Reviews

In the cauldron of violence, antipathy and religious zealotry revenge brews and truth dissipates. It should be evident that the most impressionable members of society--the youth are easily manipulated by the most virulent and strident voices calling for revenge. Sadly, only faith and confidence in the principles of a true democratic state can counteract the calls for revenge. It is safe to say that that within the almost century long Middle East conflict the great casualty next to the loss of life is the subordination of democratic ideology. The rise of tribalism, victim ideology and reactionary calls for violence lead to what is depicted clearly in Our Boys. Our Boys delves into the cruel manipulation of already disturbed young men by obsessive religious charlatans who play upon their inadequate sense that of self. Through the character of Shimon the viewer comes to understand that professionals acting within the context of law and from conscience are often put upon spikes by those of they seek to serve and defend. Shimon symbolizes the tortured voice of justice struggling to survive in a world gone mad in continuous cycle of revenge.

Exodus is about as historically accurate in its presentation of the founding of the Modern State of Israel, as 1776 the musical is about the American Revolution.

It is complete Hollywood kitsch with Paul Newman, the hero taking on such mustache twirling baddie, Peter Lawford, as the befuddled British officer. Heaven help us! John Derek is the "good Arab", complete in Arabian dress costume as if he was auditioning for Omar Sharif's role in "Lawrence of Arabia". It seems he is following up on his other risible role in the 10 Commandments where he was dressed in a loin cloth and tied to a paper mache rock while being ogled by Vincent Price. And for goodness sake, why would beautiful American war widow, Eva Marie Saint, be wandering around mandate Palestine, just in time for the war to erupt? No one in the film knows or cares.

The only part of this silly film worth watching is the performance by Sal Mineo, who received his 2nd Academy Award nomination for playing a Polish Jew who has survived Auschwitz and in a gut wrenching scene describes how he was savagely raped in the camp. The shame, the revulsion and the desperation for revenge are raw. Mineo's character finds momentary solace with the angelic Jill Haworth who depicts a Danish Jew, who repeats the myth of the King wearing the Jewish star, and how she was saved by kindly neighbors. Mineo's career stalled not long after this film, which is too bad because he was incredibly talented.