JAKOB THE LIAR *** (out of five stars) A review by Jamey Hughton
Starring-Robin Williams, Alan Arkin, Bob Balaban, Hannah Taylor-Gordon, Liev Schreiber and Armin Mueller-Stahl Director-Peter Kassovitz Rated PG Sony
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The Holocaust. A caring soul trying to improve morale around him. And certain comic undertones during a tragic time. All of these themes are found in the Oscar-winning Foreign film Life is Beautiful, which put gifted Italian clown Roberto Benigni in the American spotlight. Fresh off the heels of Benigni's triumph, another film rolls into theaters with very similar messages - and a big-name star to guide it.
The title character in Jakob the Liar is Jakob Heym (Robin Williams), a Polish Jew living in a desolate ghetto in 1944. One night, Jakob hears a radio transmission that could bring his fellow ghetto-dwellers some hope: Russians are only 400 kilometers away, and the war could soon come to an end. Jakob tries to contain his secret, but soon it has leaked out and gotten terribly blown out of proportion by the other Jewish residents. He sees that this one little news bulletin has substantially lifted the group's spirit. And so, he begins to give them hope by telling false stories about the approaching Russians. All of it is basically hooey, but the suicide rate is down, and everyone seems to be more optimistic about the future.
I might as well come out of the closet: I was that guy who liked Patch Adams. Audiences sure did love the film, but it got some of the worst critical reception of the year. With Jakob the Liar, moviegoers may be turned off by the unappealing premise (not to mention the fact that the subject has already been thoroughly explored). While full of mixed messages and meaty flaws, this film does manage to balance itself quite admirably - especially with all of the post-Life is Beautiful pressure. The atmosphere, as envisioned by director Peter Kassovitz, is successfully portrays the horror of the Holocaust in an effective and subtle manner. It's too bad that often during the 2nd act, he doesn't allow the audience room enough to appreciate all that.
Williams, in a well rounded and laid-back performance, manages to contain his usual goofiness with style for virtually every minute of the running time. The few moments in which he truly addresses his funny side are shared with a 10-year old runaway Jewish girl named Lina (Hannah Taylor-Gordon). Williams improvises a radio transmission with Winston Churchill with restrained but hilarious success. The supporting cast, full of veteran character actors, is easily one of the aspects to marvel at in Jakob the Liar. Alan Arkin plays the pessimistic Frankfurter, Bob Balaban is Jakob's timid friend Kowalsky, and Armin Mueller-Stahl is the wise Professor Kirschbaum. While all of the actors are perfect in their roles, the surprise stand-out is Liev Schreiber (Scream 2), who plays the feisty boxer Mischa with spot-on accuracy.
At first, Jakob the Liar moves at such a blistering pace that it becomes exceedingly difficult to properly accept the surroundings. The gritty, unattractive look of the Polish ghetto makes it a substantial problem for any comedy to work. But Kassovitz knows this, and his period dramedy is certainly filled with more dramatic moments. This is not a Holocaust comedy with a light touch. If that was the goal in mind, the environment for Jakob and his companions would be much less bleak & somber and far more warm & fuzzy. The mood finally starts working in the film's favor toward the end, when the real issues are dealt with. During these glorious moments, Kassovitz reaches a degree prosperity that rivals and even surpasses a few of Benigni's achievements in his film.
Unfortunately, much of Jakob the Liar is too messy and undefined to match the success of Life is Beautiful. Still, this determined piece of work is highly respectable. And Williams will return to family comedy this Christmas when he stars in Bicentennial Man. Hopefully, that familiar formula will set the talented comedian back on track, with audiences and critics alike.
(C) 1999, Jamey Hughton
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