I just have to write a review about this one. I've watched it 2 hours ago and I simply cannot allow anything not to be mentioned, although this would hardly happen, taking into consideration the effect this movie had on me.
To summarize it even before I begin: I'm fascinated, thrilled and happy. Why? Because this movie proves that there is still some heart and soul in Hollywood movies, told in such a simple, but unforgettable way.
Maybe I'm a sucker for this type of movies, minding my behaviour while watching La vita e bella, but there is just something magical in them. These movies are so fantastically written and portrayed, with such simplicity and without any superfluous parts.
This one starts as a full-blooded comedy, putting aside its theme for the moment. I couldn't stop laughing. Everything was so funny and brilliant that I kept asking myself: "Is it really so difficult to write a good, simple scenario and give it to the right people?" This movie proves the opposite. There is one famous actor in it (Elijah Wood) and all others are unknown European people (people, because many of them haven't even played in any other movie), which in my opinion makes this movie even more interesting. I would mention Boris Leskin (grandfather) and Eugene Hutz (Alexander) who gave the performances of their lives. I was so surprised with Eugene Hutz (lead singer of a music band Gogol Bordello, a great gypsy band), who, with his Russian English coloured every scene in the movie.
Numerous details are the things that make this movie unforgettable. For example, the way Alex pronounces Jonathan's name, the explanation why grandfather has a seeing eye bitch and the most memorable one, the conversation about Jonathan's being a vegetarian. The latter one is the scene which I could watch over and over again.
As the plot thickens, we figure out that there is much more than a comedy in this one. It is tragedy wrapped up in humor and hilarious moments, so that the viewers can accept its end as calm as possible. Me, it took me by surprise and even brought few tears to my eyes. Maybe because it is based on a true story, story about a Jewish collector who travels to Ukraine to find something about his grandfather's past and life during World War II.
In the end, kudos to Liev Schreiber, a wonderful actor, who proved to be a fantastic screenwriter/director and enabled us, the viewers, to relive this story and to feel all of its components, from its funny to its tragic parts, guided by memorable, breathtaking characters.
Without any doubt, one of my all-time favourites.
LovelyT
