|
[Book + Movie] Everything is Illuminated
|
View this Thread in Original format
| Yan |
Got a chance to watch the movie today.
Truly worth giving this one a chance. It struck a personal note with me due to its storyline and overall message.
| quote: | Synopsis from Rotten Tomatoes:
Acclaimed actor Liev Schrieber (DAYTRIPPERS, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE) makes his directorial debut in this adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's bestselling novel about a young Jewish-American writer of the same name. Mixing equal parts black comedy and poignant drama, the film follows Jonathan (Elijah Wood) as he travels to the Ukraine to solve a family secret. There he meets his barely legitimate tour guides: Alex (Eugene Hutz, member of the folk-punk band Gogol Bordello), a cosmopolitan playboy obsessed with Michael Jackson and other American icons; Alex's grandfather (Boris Leskin), a man worn down by life who seems to be losing his grip on reality; and Sammy Davis, Jr. Jr, the "seeing-eye bitch" dog who comes along for the ride. As Jonathan closes in on his goal--to find the story behind the woman who saved his grandfather during the Holocaust--it becomes clear that Alex's grandfather has a dark secret of his own that needs to be, as the film suggests, illuminated.
EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED lives up to the quirkiness of its source material, and is similar to films like BEING JOHN MALKOVICH or LOST IN TRANSLATION. Filmed on location in Prague, the film features breathtaking landscapes, including a memorable scene in a field of sunflowers. Also notable is the film's soundtrack, which features songs by Gogol Bordello, as well as an outstanding ethnic score by Paul Cantelon. Quirky, funny, sweet, and sad, Schreiber's excellent adaptation provides both closure and hope for survivors of the Holocaust.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eve...is_illuminated/ |
The novel that it's based off of is by Jonathan Safran Foer. I've yet to read it but it's definitely been added to my must-read list as of today. |
|
|
| mezzir |
seen the movie 4 or 5 times at least in the last couple months since first viewing it, and haven't read the book
i've heard the book is very confusing and difficult to read and that the film's actually an excellent adaptation
i was quite suprised to see wood in this kind of role, but he did a fabulous job
instantly one of my favorite movies i've ever seen
also check out gogol bordello (the ukranian guy, the 'hip' one :p) is the lead singer of a gypsy punk band, the film featured a few of their songs
good stuff all around, i'd recommend it to anyone |
|
|
| Yan |
| quote: | Originally posted by mezzir
i was quite suprised to see wood in this kind of role, but he did a fabulous job
instantly one of my favorite movies i've ever seen |
Totally agree with you there.
| quote: | Originally posted by mezzir
good stuff all around, i'd recommend it to anyone |
ALMOST anyone. If they're extra sensitive when it comes to movies having to do with antisemitism or don't care for a semi-humorous, semi-serious movie, then they probably won't dig this. |
|
|
| Psy-T |
| i bought the book as a birthday present for a friend a while ago after browsing through it in a bookshop, i only read about 15 pages, but they were great. haven't seen the movie. |
|
|
| Ivand |
| i think i got the book somewhere, i guess ill have to see the movie |
|
|
| d-miurge |
| the book is one of my alltime fav. |
|
|
|
|
