I've never seen this movie, nor have I seen the original, but it doesn't seem all that bad. It seems like it has a good message and story. I was seriously contemplating renting it one of these days but I would like to know why it was given a fairly low rating before I go out and spend money on it.
So, what was wrong with it?
It was given a low rating for basically no reason, or really stupid ones I think.
A lot of critcs seem to think that being a critic means that you have to hate every movie that you see, even when its really good.
Others always love movies and never know when one is bad.
For the most part, I try to ignore the critics on movies today, because they just don't seem to know what they're saying alot of the time.
Even Roger Ebert, whom I consider the one good critic left on this green earth, didn't seem to like it. He said that it had poor acting and that it tried too hard to be serious.
Personally, I think he just didn't get it.
If you want to know if the movie is good, I cannot help you. Because everyone is on their own with this movie it seems, you either loved it or hated it.
I can tell you that I LOVED it. And here is why:
-The story was great. Some say its too much like Life is Beautiful, but I would like to state for the record: this movie was filmed BEFORE that one.
-I think this is one of Robin Williams best performances. He was serious enough, and the humorous parts didn't seem over done.
-The script and story, are very powerful and moving. To tell you the truth, I cried like a baby at the end of the movie it moved me so much.
-There are many war movies, and alot of them I think people say are good just because they are based on tragic things. A lot of the time when a movie about WW2 in particular comes out, I actually don't like it, but everyone seems to think its good anyway just because its about Tragedy. A film has to be able to make you feel something, you know? When this movie came out I was expecting it to be the same, BUT it wasn't at all. Very moving.
-The cast is good
There are other reasons, like symbolism and stuff, but I'll let you decide.
Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane. -Phillip Dick
Sheila Beers
I totally agree with you,fsrsk2. I believe the movie is excellent and that it has the right amount of comic relief amidst the tragedy of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Holocaust in general. The title character sees the despondency of the people all around him, and he becomes a sort of Moses in encouraging them to believe they will survive and escape their bondage. Then he sets out to keep their spirits up, and the suicides in the ghetto stop occurring. Privately, he is much like Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof" because he wonders why God never has answered his prayers. Then he finds God is answering his prayers in ways he did not expect. Like Moses, he does not get to see the Promised Land, but the people he has encouraged are liberated by the advancing Russians. In this sense, the movie does have a happy ending. My husband and I have had about two dozen Holocaust survivors and escapees among our relatives and friends, and he and I believe this film is realistic. It certainly has deserved a much better rating.
The poster above me is absolutely clueless worshipper of mediocrity. This film is pathetic adaptation of the original movie from 1975 which is considered classic. Americans took it, pissed on it by casting actor-of-one-role Williams, put some cheesy bittersweet music (BLAH!) and voila - typical american shallow-as-hell product is ready for simpletons to eagerly feast upon! And thinking to themselves - WOOT! This is cool and soooo deep, I am deep too! We ARE DEEP AND EMOTIONAL! Anybody who doesnt like this, is DUMB, cause WE ARE CLEVER, HA!
For my part, I go puke. Americans can do great films (once a year), but they should stay away from themes they obviously DONT GET.
I wish the people who call this film a mediocrity would be specific about what they don't like about it. They seem more intent on insulting American films than anything else. I agree that MANY American films are vapid, but Americans make some great films as well. Unfortunately the most vapid of American films are the ones shown around the world.
"Jakob the Liar" is a brilliant film. People who lived in the Polish ghettos have verified that it is a realistic depiction of the ghettos. The story is a beautiful tale made up to give us entry into the horrible world of the ghettos, to see the hopelessness of their situation. The director was a Holocaust survivor himself. This is not a film put together by clueless people.
This film features excellent actors. I would like to hear Armin Mueller-Stahl's thoughts on the East German and American versions of it, since he was in both.
I love the ending - it made me cry and cry. I interpret the alternative ending as a chance to think about what could have been, and the appearance of the band and singers was a tribute to the well-intended lies of Jakob. No matter the ending, it is better to die with hope in your heart until the end.
Lets hope you never get over this puking thing so that you don't have time to write more reviews.
shareI believe this film has been given overly harsh judgement for what it isn't. It isn't a holocaust classic or an appropriately dour treatment of a Polish ghetto situation. It isn't a foreign film, it isn't the original, and it isn't Life is Beautiful. This is essentially what I read in the Metascore critics comments; at least the negative comments.
Yes, its a more whimsical treatment of the ghetto plight than we're used to. The Robin Williams "schmaltz factor" is ever-present. He's obviously not Liam Neeson or Adrian Brody. The film also seems almost Disney-like.
I prefer fairly serious films to comedy (not that this is a comedy, but it interjects some humor), and tension/suspense to melodrama. But I think this is under-rated AND I'll watch it again as a semi-lighthearted, whimsical fable.
Very well said. The big problem is that the original is such an amazing film! Also this film at times was taking on a Keystone Cops kinda vib ... which total insulted my sensibilities. Finally I think it really bothered people that it had a whimsical ending. That said I think the film deserves more credit than it gets!
shareIt was slated by the critics for its saccharine sentimentality. Its not a good film compared to The Pianist released a few years later.
Its that man again!!