| Top Jewish Flicks of 2005 |
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| Written by Robert Levin | |||||
| Thursday, 22 December 2005 | |||||
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Web Wire Film Critic Over the next few weeks, film critics across the country will produce a flurry of year-end lists and general recaps geared toward celebrating the best achievements in cinema of 2005. Given the nature of this publication, it only seems appropriate to partake in the annual ritual, but with a twist: summarizing the year in—somehow, arguably, even tangentially—Jewish movies. Here are my picks for the year’s three best Jewish-ish films: 1. _No Direction Home: Bob Dylan_: Martin Scorsese’s remarkable work offers an in-depth view of the many complexities of the artist born Robert Zimmerman. The film depicts his rise to prominence in the folk music world and the alienation of much of his fan base with his experimentation in electric blues-rock. Scorsese insightfully depicts Dylan’s ordinary, middle class Jewish childhood and illuminates the undeniable influence of Biblical literature on his songwriting. While the picture never identifies religion as a primary focus, and Dylan’s connection to Judaism has at times been rather tenuous, it offers a fitting, powerful tribute to one of the most influential Jewish cultural figure of our time. 2. _Downfall_: Not an easy film to watch, but one essential to an understanding of the social and psychological dynamics of Nazi Germany’s leadership, this depiction of the final days of the Third Reich attracted noticeable attention for what some Jewish groups feared to be an unnecessary humanization of Hitler. Nevertheless, by presenting Hitler through the eyes of an admirer (the film’s narrator, his personal secretary) one gains a clearer conception of his shrewd ability to manipulate public opinion and grant false, apparent legitimacy to a despicable cause. 3. _Prime_: Unfortunately, audiences largely ignored writer-director Ben Younger’s sophomore effort, despite its winning combination of a lively romance and humorous depiction of an Upper West Side Jewish family. Meryl Streep plays Lisa Metzger, whose 37-year-old non-Jewish psychiatric patient, Rafi (Uma Thurman), begins a torrid affair with her son, 23-year-old David (Bryan Greenberg). Streep deserves an Oscar nomination for skillfully registering feelings of horror, affection and maturity in her performance as she copes with that reality. Additionally, the film is lightweight and good-natured, while the family dynamic it depicts is deeply recognizable. Jews and Judaism appeared throughout the films of 2005, playing considerable roles in many of the year’s most unique films. There were movies centered on Jewish values, based on Jewish legend and examining significant historical events in our past. The cinematic year served as a stark reminder of the important continuing presence Judaism still maintains in the movies, and that there are still many stories depicting its principles and most important past figures to be told throughout 2006 and beyond.
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