Reviews

I confess to watching ( tonight ) only 15 minutes of this remake. I was fascinated by the detailed miming that seemed to be the film's only positive attribute. I felt nothing of plot, character or atmosphere; all I was interested in was the mechanics of production a la mime.

It was through a (looking ) glass darkly for me. And that's not what film should be about. In fact, I found it the antithesis of art. Rather than a living experience, freed by its creator, this remake was nothing but the creator's hand.

Artists ( writers and actors ) are told of their 'message', " Don't say it, show it ". This medium was the message, Mime. So I found the 1998 remake of Psycho to be all remake and no Psycho. Compared to the original b/w genius opus of Hitchcock, it was a paint-by-number colour over a pale imitation.

I know it's not the best. Arsenic and Old Lace is the top comedy of all time. Citizen Kane the greatest film. Gone with the Wind the greatest epic.

Wizard of Oz the finest fantasy. And L.O.T.R. 1,2,3 trilogy is the ultimate film legend.

But for me, Ishtar is pure fun. I saw it when it came out. Bought the video. Watch it twice a year and have my daughter hooked on it too.

It's the Vinyl Cafe /Dave and Morley type of humour that gets me. I can't hold a tune with a forklift and I find the singing style and lyrics of Rogers and Clark inspirational.

I feel for these guys. The Warren Beatty line to Dustin Hoffman " You'd rather have nothing, than settle for less. " reminds me of my own ( self-deprecating ) personal credo, 'Lower your standards and achieve! "

These innocents are taken on a journey of discovery through Ishtar and back home to the struggle against 'lives of quiet desperation.'