exclusive Interview: Adam Goldberg is Candid About '(Untitled)' Movie
(From CinemaSpy. 21 October 2009, 9:15 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
You're a hora!
more (47 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Adam Goldberg | ... | Mordechai Jefferson Carver |
 | Judy Greer | ... | Esther Bloomenbergensteinenthal |
 | Andy Dick | ... | Damian Claus |
 | Mario Van Peebles | ... | Mohammed Ali Paula Abdul Rahim |
 | Peter Coyote | ... | JJL Chief Bloomenbergensteinenthal |
 | Nora Dunn | ... | Mrs. Carver |
 | Sean Whalen | ... | Tiny Tim |
 | Tony Cox | ... | Jamal |
 | Richard Riehle | ... | Santa |
| Melvin Van Peebles | ... | Sweetback |
 | Rachel Dratch | ... | Tikva |
| Harrison Chad | ... | Schlomo |
| Jim Petersmith | ... | Skinhead Bartender |
| Annie McEnroe | ... | Mrs. Highsmith |
 | Grant Rosenmeyer | ... | Young Mordechai |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for language, some sexual references and drug use.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
85 min | Argentina:87 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
During the first meeting at the Jewish Justice League when its members discuss about who to recruit to help save Hanukkah, one of them mentions Steven Spielberg. The Chief, played by Peter Coyote, says that he is not strong because of making the film E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Peter Coyote co-starred in E.T., which was directed by Steven Spielberg.
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Goofs:
Errors in geography: When the Hebrew Hammer travels from Ben-Gurion Airport to Jerusalem, the road in the desert is bisected by yellow lines. Roads in Israel, however, are bisected by white lines. The scene was actually shot in the Joshua Tree desert in California, and the actual road from Ben-Gurion Airport to Jerusalem is a major highway, not a two-lane road.
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Quotes:
Damian Claus:
[trying to distract Mordechai] OH, LOOK! A bowl of Matzoh-ball soup!
Mordechai Jefferson Carver: [looks away] Yum.
[Damian runs]
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Mordechai Jefferson Carver: [looks away] Yum.
[Damian runs]
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Movie Connections:
References "Mike Hammer" (1956)
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (47 total)
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Let me be absolutely clear, this movie is HYS-TER-IC-AL! In a world where the same three holiday movies are played over, and over, and over again in a complex form of brainwashing by our local networks, it was a pure delight to see something fresh, funny, and outstandingly original in the holiday film circuit. Director Jonathan Kesselman has done his homework with this project. By homework I mean watching "cult" classics like Hot Shots! and Airplane! while using a similar structure to develop his own unique blend of humor and satire. While watching this you will be surprised at how little you see coming. That is due to the fresh feel of this film. We have not seen many films like it lately, it on all levels it worked. It left me wanting more, oh so much more.
You can only credit the director for so much, it takes the talent from in front of the camera to really pull a film together. The feeling that actors have when doing a project definitely comes through the screen and onto the audience. Take Stepford Wives for example. You could tell that Kidman had no excitement on doing this project, and it consequently was horrible. I was never interested in Kidman's character because if she didn't care, why should I bother. This was not the case with The Hebrew Hammer. Goldberg was having a blast playing this zany yet kind character that cares more about his faith than anyone in the entire world. His eyes told the story, and allowed us to really follow this "leader" blindly into uncharted territory. I am an enormous fan of Andy Dick, not only does he carry my name, but he also bring to the screen his one style of comedy. He is notorious for being who he is, and while others may find him annoying, I only see him as comic genius a la Robin Williams. He is destined to be one of the greats and if he keeps with these films he will surely do well. The rest of the cast is superb, they really transport you into this world unlike our own. They really do define themselves and take this film to a new level. Adam Goldberg and Andy Dick are the staples of this film, while the rest assist in holding the film together.
I would also like to take this time to say that I watched this film with my Jewish friends, and they thought it was hysterical as well. I have trouble seeing where offense could be taken from this film. This was a humorous story about the uneducated nature of our culture towards the Hanukkah holiday. It comes at a time when consumerism is up and family values are at an all time low. This was no Oscar film, but it did bring to the spotlight a holiday and culture that is normally left on the doorstep. I applaud Kesselman's hard work and excitement behind this picture. This could have easily been something that fell through the cracks, but instead it will be something I show to friends time and time again.
Overall, I was extremely impressed with this film. The quality of the story, the witty and knowledgeable humor made me laugh as well as use my mind (which is a plus), and the honesty behind the characters was something other films should use more often. There was just a sense of fun with this picture, and it blasted through my television with the greatest of ease. This is our new Holiday film in our house. I am skipping the "classics" and creating new ones of my own. How impressive this film was!
Grade: ***** out of *****