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Boy Swallows Universe (2024)
Boys Save Family, Crims have souls, Aussies are Awesome
This series goes deeper than a comjng of age story, which actually is the subplot IMHO. The writer actually created a fine web of all levels of realtionships and of the good in every bad.
I don't do coming of age stories, so I was skeptical about watching this but the reviews were so positive.
I wasn't disappointed.
The acting was so fine-tuned, especially the way all the actors interacted so naturally that it almost felt like a reality show.
FIRST MENTION: SIMON BAKER. Sure, the kid, Felix Cameron stole the show. But Simon Baker deserves best actor award. I have never liked Simon Baker, found him bland and American. Who new he's an Aussie? OMG he blew me away. His depiction of Robert was stunningly low-key and moves you from complete disdain to utter loveability. I bet Simon Baker even surprised his director with how he presented Robert. Abosolutely stunning performance.
And so goes the writing, transitioning between hate and like and love, good and bad. Alcoholics and drug addicts are unquestionably loveable and forgiveable and redeeming, and this is an important point.
At first I thought: Oy, another tv series about "white trash", then quickly thought to myself: shut your supremist judgemental trap: These are real people with real problems, big ones. Watch and see how they deal with them, try to think how they got there.
All the characters, including the boys, are dealing with post trauma, which in the '80's was misunderstood, as was substance abuse. The writer and director, and the actors with their very fine talents, present very broken people, a very broken family, who love each other unbendingly.
Poppy, the school councelor - you're sure she'll have the boys removed from their parents, but watch Poppy's facial performance. Wow. And the truent officer as well - very well done!
Interesting thread of Eli and his penpal. Watch for it carefully. Their relationship is healing.
I had to keep on subtitles as the charming Aussie accents and slang are charming, but hard for an American.
The ending was wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly.
All the actors are really spectacular, every single one.
Shababnikim (2017)
Rebels With a Cause, raucously funny and touching!
Shababnikim aka The New Black (referring to the men's attire) is a raucously funny and clever comdram, even romcom. It's an endearing peek into what to most of us is the mysterious world of the Ultra-Orthodox Jews. Without dwelling, it presents the friction between the ethnic Ashkenazi and Sphardi groups, between the young and the old, the variety of religious streams, the religious and the secular; not an easy task, and the creators aced it.
How to translate the slang word "shababnik"? Maybe rascally. Yes, these young men are rascals, a tad off track and finding their paths.
I love how they so glibly quote The Sages in relevant situations. It's so adorable.
The funky music, and the romantic music are wonderful. I want to find the soundrack.
And the matchmaking, the pressure to find just the right wife and husband are also presented endearingly and delightfully. So you find out that the whole matchmaking scene of the ultra religious is not as stringent or coercive as you may have thought.
The actors (men and women) are just impeccable.
The character development of each one is brilliant. Of course the unexpected favorite is Gdaliah, who seems to be such a neurotic nerd, but his strong belief is his and everyone's moral compass. The actor Ori Laizerouvich, who I'd seen but never noticed before, is Jerry Lewis type. He has me in stiches.
Maya Wertheimer is just precious with her character Dvorahm the feisty feminist Haredit (Ultra-Orthodox) young woman, intent on finding the right match.
Guri Alfi, so out of character, is brilliant. Rotem Keinan plays good and evil like I've never seen him before. Our beloved Dov Navon, also out of character, is perfect. Same goes for Israel Atias, very versatile young man.
Very talented creators/directors Eliran Malka (I believe that for him, this was a labor of love), and Daniel Paran, did a great job collaborating on this entertaining materpiece.
I can't recommend this series enough for good laughs and a sneak peek into this enriched world. Thank you Netflix for including the first season. Looking forward to the second season for sure!
Ha'Kha'ver Ha'Sha'men Shelli (2022)
When Jimmy Met Elik
Just a sweet movie that flows beautifully, transitioning between the times Elik and her "fat friend" Jimmy keep meeting up, kinda "When Harry Met Sally" style, but without kitsch.
I do not watch romcoms or romances. This is not a romcom. I'd call it a platonic potentially romantic movie. It's not romantic but rather gritty and realstic and honest. The acting is wonderful. I watch all Israeli movies, yet this is my first time seeing these actors, Tsachi Sadan and Meyran Menkes. Troughout the movie ya kinda want to see Tsachi slim down. I think Elik is also alays hoping because she likes him so profoundly and can't get past what she kindly tells him is "his protective gear" (i.e. The blubber). The name of the movie in Hebrew is "My Fat Friend" or "My Fat Boyfriend."
The dialogue is honest and entertaining, also not cutesy or over-sentimental.
At first Jimmy seems like a blubbery zhglub, a nebbishy nerd. But within his first conversations with Elik, he shows a sharp sense of humore and a keeness for honesty and openness. And I just love that he's not shy. He's always suggesting he and she go eat junky food. When she asks him where he gets any nutrition from, if he takes vitamins, in a heartbeat he says his favorite vitamin "pill" is M&M's. He's simply adorable and lovable without being at all nerdy. Elik's cool, "the class queen." Both characters are self-confident and unapologic for who they are, and confident in their friendship.
The English name of the movie "The Fat Guy" is so not appropriate. It's not a movie about a fat guy. It's a movie about true friendship, potential love, a roadmap to love, and our societal mental block about fat prejudice. The characters go in and out of "fat" being and issue and not being an issue. What's the final verdict going to be?
It's a lovely watch. Worthwhile, excellent acting and very well co-written by Liat Elkayam and life partner Gudis Schneider who also directed the film.
Plan A (2021)
Lesson Learned! Fight evil with evil, or maintain humanity.
This movie was a complete surprise to me. It exposes the post-WWII vigilante Jewish movement of Jewish war partisans and the role of Abba Kovener a prominent poet.
I was not familiar with the talented brothers, Writers/Directors Yoav Paz and Doron Paz. They created a gripping film of a highly sensitive chapter in history, a highly sensitive matter that bears great relevance to our times. They bring a message to humanity, making this film a must see: the dilemma between the desire for vengeance as justice, the seemingly righteousness of avenging the slaughter and genocide perpetrated by the Nazis, and the moral compass and conscience that "threatened" the success of the mission at hand.
Juxtaposed with the dilemma of vengeance, and the real inconceivability and inpracticality of such vengeance, is the underlying thread questioning why the Jews did not launch more resistance against the Nazis, why they seemingly went like sheep to the slaughter.
Set against Max and the Nakam Team was Michael, the Hagannah soldier in the ranks of the Palestinian Jewish Brigade of the British Armed Forces (under the British Mandate of Palestine). Michael represents the common-sense Jewish resistance to the Jewish resistance!
So the main theme, question of the movie is, is it righteous, correct and practical to fight evil with evil? Or to maintain humanity in the battle against evil, in the struggle for humanity?
What would you do? What would you do if your family, everyone dear to you were murdered for no reason at all?
This was poignantly revealed in the characters discussing the immanent Nuremberg Trials: Will the Law just carry out symbolic and ineffective justice? Would justice not be well served with revenge equal to the Nazi atrocities - an eye for an eye?
The sub-question of why the Jews did not launch more resistance to the Nazi atrocities is answered clearly. Max and Anna answer this without excuses and explanations. Max reiterates, in a variety of situations, that to dream and to hope, to LIVE - are the answer.
His last comment in the film is the final answer to BOTH questions: to go home to Palestine, to live, to build lives and families.
Justice and vengeance were served.
This movie is a statement of and for humanity.
Of mention are the fine international (German, Dutch, Israeli, French) actors - all playing exquisitely in English. They are stunningly impressive and believable.
Brilliant all around on all levels. Thought provoking.
Game Night (2018)
Fun and funny full of mystery twists and turns
Game Night is Fun and funny full of mystery twists and turns. THink "Games" (1967
Simone Signoret, James Caan, Katharine Ross) mystery thriller and "The Game" (1997 Michael Douglas, Deborah Kara Unger, Sean Penn) tense thriller.
Bateman and McAdams perfectly play adorable couple so in sync.
Jesse Plemens is superbly creepy and his little dog is a highlight.
Must see when in need of comical relief combined with a fine mystery with twists and surprises.
A great screwball comedy, the movie flows well transitioning between thriller and comic diaglogue and a spattering of slapstick.
It's refreshing to see Rachel McAdams and Jesse Plemons using their talents in comic roles.
Emperor (2012)
A sensitive and ever relevant look at how to deradicalize a nation
Besides being entertaining and beautfiully filmed, "Emporer" is ever relevant. The film is brilliant, thought-provoking, showing all sides of war and peace, how Japan was deradicalized without interfering in its rich culture and traditions, without imposing Americanism. The rest is history - Japan is a flourishing democracy. For those who never knew this brilliant operation of rebuilding Japan after its shameful brutality in WWII, the film is enlightening even today for considering ways to deradicalize today's viral radical Islam.
Two more MUST WATCHES to grasp the concept: Nuremberg (2000) TV series, and the film Tokyo Trials (2023). Also the film MacArthur (1977)
Aba Mishtadel (2019)
so not funny
QUite awful. Tal, get over yourself for adopting a special needs child. At least you would have featured a Special actor in the role of Dana. So not funny being a putz father and husband.
Kvodo (2017)
Gripping
At first i thought the premise was unlikely, but the acting, directing and substories were so superb, making it a good watch, very enjoyable. US Showtime picked it up, made their version, which is way less believable and therefore just tedious. Yoram Hattab, as always, is excellent!