Change Your Image
noamfischman
Reviews
Serendipity (2001)
what ever happened to true romance? (Warning Spoiler)
I am no fan of romantic comedies. They are generally not very funny and not very romantic. I often feel warm and fuzzy inside after watching romantic comedies... from nausea! Serendipity was just plain awful. A couple meets and falls for each other, but decides to let their romantic future fall into fates hands. This is cowardly act #1 in a series of many cowardly acts played out by the 2 stars. Neither had the courage or emotional stability to act immediately on their feelings. Instead they separate and eventually get engaged to other very commited people, but can't seem to commit to them either (Cowardly act #2). what were they thinking getting engaged to begin with? They end up "taking time off" and searching for each other and after some lame tease scenes they ditch their fiances (cowardly act #3) and find each other. One thing is certain, these 2 flakey cowards deserve each other. I imagine the sequel would have the cowardly couple, splitting up and seeking out their ex-fiances who dump then on their cowardly butts. That would be a a real fitting end to this romantic comedy nightmare.
Kadosh (1999)
Melodrama at its worst.
The movie opens with a scene that simply could not be. A man wakes up and while his wife remains in bed, he begin his morning prayers in his bedroom while his wife sleeps peacefully. Morning blessings are recited, but only the ones Gitai finds controversial. the rest are conveniently omitted. then while in philactories and a tallis he kisses his wife good morning!! This is not an accurate depiction of jewish prayer in any home, let alone a chassidic home. Amos Gittai is not interested in accurately portraying chassidic life. He is interested in adding to his ever growing list of melodramatic and empty films. The mikka (ritual bath) scenes are far from accurate and his jewish wedding was laughable as it does not even approach the atmosphere of a chassidic wedding. I have many problems with the chassidic way of life, but i have no use for Amos Gittai's commentary on these issues. He would have you think that the chassidim are all dense comformists with severe bouts of depression. I may not agree with the chassidic lifestyle, but i acknowledge that chassidic life has many layers. Amos Gitai is blinded by his own secularist pseudo-intellectual stubborness and is therefore, incapable of portraying an accurate depiciton of chassidic life. Aside from his poor research and unbalanced portrayal of chassidic life, Gitai fails in other aspects as well. The plot is full of holes, the dialogue loaded with silence, the soundtrack is too repetitive and the acting while at times powerfull was too often loaded with melodrama. The movie drags on and on and the ending is not worth sticking around for. watch if you must, but be warned. If you want to learn about chassidic life go to the communities and talk to chassidim. Do not rely on Gittai's film!