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tennis_larry
Reviews
The Dictator (2012)
Damn funny and enjoyable
Indeed, this was a romantic comedy and goats were not directly involved. It had a head and a heart that raised it above the level of the humour which was substantial on its own. And in fact the humour and the romance played off each other in a way that enhanced both. No, this is not an all time great movie, but it was a year's great for this genre, which is admittedly thin.
It was not a film that required great acting, and none was evident but this did not detract from the film either. The story line and rapid-fire jokes kept the movie going and it went by all to quickly.
If the dictators of the world watched it, I am sure that they would laugh at themselves - before sending out an execution squad to eliminate Sasha Baron Cohen.
Kike Like Me (2007)
A travelogue through a contemporary Jewish (lack of) identity
Jewish people have always wondered, "what makes us different" if anything? Certainly many non Jewish have considered us different, and I think that is the jumping off point for this travelogue through Jamie Kastener's identity crisis if you will.
He's curious. I'm curious and the whole situation as it stands now is curious. And I'm still curious because I don't feel that JC gave any good answers, but suppose he made us think - a little. Most often I thought "why is he asking that" and "why doesn't he ask" ...
When he ran across the Arab youth in France he should have asked, you say that "they will screw you over any opportunity" but what has any Jew done to harm you personally? Or "would you screw a Jew over at any opportunity?" yourself. Or "how would you treat someone if if they thought the same of you?" Instead he asked, "Why don't you like ME??".
When he gave the $5 to the lady at the temple, and then asked for it back, that was crass. Was he trying to portray an example of a stingy Jew or one who only supports their own? He was just moody.
I did find it curious that there were no Jews seen in Krakow(?) where the temple was, the bagel store was closed, and yet there were non-Jewish Yiddish entertainers at the Jewish restaurant that was owned by non-Jewish owners. That really calls for more investigation. What's going on there? Is it for tourists. Is it for guilt remediation that Poles and Germans go to these places? He didn't care to find out.
Also it was really curious why fans of the soccer team in the Netherlands called themselves "yids" or Jews, and wore symbols along those lines. Is it kind of a "Indian" thing, where sports team fans carry tom-a-hocks and celebrate the fighting nature of the natives? Certainly Jews have a fighting spirit and have had to had one to survive. Perhaps that is this quality that is most developed in the Jew, although one tends to think that it is "intellect". Perhaps it's that the Netherlands have also become anti-Arab and being pro-Jewish is another way to be anti-Arab. I don't know but would like to know more...
Anyway he was at Auschwitz and wanted the whole thing to be blown up. Like most Jews he wants antisemitism to just "go away". It's probably not going to happen. But was is the real impact of the museum on the visitors, especially non-Jewish? He never provided us that information.
He may have been honest and at the level most people think, but we expect a deeper analysis from a filmmaker. This is why I call this a travelogue and not an investigative documentary. I think everyone would benefit from more contemporary explorations similar to what JC did in his, although a deeper investigative journalistic journey that is more fulfilling.
Cooking with Stella (2009)
Surprisingly good
The charm and heart of this movie shines through the mild cultural stereotypes that are necessary to tell this story, which is at least partly based on fact, from what I've read.
Here's my report card:
Screenplay - B : Direction - A : Story - B : Acting - A- : Cinematography - A : Music - B+ : Production values - A :
It is an east meets west story, and west gets pick-pocketed. It's only just deserts for the abuse the east took from the west. But it's done in a light hearted way, with the requisite love interest, that ultimately is about forgiveness for all involved. Some of the secondary characters are like cardboard cutouts, but the main characters are well founded and nuanced. I found it a refreshing Indian desert, not overly sweet, with just enough spice!